Persona 5's stylish Palaces are fun and satisfying to play through, and each one marks major turns in the game's narratives. The palaces all carry heavy symbolic imagery for each of their owners and the warped desires that control them. Players look forward to Palace heists, as they're the dynamic break from school life and Mementos grinding that makes the game more exciting.
However, some palaces shine more than others. Whether through gameplay, design, or story, some of the palaces just don't match up. This tier list sticks to the base Persona 5 release, as Royal updated some of the palaces and added an entirely new palace.
D-Tier: Bank of Gluttony
A bank heist should be one of the most exciting settings for a palace; it's a classic location full of potential. Unfortunately, the gameplay of this palace is a drag and the interior design of the bank is rather drab. Makoto's awakening is a cool scene, and she's a great asset in this palace, but her debut is dampened by how tedious the palace is. The bank's passwords and guards are more of an inconvenience than a thrilling challenge.
The city below is more interesting than the actual floating bank; the ATM people who are left twitching on the ground are an eerie sight, and attempting to talk to them is unsettling in a way that grabs attention. Kaneshiro himself is also not that compelling of a villain. He's a generic extortionist and is never seen or heard from again once the palace is done with. His boss battle's gimmick, the giant piggy bank robot, is a pain as well. This palace had some potential, but it wasn't fully realized.
D-Tier: Spaceport of Greed
The spaceport's most interesting component is how closely it's tied to one of the Persona 5 party members; the palace owner is Haru's father. It's the perfect setting for her awakening, and for her to undergo some character development after her late introduction. The palace itself is not very interesting on its own, however. The halls of the spaceship begin to all look the same, and the enemies become a bother to deal with. The airlock maze can be annoying to deal with, as well. Okumura's boss battle is also difficult thanks to the timer that runs throughout the entire ending segment of the palace, and his many minions he sends out to fight for him.
C-Tier: Prison of Sloth
The final palace is meant to represent humanity's collective unconscious, and it's found in the depths of Mementos. The prison is a fitting finisher to the palaces, and it serves well as Persona 5's setting of denouement. However, its placement at the very end and lack of connection to a character on a personal level makes it less memorable than other palaces. The prison is a lot less high-energy than other palaces with its design and soundtrack, and that fits well considering its major theme. The palace is not bad by any means, it just doesn't stand out as much.
B-Tier: Museum of Vanity
Madarame's museum works well as a follow-up to the first palace, and Yusuke's introduction to the team works excellently. The mission plays out like a classic heist movie, and the design of the museum is beautiful. Yusuke's gradual realization of his father figure's crimes is tragic, and he realistically struggles with his feelings long after the palace is done with. Madarame's actual boss battle is a bit underwhelming, and he tends to fall into the background among the other villains of the game. That said, the museum is still a palace worthy of mention.
B-Tier: Cruiser of Pride
Shido's presence has been hanging over the protagonist Joker since the very beginning of the story. Once the player can finally enter his palace and take him down from the inside, it makes for a very satisfying heist. The luxurious cruise ship is a fantastic setting, and it thematically fits Shido's lofty ideals and disregard for those he considers beneath him. The calling card for this palace is one of the best in the game, with a citywide announcement of Shido's corruption on the air. Some of the slower segments drag down the palace just a bit, but the cruiser is definitely among the best palaces.
A-Tier: Castle of Lust
Kamoshida's whole arc is a strong start to Persona 5's narrative. He arguably represents the themes of Persona 5 better than the other palace owners, as a small-scale tyrant who will ruin the lives of those he holds power over. The story of physical and sexual abuse is heavy, and the game does not shy away from very explicit imagery and the effects of this abuse. Kamoshida is perfectly built for players to hate him and put all of their energy into taking him down. It's the site of awakening for three main characters, and their experience in this dungeon specifically ties them together in an especially strong way.
The palace is just the right length and difficulty for a starter Persona dungeon, and the castle setting is memorable and well-designed.
A-Tier: Casino of Envy
Persona 5's dynamic opening animated cutscene takes place in this palace, but it will take many hours before players get to see it in full. This palace is flashy, bright, and busy in the best way possible. The casino games, patrons, and Shadows all fit the theme wonderfully and the palace's theme is both iconic and catchy. The roulette gimmick of the boss battle adds some fun to the palace, and the player is kept on the edge of their seat knowing what follows the end of the battle. It's an excellently executed palace, even if the darkness maze is a chore.
S-Tier: Pyramid of Wrath
The Pyramid of Wrath may have been born from a distorted desire, but it was not made from malice. The story behind Futaba's palace is tragic, and her sorrow and guilt are on full display in the puzzles and imagery found in the tomb. She has locked herself away from the world, but enough hope lies in her that she asks to have her heart changed.
The palace's theme is melancholy but also soothing. The gameplay works well also; it's a puzzle-heavy palace but they are all satisfying and not too tedious to get through. The final boss battle where Futaba awakens her Persona and physically fights her guilt towards her mother's death is a cathartic ending to the palace. The pyramid's greatest strength is its narrative, and it shines over the other palaces.
Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal are available now on PS4.