Ranking Persona 5 Royal’s Romance Options
James Whitfield
3 min read
Persona 5 Royal offers players multiple romance options across its cast of characters, each with distinct storylines and mechanical benefits. To pursue a relationship in the game, players must raise a character's Confidant rank to level 10, at which point they can choose between friendship or romance. While the game technically allows dating multiple characters simultaneously, most players will only have time to complete a handful of routes during a single playthrough.
At the lower end of the romance tier list sits Ichiko Ohya, a former journalist turned paparazzi. Her Confidant storyline explores her tragic past and descent into alcoholism following a journalistic cover-up, offering meaningful character development. However, her dynamic with the protagonist feels more like casual banter than genuine romance, and her Confidant perks provide minimal gameplay advantages. Similarly, Sadayo Kawakami presents an uncomfortable dynamic as a high school teacher, despite having one of the game's most useful Confidant abilities. Her story—working as a maid to pay off a lawsuit stemming from a student's death—is sympathetic and thematically rich, but the student-teacher romance crosses an ethical line that most players should avoid.
Tae Takemi, a disgraced doctor running an underground clinic, ranks higher due to her compelling personality and valuable medicine inventory upgrades. Her goth-punk aesthetic and willingness to challenge corruption make her engaging, though the significant age gap between her and the teenage protagonist remains a notable concern. Chihaya Mifune, a fortune teller, offers wholesome interactions and powerful Confidant abilities that boost relationships with other characters. However, her route requires spending 100,000 yen on a key item and specific dialogue choices, making her one of the most gatekeeping romance options in the game.
Futaba Sakura presents an interesting case. Her Hermit Confidant route follows her journey from social anxiety to self-discovery, with the protagonist providing crucial emotional support. Their relationship develops genuine intimacy throughout the story, though some players interpret their dynamic as sibling-like rather than romantic. Mechanically, Futaba's Confidant abilities rank among the best, offering valuable support boosts and even a last-ditch save feature. Hifumi Togo stands out as the only romance option who is neither a Phantom Thief nor an adult, making her feel more age-appropriate. Though she appears in a different school and isn't plot-critical, her ability to swap team members mid-battle provides invaluable tactical advantages.
Haru Okumura arrives late in the campaign, which undermines her romance potential despite her kind-hearted personality and compelling arranged marriage subplot. Her late introduction means many players have already committed to other romance routes before meeting her. Kasumi Yoshizawa, Persona 5 Royal's exclusive new character, provides one of the most wholesome romance experiences. The graceful gymnast's shy personality gradually opens up through her Confidant route, culminating in genuinely charming rank 9 and 10 scenes where the protagonist displays his rebellious side.
Ann Takamaki functions as the default romance option, being the first female Phantom Thief introduced and prominently featured in marketing. Her romance route reveals her complexity beyond her model aspirations, and choosing her romance can feel satisfying simply for the reactions it generates from other party members like Ryuji and Morgana. Finally, Makoto Niijima ranks as the community's favorite romance. Her story intertwines deeply with the main plot, and she evolves into the Phantom Thieves' tactical leader and de facto mother figure. Though her Confidant route relies on generic rom-com tropes involving a pretend couple scenario, her overall importance to the narrative and character development makes her the strongest romance choice for most players.
Interestingly, the game permits pursuing all available romances simultaneously without mechanical penalties. While Joker can initiate as many relationships as desired once Confidant ranks reach level 9, the game reserves true consequences for Valentine's Day, creating one of the most memorable scenes in the entire game. This freedom allows players to experience multiple romance routes across playthroughs or commit to their preferred partner without fear of missing content.
