Persona 5: The Phantom X Review – A Faithful, Free Spin-Off for Mobile and PC

Introduction

Persona 5: The Phantom X (or P5X) is not just a mobile cash-in—it’s a surprisingly deep, stylish, and faithful spin-off of one of the most beloved JRPGs of the modern era. Developed by Black Wings Game Studio and overseen by SEGA and Atlus, P5X brings the Persona 5 aesthetic and combat to mobile and PC platforms, with a new cast, a fresh story, and a world that feels both familiar and fresh.

Launched globally in 2024 after a successful beta in China, The Phantom X is now being enjoyed by Persona fans worldwide. But does it live up to the Phantom Thieves’ legacy—or is it just wearing the mask?

Let’s dive deep into this slick spin-off.

Platform and Accessibility

Unlike previous mainline Persona titles, P5X is free-to-play and available on Android, iOS, and PC (via Windows). The mobile-first design means the game is optimized for touchscreen controls, with controller support available on PC.

There is, of course, a gacha system at the core—but it’s more balanced than expected, especially for a title rooted in storytelling.

Visuals and Style

If there’s one thing Persona games never lack, it’s style—and P5X delivers in spades. The game maintains the bold red-and-black color palette, energetic UI animations, and comic-book cutscenes that made Persona 5 an instant visual classic.

Smooth 3D models and attack animations for characters and Personas
Fully designed Metaverse dungeons (Palaces) with fresh themes
Beautiful 2D character art and updated menus
Stylish transition effects and battle intros that rival console quality

For a mobile-first title, it’s genuinely stunning.

Story and Characters

P5X introduces a brand-new protagonist and original cast, though they operate under the familiar Phantom Thieves banner. The story follows an eerily similar rhythm to Persona 5: school life during the day, Metaverse infiltration at night.

Key elements include:

A mysterious new owl-like companion (Cattle) guiding the protagonist
New “Thieves” with distinct personalities and social arcs
Returning characters like Igor and Morgana-style mascots, adding narrative connections
Well-paced story chapters, voiced dialogue, and meaningful choices

While it doesn’t hit the same emotional highs as P5, it builds a compelling, alternate Phantom narrative.

Combat and Gameplay

The core of P5X’s gameplay is the turn-based “1 More” combat system fans know and love. You’ll use elemental weaknesses, Baton Pass, and Persona fusion—all present in full form.

What Stands Out:

Battle system is nearly identical to Persona 5, just with a more streamlined interface
Fusion mechanics allow collecting and combining Personas like in the main games
Stamina system (energy) restricts how many dungeons you can run in one session, but is lenient for casual players
Gacha system to recruit characters and Personas

The gacha may put off some players, but it’s relatively fair, and most story characters can be acquired naturally through progression.

Life Sim Elements

One of Persona’s core appeals is the life sim mechanics—and yes, P5X includes that too.

Daily routine system: Attend school, work part-time jobs, build friendships
Social Links (now called “Bonds”) deepen relationships and unlock abilities
Choice-based dialogue affecting relationships and stats
Seasonal events and calendar-based progress

The structure is slightly simplified for mobile, but still engaging.

Final Verdict

Persona 5: The Phantom X manages to walk a tightrope: offering an experience that’s authentically Persona, while making the necessary adjustments for mobile gaming. It captures the essence of high school duality, stylish rebellion, and strategic combat that fans love—without watering it down too much.

Whether you’re a diehard fan of the Phantom Thieves or just Persona-curious, P5X is one of the best mobile RPGs on the market right now—and one of the most faithful spin-offs in a major JRPG series.

System Requirements

Minimum:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows® 10 64 bit、Windows® 11 64 bit
    Processor: Intel® Core™i3-7300
    Memory: 8 GB RAM
    Graphics: NVIDIA® Geforce® GTX 750Ti 2G
    DirectX: Version 11
    Storage: 70 GB available space

Recommended:
    Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
    OS: Windows® 11 64 bit
    Processor: Intel® Core™i5-8500
    Memory: 16 GB RAM
    Graphics: NVIDIA® Geforce® GTX 1060 6G
    DirectX: Version 12
    Storage: 70 GB available space