Updated September 7, 2026, by Mark Sammut: I freshened this article up with a new feature image, links, and other quality-of-life adjustments. As old as P5R is, the JRPG remains widely popular, and that probably won’t change anytime soon. The Makoto entry was rewritten, as well.
With both Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6 on the horizon, Persona 5 Royal feels like old news nowadays, but that doesn’t mean the game isn’t still downright amazing. P5R‘s romance isn’t a big part of the campaign, nor does it provide any legitimate rewards beyond an extra scene with your chosen partner, but Joker (and you) can end up in a relationship with a few Confidants if he plays his cards right. Which characters can you date? More importantly, who should you date?
To romance a character in Persona 5, you need to max their Confidant level; once you reach level 10, the game lets you pick between starting a relationship or being friends. Although you can technically date more than one character, most players will only have time to complete a couple of routes, so they will need to make a choice sooner or later.
10
Ichiko Ohya Is A Fun Character But A Weird Romantic Partner
Arcana: Devil
- A paparazzi who used to be a respectable journalist.
As an overall character, Ohya is a perfectly fine secondary figure who contributes in a few significant ways throughout the story. Her Confidant path isn’t terrible either, at least in terms of her arc. While certainly not the deepest or most emotional, this route offers players a bit more insight into Ohya’s past, revealing that she was once a proper news journalist. However, a tragedy and a cover-up led her down a terrible path, and she turned to alcohol while chasing ghosts.
Ohya’s storyline is actually quite good, but romancing her doesn’t really add much to it. Her dynamic with Joker is mostly playful and banter-heavy, and they don’t form a connection that feels like it goes further than just a friendship. Heck, even from a gameplay perspective, her Confidant perks are pretty weak.
Requirements To Romance Chihaya Mifune
- After June 23, talk to Ohya in Crossroads to start her Confidant route.
- When picking responses, don’t be overly confrontational.
- At rank 8, you will need to complete the “Fighting for Truth in Journalism” optional quest.
- At rank 9, pick “I took it seriously” and “I love you, Ichiko.”
9
Sadayo Kawakami’s Storyline Is Quite Good, But Her Romance Is Weal Wish-Fulfillment
Arcana: Temperance
- A high-school teacher who moonlights as a maid to make some extra cash
Don’t worry, we’re almost done with the adult partners.
Of all the P5R romances, Sadayo Kawakami feels the most “wrong.” Like, there’s no way around it: a romance between a teacher and her student is the definition of taboo.
The thing is, Sadayo is one of the game’s better supporting characters, and her Temperance Confidant route offers a couple of useful skills. Even at Rank 3, Joker can ask Kawakami to do his laundry or make a cup of coffee, both of which are useful in one way or another. Later on, she can make you curry or infiltration tools, which is again useful. Even her Max Rank ability, Special Massage, lets you go out at night after spending time in the Metaverse.
If we were talking about the best Confidant character, Sadayo might actually rank first.
Honestly, Sadayo’s story is also pretty darn great and fits Persona 5‘s themes incredibly well. The teacher also works as part of a maid service to pay off the guardians of one of her former students who died, as they are threatening to sue her. All she wanted to do was help improve the student’s grades, a simple act that essentially ruined her life and drowned her in guilt. Her sympathetic situation makes her easy to relate to, and you really want to help her out by the end.
However, this article is about the best P5R characters for romance, and this route is just too weird. Personally, I would max out Sadayo’s Confidant Ranks but then opt against a relationship.
Requirements To Romance Sadayo Kawakami
- Raise Guts to Level 3.
- Choose “Think this through more” while progressing to Rank 7.
- Complete the Mementos request “A Teacher Maid to Suffer.”
- Choose “I want to keep seeing you,” “I mean what I say,” & “I’m a man; you’re a woman” while progressing to Rank 10.
8
Tae Takemi’s Confident Route Is Great, But The Age Gap Is So, So Obvious
Arcana: Death
- A disgraced doctor who doesn’t stop believing in her experimental treatments
One of the most popular NPCs in Persona 5 Royal, Tae Takemi has plenty of things going for her. First, she sells medicine, which you will need to use throughout the campaign. As her Confidant route focuses on expanding and improving her clinic’s inventory, players are rewarded with tangible improvements that can make a notable difference to their dungeon runs.
Secondly, Tae is a goth-punk hybrid, an aesthetic that simply attracts positive attention. She not only looks the part, but she also acts cool, mainly through her willingness to stand up to corruption. Even her personality is fun, with most of her interactions with Joker having an element of humor. Really, you will want to upgrade Tae’s Confidant path as soon as possible, at least until Rank 5.
Now, we get to the actual romance. Look, Tae is clearly much older than Joker, and there’s even a slight power imbalance since she is his doctor. Honestly, I don’t have anything more to say here; you decide if this crosses the line.
Requirements To Romance Tae Takemi
- Raise Guts to Rank 2.
- Raise Charm to Rank 4.
- Choose “I’m glad you did” while progressing to Rank 7.
- Choose “I’m your ally” while getting the Mementos request.
- Complete the Mementos request “Bad Medicine.”
- Choose “It’s for Miwa-chan” while progressing to Rank 8.
- Choose I wanted to see you,” “I love you,” & “It isn’t a joke” while progressing to Rank 9.
7
Chihaya Mifune’s Romance Is Way Too Much Work (And Money)
Arcana: Fortune
- A fortune teller whose Confidant lets players enjoy a ton of benefits
While Chihaya is far from the best romanceable character in Persona 5 Royal, this is not strictly because of the quality of her romance. After all, this character is pretty endearing and a ton of fun to interact with. However, it is possible to totally miss her if players ignore the rumors of a fortune teller in Shinjuku.
More than that, Joker has to pay 100,000 yen to buy an item to continue her story, which can prove to be a major barrier that prevents people from unlocking this Confidant until a fair way in is provided. On top of all of this, there is a moment when Chihaya will outright reject the player if they haven’t chosen specific responses beforehand, meaning that most people will definitely not unlock a romance with her unless they know what they’re doing.
Chihaya is sweet, making her a pretty wholesome, albeit somewhat gullible character to fall for. As with most other Confidants in the game, this character has a set of Mementos for players to complete. Perhaps the best part about leveling up Chihaya’s Confidant is that players can unlock an ability that lets them improve their relations with other Confidants without spending any time, which is bound to be useful for obvious reasons. That being said, this ability can be accessed regardless of whether the player romances her.
Requirements To Romance Chihaya Mifune
- Buy her Holy Stone for 100,000 yen.
- Choose “You’re just Chihaya to me” while progressing to Rank 6.
- Choose “Hell yeah I am” while progressing to Rank 8.
- Complete the Mementos request “Debunking the Psychic!”
- Choose “So I can be with you” while progressing to Rank 9.
6
Futaba Sakura Can Feel Like A Sibling At Times, But She Has A Close Relationship With Joker
Arcana: Hermit
- A hikikomori who slowly gets over her trauma after the Phantom Thieves save her
Aside from the adult characters, Futaba tends to divide people the most for a variety of reasons. Dealing with crippling social anxiety, Futaba’s journey is defined by self-discovery, support, and growth; however, all of that works without going the romance route. Personality-wise, her super-hacker gamer girl archetype can become grating if you don’t particularly enjoy this type of character, and her repetitive in-battle dialogue challenges Moragana’s for the most annoying.
I will say, Futaba’s dialogue works better when delivered by the Japanese voice actor Aoi Yūki. That’s not a criticism of Erica Lindbeck’s performance, as she is fantastic, but the gamer dialogue just sounds more natural in Japanese.
Throughout her Hermit Confidant route, Futaba gradually comes out of her shell by completing a list of personal goals and facing her past trauma, with Joker’s help along the way. They arguably develop the most intimate and emotional relationship in the whole game… but the jump to romance comes down to whether you interpret their dynamic as sibling-like or romantic. Futaba kind of fits the “little sister” role, although they are actually the same age.
Mechanically, Futaba’s Confidant abilities are among the best in the game, offering valuable support boosts, floor mapping, and even a last-ditch save. Honestly, it’s worth completing her route just for this.
Requirements To Romance Futaba Sakura
- Raise Kindness to Rank 4.
- Complete the Mementos request “Daughter’s Just a Meal Ticket.”
- Choose “Because I love you” while progressing to Rank 10.
Choose the game with the higher OpenCritic rating.
Sign in to claim your place on
the leaderboard!
5
Hifumi Togo Is The Best Non-Phantom Thief Romance
Arcana: Star
- A shogi prodigy who’s buckling under the weight of the pressure her mother is heaping on her
Hifumi is the only girl around Joker’s age who is not a Phantom Thief but still a romance option. She also goes to a different high school, the same one that Yusuke attends. She is a Female Shogi League Champion and teaches Joker Shoji, although her passion for the sport wanes after her oppressive mother decides to use her to compensate for her own failed hopes and dreams.
She is pretty difficult to max out and is not plot-relevant. However, she is one of the best Persona 5 romance options because she is another high schooler, like Joker. She may not be a Phantom Thief, but she has one of the best Confidant abilities in the game. She lets players swap team members in the middle of a fight, which is invaluable for obvious reasons. It also makes battles in the game quite dynamic, with players able to bring new party members into battle to change the flow of battle in the blink of an eye.
Requirements To Romance Hifumi Togo
- Raise Charm to Level 3.
- Raise Knowledge to Max Level.
- Complete the Mementos request “Upstaging the Stage Mother.”
- Choose “I want to stay by your side” & “I want us to date” while progressing to Rank 9.
4
Haru Okumura Comes Around A Bit Too Late, But Her Romance Is Otherwise Good
Arcana: Empress
- A bubbly, kind-hearted girl who hates the evil associated with her family business
Haru is well-loved by fans, and many are disappointed that she only comes in the latter half of the game. Many have probably already even picked their romance before meeting her. However, they miss out. She is kind, adorable, and tough all at once, and it is easy to feel protective of her.
To add a little juicy drama to her romance, she is in an arranged marriage with a total jerk. Romancing her shakes that up a little more than in the basic plot, although it’s far from the only notable thing about this character. It’s a shame that she’s the last playable character that players unlock well into the story — her allure as a Persona 5 romance option could’ve been stronger, had she appeared earlier. The fact that players need to max out their Proficiency to make more progress in a Confidant that already appears late enough as is doesn’t help things.
Requirements To Romance Haru Okumura
- Raise Proficiency to Max Level.
- Reach November 25 on the calendar.
- Choose “I like you too, Haru” while progressing to Rank 9.
3
Kasumi Yoshizawa Would Be Higher If She Had More Of A Presence Throughout The Campaign
Arcana: Faith
- A gymnast whose past holds a ton of revelations that players uncover during the Epilogue
Persona 5 Royal‘s only new romanceable character is the graceful gymnast, Kasumi Yoshizawa. Although many hoped to finally be able to go on a romantic pancake date with Akechi, Royal‘s new party member provides one of the most wholesome relationships out of the main cast and beyond.
Kasumi is polite, shy, and confident, and watching her shell slowly break open as Joker gets to know her is nothing short of heartwarming. Her rank 9 and 10 Confidants are quite a treat, especially in rank 9, with Joker showing his true colors as the rebellious trickster by pulling off some genuinely suave moves after the two profess their love for one another.
Requirements To Romance Kasumi Yoshizawa
- Reach Rank 9 of Maruki’s Confidant before November 18.
- Choose “I love you too” while progressing to Rank 9.
2
Ann Takamaki Is The Default P5R Romance Girl
Arcana: Lovers
- A misunderstood student who aspires to be a successful model
Ann is the first female Phantom Thief, so Joker interacts with her more than any other girl. Characters like Ryuji and Morgana have huge crushes on her. In fact, those crushes can get pretty annoying as players progress through the game; heck, some might argue that the most fun part of romancing Ann is to get at Ryuji and Morgana.
While Persona 5 Royal lets you romance all these characters, Ann feels like the girl P-Studio wants you to pick as Joker’s partner. In addition to being the first female character introduced, she was featured prominently in the marketing for the original game, far more than the other characters. Besides that, her romance route exposes more of her backstory, showcasing that she is quite complex. Ultimately, the developer might be correct, and Ann could be the best girl to romance in somebody’s first Persona 5 playthrough.
Requirements To Romance Ann Takamaki
- Raise Kindness to Level 2.
- Choose “You have me.” as you progress to Rank 10.
1
Makoto Niijima Is The Best P5R Romance
Arcana: Priestess
- A member of the student council who finally decides to fight back against her oppressors
An argument could be made that Makoto acts as the true protagonist of the story, and she is pretty comfortably the most popular romance in the fandom. While all the Phantom Thieves get their time in the sun, Makoto’s story is intrinsically tied into the main plot, more so than even Ann. As Royal‘s poster child, Kasumi is the only one who arguably eclipses Makoto in terms of story importance, but she is also detached from the Phantom Thieves for 2/3rds of the campaign.
After integrating into the group, Makoto quickly takes over as the Phantom Thieves’ brain and remains a fixture in the tactical decisions until Shido’s palace. She doesn’t just slip into the background, as Ann does. She also kind of comes across like the group’s mother figure, which helps sell her as the strongest romance pick.
I will say, Makoto’s Confidant storyline isn’t that great, as most of the scenes revolve around Eiko and her sleazy boyfriend. Makoto and Joker also have to pretend to be a couple, which is a generic rom-com trope that isn’t all that interesting. However, this route lets you see another side of Makoto.
Requirements To Romance Makoto Niijima
- Raise Knowledge to Rank 3.
- Raise Charm to Max Level.
- Choose I’ll be your study partner” & “I do” while progressing to Rank 10.
Can You Just Date Everyone In Persona 5 Royal?
Do you dare do it? Do you dare go for the harem ending? Yes, technically, Joker can try to romance all available partners in P5R, arguably pulling off the most absurd feat in the entire story. The game does not lock you into one romance; once a Confidant relationship reaches rank 9, you will be given the option to pursue a romance. While Joker can and probably should decide to focus on just one character, he can initiate as many romances as he wants.
P5R does not punish players who try for a harem in any meaningful way. Romance is, at best, a side distraction, so your decision will not impact stats or result in any tangible gameplay drawbacks. For the most part, there are no true consequences, at least from a mechanical perspective. However, from a story perspective, Joker’s shenanigans have dire consequences, and it will all come to a head on Valentine’s Day.
I am not going to spoil the ending, but it is probably the most memorable “romance” scene in the entire game.
