JRPGs are a dime a dozen, with Square Enix remastering or remaking the majority of its classics, while other developers like Level-5 and Atlus continue to produce sequels and new IPs, like Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Persona 5. However, while many JRPGs stick to the tropes of the genre, standout games like the Persona series dare to do something different, offering social sim elements and a more magic realism setting, like no other game out there. Naturally, many may think this would lead to numerous copycats, and while there have been some, few have truly nailed the brilliance of Persona 5.

There are many things Persona 5 does that other JRPGs don't, which players want to see replicated, or at least utilized in some way in other games in the genre. The life sim/social sim elements, jazzy soundtrack, monster collection, stylish combat, and so much more are the hallmarks of the Persona franchise, but few games have managed to combine them all. That is, of course, until now, as a brand-new RPG offers not just a Persona-like experience across its 40-hour story, but also plenty of EarthBound and Stranger Things vibes.

Bloomtown: A Different Story Is Stranger Things Meets Persona 5

It Features Monster Collection, Social Sim Elements, And Turn-Based Combat

Bloomtown: A Different Story is the latest RPG from developer Lazy Bear Games, who players may recognize as the folks behind the popular Punch Club series, Graveyard Keeper, and Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story. It has been reviewed extremely positively since it launched on September 24, 2024, with reviewers calling it a cross between Persona 5, EarthBound, and Stranger Things, all of which were huge inspirations for the game. Those claims aren't unfounded, as there are a lot of elements from all three of those, and other popular media, that are heavily featured in Bloomtown: A Different Story.

In Bloomtown: A Different Story, players take on the role of Emily and her younger brother Chester as they spend their summer holidays in the definitely-not-creepy titular Bloomtown. There's a day and night cycle and a daily timer that determines when shops are open and where certain NPCs will be, much like Stardew Valley. Fans will be able to mingle with their favorite characters, get a part-time job, go fishing, head to the shops, farm in their garden, or, when they feel like it, head into the terrifying demonic underworld where kidnapped children are being held.

This is absolutely a Persona 5-like, with its story and gameplay mechanics feeling like they were borrowed from the same book, while retaining much of the charm and stylings of the EarthBound series and the Stranger Things series. It's the perfect distraction while players wait for Persona 6 to release, or between bouts of playing Persona 5 Royal on repeat. There's a huge town to explore, plenty of characters to meet, and a fairly in-depth combat system to get stuck into, with monster collection to boot.

Bloomtown: A Different Story Borrows Heavily From Persona 5's Combat

It Even Has A Jazzy Soundtrack

The best parts of Persona 5 Royal have made their way into Bloomtown: A Different Story, from its stylish combat, to its jazzy battle themes and monster collection. Players can equip up to two demons per character to fight alongside them - much like Personas - and can collect even more throughout the game. There are a lot to face and collect, giving players plenty to look forward to, and they can be fused to buff one another.

In combat, each character has a ranged weapon which is needed to target enemies in the back row, and a melee weapon, as well as spells that they use via their collected demons. If it sounds like Persona 5, that's because it's very similar, although it has to be said that Bloomtown: A Different Story is its own game, with several unique features, including its gorgeous pixel art aesthetic. Bloomtown: A Different Story is perfect for Persona 5 and EarthBound fans, and can be picked up on PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.

Source: PlayStation/YouTube