“The ambitions of god and human clash amidst the horror of a dying world. Neither human nor demon, the newly-forged Nahobino and his friends must decide what is worth saving... and prepare to sacrifice everything in its name. In a world without its Creator, which path will you choose?”
Shin Megami Tensei V is the ninth installment in the Shin Megami Tensei series. The Nahobino is the main protagonist, and Lilith is the main antagonist. The Qaditsu are the villainous faction.
SMT V is another game set in another world from the other SMT games, but this game does a better job at trying to connect to the overall series, returning to the Amala Multiverse. It is implied to be set in the same continuity as Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, and is inspired heavily from it.
It released worldwide on November 11, 2021 on the Nintendo Switch. It is the first Shin Megami Tensei game to be released worldwide simultaneously.
In 2024, SMT V received an enhanced rerelease titled Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, which alters the gameplay and adds a second story mode that changes the story halfway through.
It is preceded by Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse.
Official Description[]
Shin Megami Tensei V[]
The ambitions of god and human clash amidst the horror of a dying world. Neither human nor demon, the newly-forged Nahobino and his friends must decide what is worth saving... and prepare to sacrifice everything in its name. In a world without its Creator, which path will you choose?
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance[]
Embark on this definitive version of the critically acclaimed Shin Megami Tensei V, massively expanded with a brand-new storyline featuring new locations, demons, and choices to make that will dictate the fate of all existence.
Summary[]
The Throne of Creation grants vast power to reshape the world to their liking to the one who assumes it. In a world of myriad gods, known as Nahobino, many have fallen in pursuit of the throne, but it would eventually belong to the God of Law, who robbed the Knowledge of his underlings to prevent anyone from being able to take it for themselves, reducing the "Nahobino" to demons. Their Fruit of Knowledge was secreted away by the Creator.
Eventually, a serpent, or rather the God of Chaos Lucifer, would tempt the mortals to eat their Fruit of Knowledge, with the promise they'll become more like God, but his true intentions were to revive the war of the myriad gods, infusing humans with Knowledge closer to gods. In a fit of rage, the Creator would banish humans from his paradise. This would make the humans target for demons, as their key to becoming Nahobino again is through the fusion of their other half that wields their stolen Knowledge. On the other hand, angels, another breed of demons, would be loyal to the God's creations and laws, obeying him without question. That would also mean becoming a Nahobino would be smearing their loyalty and honor for them, and as such are opposed to it.
After a war between angels and demons, titled Armageddon, spanning 18 years before the events of the game, humanity would be wiped out from the face of the earth in the matter of moments. Additionally, Lucifer would declare that he has slain their God, leaving the victory to the side of chaos, with Lucifer using the God's Knowledge to transcend to a higher plane of existence. However, the God's Shekinah Glory has reshaped the world back into its original form as if nothing happened, but that reality is only an illusion, and the desolated Tokyo is still active behind the scenes.
In the regular world, where the public is oblivious to the truth, various murder incidents caused by mysterious figures would begin to bloom within Tokyo, leaving the city in a state of alert and unease. A global force by the name of Bethel, aware of the truth, who has also participated in the war, worked in secrecy to protect their world against these demons, taking the side of the angels. The Japan branch in particular has lost most of its fighting force in Armageddon.
The protagonist, a high school student living an ordinary life within that reality, has also had his school, as an oblivious authority, attempt to take countermeasures against these incidents, having students follow a buddy system on their way back to the dorms. After having to look for other students who wandered off, with one looking for the other, they wander into another world called the "Netherworld," or "Da'at." After being confronted by demons, a mysterious man Aogami locates him and, under the pretense that the protagonist's life is endangered, he follows his order, fusing with him and becoming a Nahobino.
While exploring Da'at, the protagonist encounters the other students who've made their way into Da'at as well: Yuzuru Atsuta, an honor student at the protagonist's school, Jouin High School, who has also worked with Bethel, as well as Ichiro Dazai, an ordinary student, but one that doesn't have confidence in himself and doesn't know what is right or wrong.
After returning back to their world, Prime Minister of Japan and chief of Bethel Hayao Yoshimizu offers the protagonist to work for them, and Ichiro joins in as well as he wants to help protect Tokyo.
Meanwhile, as the students return back to their normal lives, a victim of bullying, Sahori Itsukishima, draws in demon Lahmu looking for his human's Knowledge to become a Nahobino, eventually entering their world and raiding Jouin High School with other demons, who kidnap various students from the academy, taking them with them in Da'at. Lahmu's tempts his own target, Sahori, with her Knowledge, using her vulnerabilities and fears to prey on her, getting her to join him, tempting her to get him to kill her bullies in vengeance, robbing her of any choice in their bargain, kidnapping her back in Da'at. Her friend Tao Isonokami, and the Saint of Bethel, deeply worried about her, joins the protagonist in their mission to help the kidnapped students, as well as defeat Lahmu and rescue Sahori.
Bethel and staff locate the kidnapped humans, the help of a fairy village in Da'at, its demon villagers aid its injured students, giving them a place to rest until they're ready to go back home. Meanwhile, with Lahmu found, even though the protagonist defeats him, Lahmu has successfully fused with Sahori, becoming a Nahobino of their own. The protagonist and Aogami step in his attempt to kill Tao, getting themselves killed instead. Tao would then hear the voice of a higher being, finding her role and becoming a goddess, sacrificing her life to revive the rest. Back on their feet, the protagonist approaches Lahmu, slaying him and Sahori in the process.
The protagonist would eventually step in the turf where the angels and demons would hold their war, and the region of the root cause of humanity's extinction. He would helping the angels in getting past the other side's obstacles, eventually infiltrating the Demon King's Castle and slaying their leader Arioch, defeating the forces of chaos.
But once Bethel has won, the branches almost instantly disperse, with most now interested in taking the Creator's throne for themselves, as he's now conclusively dead, with the Nahobino's very existence proving that fact. Bethel Japan also concludes that's their best course of action, as the fake Tokyo is starting to fade away, with the Creator's Shekinah Glory wearing off, and the existence of the Nahobino being irrefutable evidence of the death of the Creator. The protagonist, already a Nahobino, still needs three keys to access the Empyrean, each representing traits necessary for a God in their leadership: Austerity, Benevolence and Harmony, having to take the keys from other regional representatives of Bethel: Vasuki, Zeus and Odin respectively.
Upon reaching the Empyrean, the protagonist and Aogami will be confronted by 3 other pairs that share the same Knowledge and are befitting to become Nahobino:
- Yuzuru Atsuta & Hayao Koshimizu: The pair will take the throne with the intentions of recreating the world, where everyone is a god, instead of letting it to a single god. Their goals are based on their desire to protect Tokyo, especially after its ruin they have witnessed under the hands of the Creator, and are entrusting their myriad of gods to wield the power and to protect the world.
- Ichiro Dazai & Abdiel: Ichiro believes that a world of multiple gods will only cause them to tear each other apart in a fight of power, and it is all better to entrust their faith to one God. As they're all-seeing and all-knowing, they couldn't possibly lead humanity astray. The two go as far as to defy the Creator's will to enforce his order, even with Abdiel being willing to become a fallen angel for his order.
- Shohei Yakumo & Nuwa: The pair rejects godhood and creation entirely, and is planning to destroy the throne altogether, letting humanity build their own fate. Shohei has shown strong contempt against demons for twisting humans, and his loyalty to humanity comes from his belief in their potential, which also leads to his scorn for humans who have given up.
Depending on what side the protagonist chooses to support, the ending of the story will be greatly influenced. But if the protagonist claims the throne while on the side of creation, he will be forewarned by Lucifer of the endless cycle that will continue, with Da'at recreated, and the Nahobino of that world will inevitably slay him together with the world he would shape. Lucifer, referring to this as the "Mandala System," proposes to the protagonist he slays him if he wants to destroy this cycle and earn the freedom Lucifer searched for and found. Doing so will grant the protagonist permanent freedom to carry on without forthcoming resistance. Observing the state of the world he has shaped, he holds firm to his beliefs in the face of conflict.
But depending on whether uncertain criteria is fulfilled, if he chooses to destroy the throne, Nuwa will propose another possibility to the protagonist that he may uptake. The protagonist will then be able to instead choose to create a world for humans only, instead of destroying the throne altogether. In this path, the protagonist will still be confronted by Lucifer.
Characters[]
Main[]
Supporting[]
Bosses[]
Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance[]
Title Screens[]
| Shin Megami Tensei V | Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance |
|---|---|
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Original Soundtrack[]
Media[]
International Releases[]
Switch[]
Japanese 
English Vengeance[]
Japanese 
English Logos[]
| Shin Megami Tensei V logos | |
|---|---|
 Shin Megami Tensei V English logo  Shin Megami Tensei V Japanese logo  Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance English logo  Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance Japanese logo |
Spin-Offs[]
| Shin Megami Tensei V Demon Colosseum (2021) | |
|---|---|
| Shin Megami Tensei V Demon Colosseum (真・女神転生V 悪魔コロシアム, Shin Megami Tensei V Akuma Koroshiamu)? was a web browser game to promote the succeeding release of Shin Megami Tensei V.The game was first opened for play on August 16th 2021, and since then has been hosted on the Shin Megami Tensei V website.[1] It would run on the website until the end of the year, on December 31st, 7PM JST. | 
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Trivia[]
- Shin Megami Tensei V is the first game in the series to have a simultaneous worldwide release, although the game came out in the West a day later.
- Shin Megami Tensei V is the first Shin Megami Tensei game with a Law ending that does not have said Law ending lead to genocide. This also applies to Vengeance, which also has another unique Law ending.
- The game's release date, "2021.11.11," may be a reference to the title's roman numeral "V", instead written with five "I" (1) symbols.
- Shin Megami Tensei V shares many of its UI elements with Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE, such as skill, ailment and buff icons, the color scheme and the level up screen.
- The loading times of the game are for the most part almost instantaneous. This applies mainly to switching between sub-areas and different menus, such as the Cadaver's Hollow or the World of Shadows. The only exception is when switching to separate major areas, such as between Minato and Shinagawa.
- In the English dub of the game, all demons who have origins of Japanese mythology are left undubbed, instead keeping their voice lines from the Japanese version.
- From 6/17 to 6/20/2021, free gems were given as a login bonus in Shin Megami Tensei: Liberation Dx2 to commemorate the reveal of the release date of Shin Megami Tensei V.
- On November 9th, 2021 a Shin Megami Tensei V AR filter featuring Jack Frost was added to Facebook and Instagram.
- Starting on November 11th in Japan, in commemoration of the release of Shin Megami Tensei V, a Jack Frost icon will appear at the end of related hashtags: #真V, #真・女神転生V, #SMT5, #SMTV and #ShinMegamiTenseiV.
- SMTVV is the first mainline Shin Megami Tensei game where:
- A route lock can occur as soon as the beginning of the game.
- The classic form of Lucifer is a summonable demon rather than a guest ally or enemy-only character.
Continuity[]
- SMT V is the first game in the series since Shin Megami Tensei II to be set in the same world as a previous game, as V is a distant sequel to SMT Nocturne.
- Magatsuhi returns in this game after being absent since Nocturne. It was previously massive amounts of energy that was needed to make Demons more powerful and makes its return in SMT V.
- Lucifer once again returns in this game, this time in his form he last took in Nocturne. He tells the angels that he has killed their God, possibly in reference to the fact that YHVH was killed in the last game.
- The Terminal system in this game appears to be the same as the ones found in Nocturne, with a cylinder design that spins in a large room. They are known as Amala Drums, connecting to the Amala Network, which is the grand multiverse in which the SMT series resides.
- The silver orbs made of cubes floating above Da'at are a reference to Kagutsuchi.
- An NPC mentions having read an article in Ayakashi Monthly that Jozoji Temple contains a barrier protecting the city of Tokyo. Ayakashi Monthly is the occult magazine that the character Jyoji Hijiri writes for.
- In the Black Frost Strikes Back subquest, Black Frost claims to have previously been the emperor of Kabukicho, referencing the optional battle against Hee-Ho-Kun in Kabukicho Prison.
- The special conversation between Forneus and Decarabia that occurs when attemping to recruit Decarabia with Forneus in the Nahobino's party references the pair's friendship in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
- In The Holy Ring subquest, the stone in Asakusa at which the Archangels are revived is identical to the stone at which the Archangels are fought in Mifunashiro in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Additionally, Melchizedek states that the Archangels will be hostile upon revival as they served Baal when they were killed, referencing Baal Avatar.
- In Shinjuku, a Miman implies that the Tokyo Conception occurred at a nearby hospital, referencing Shinjuku Medical Center.
- In Demon Haunts, Lucifer alludes to his relationship to Demi-fiend in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, referencing his role as part of the Scripture of Miroku.
- It is revealed that Lucifer in this game's true form, which can only be seen by the Nahobino, wants him to absorb his knowledge so that he can spread it through the Amala Multiverse and stop the endless destruction and creation of worlds.
- The Tokyo Diet Building, which the player enters at the end of the first Da'at location, seems to be the same building that appears in Nocturne. The inside is identical, but after some amount of years of use it is worn and ruined. Statues of different Demons have been built inside since its last appearance.
- In Demon Haunts, Pixie can say that Pixies used to have the ability to turn into High Pixies if they tried hard enough, but for some reason have lost that ability, referring to how Pixie could evolve into High Pixie in Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne, but has not been able to since. Pixie can also say that the ruins of the demon haunts remind her of the ruins fairies usually live in, possibly referencing Old Shinjuku, the run-down home of the fairies in Shin Megami Tensei II.
- Lilith returns in this game after last having appeared in Shin Megami Tensei IV. This is a new incarnation of Lilith who is a member of the Qadistu, who serve to steal Magatsuhi to awaken her lord the Goddess Tiamat.
- It is revealed in this game the origins of the human species and Demons. Long before time had a name, all humans were "Nahobino", perfect gods. That is until YHVH assumed the Throne of Creation and decreed that he can be the only true God, stripping away Nahobino of their Knowledge. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of Knowledge, the Forbidden Fruit, initiating the "Fall of Man" which gave all human souls for the rest of time Knowledge, which is what separates them from Demons. For the rest of time, Demons coveted humans knowledge so that they can be gods again.
Gallery[]
