Persona 5 Tactica, the newest spin-off in the Persona series, sees the return of many beloved characters in both the main game and the Repaint Your Heart DLC. However, plenty of fans are finding themselves a bit puzzled about exactly when the events of this game fit into the grand timeline of the Persona series. And is it before the Phantom Thieves’ Tokyo reunion in Persona 5 Strikers? Let’s have a look at what we know so far and figure out where in the timeline Persona 5 Tactica hangs out!
Is Persona 5 Tactica Set Before Persona 5 Strikers?
The events of Persona 5 Tactica are set before the story of Persona 5 Strikers. More precisely, the game’s story unfolds in the period between Persona 5 and Persona 5 Strikers. However, rather than connecting the dots between the two games, the narrative serves as a retelling of the events by providing a fresh perspective.
The fact that the game doesn’t have a calendar system does make it a bit challenging to pinpoint the exact time it takes place. However, there are several clues that have helped us find out that the game is indeed set before Strikers.
Firstly, the game’s opening, as narrated by Morgana, suggests that the story takes place somewhere between February and March – a fact corroborated by the snowy weather described in the game.
This claim is further supported by the mention of the upcoming graduation for the third-year students, indicating that the events of Persona 5 Tactica do indeed occur before the summer road trip in Persona 5 Strikers.
Secondly, the absence of Kasumi Yoshizawa in the main game suggests that Tactica is set towards the end of the original Persona 5 game, rather than Persona 5 Royal, before Joker leaves to return home.
This is because all of the Phantom Thieves seem normal and definitely not under the influence of Maruki’s reality. Therefore, it’s likely that the game takes place during the short time skip after 25 December, after the events of Persona 5 but before the events of the third semester and Maruki’s reality.
However, things are often not as simple as they might seem, especially if we’re talking about the Persona timeline. The appearance of both Akechi and Yoshizawa in the Repaint Your Heart DLC has got many fans confused. So, does the DLC mess with the timeline, or does it follow a completely different time period? Let’s find out!
Is Persona 5 Tactica: Repaint Your Heart DLC Set Before Strikers?
Person 5 Tactica: Repaint Your Heart is a side-story that takes place in the middle of the events of Persona 5 Royal. And since Royal is considered to be set before Strikers, we can say with confidence that the Repaint Your Heart DLC is also set before the events of Persona 5 Tactica and Persona 5 Strikers.
Final Thoughts
Despite the initial confusion that Persona 5 Tactica’s announcement had caused regarding its place in the timeline, the game seems to fit cozily between the events of the original Persona 5 and Persona 5 Strikers, with its DLC taking players on a journey before the events of the main game.