Nintendo
Register
Advertisement

Joker is the codename used for the main playable protagonist of the Atlus role-playing game, Persona 5. He is a high school student who, as a result of being wrongfully convicted for a crime, has been forced to transfer away from his home town and serve probation in Tokyo while attending Shujin Academy, an oppressive environment where his criminal record draws him the ire of other students and teachers. Upon receiving an app on his phone that transports him to an alternate realm known as the Metaverse, he awakens to his Persona and vows to expose the distorted desires of corrupted adults, teaming with similarly outcast teenagers to form the vigilante group, the Phantom Thieves of Hearts. Despite the character being able to be freely named by the player in Persona 5 and Persona 5 Strikers, he has been given numerous alternate names in associated media. The name Ren Amamiya, largely considered to be his canon name, is used for both Persona 5: The Animation and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018), as well as in the description for his Amiibo figure, and as a preset name should the player not name him themselves in the re-release of Persona 5 Royal (2022). The name Akira Kurusu is used for the serialized Persona 5 manga adaptation.

Outside of Persona 5, the character has made appearances in other media related to the Persona series, such as the spin-off games Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018) for the Nintendo 3DS, and Persona 5 Strikers (2020) for the Nintendo Switch. He also has notable ties to Nintendo's history for being the first paid downloadable content (DLC) character for the Nintendo Switch fighting game, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018), being added to the roster as part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 1 expansion pack alongside the stage Mementos and various spirits themed around Persona 5, in April 2019.

Personality and Appearance[]

History[]

Joker is the leader of the vigilante group known as the Phantom Thieves. After being falsely accused of assault, he was labeled a delinquent and moved to Tokyo, Japan to attend Shujin Academy as part of his probation. While there, he meets several of his soon-to-be team members, and learns of a world called the Metaverse, which the Phantom Thieves use to target corrupt individuals and change their heart. Joker is a user of a rare Persona ability known as the Wild Card, which allows him to hold multiple Personas at once. Arsene is his initial persona.

Other Appearances[]

Persona Q2[]

In Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, he is one of the new playable characters along with the rest of the Phantom Thieves and the female Persona 3 protagonist. He leads the group in navigating the labyrinth, and eventually encounters the other Persona characters

Super Smash Bros. series[]

As a part Challenger Pack #1 for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Fighter Pass, he was announced as a fighter for the game at the 2018 Game Awards. He was released on April 17, 2019.

Dragalia Lost[]

Joker appears as a playable character in Dragalia Lost as part of the Caged Desire event.

Official Description[]

A third-year at Shujin Academy in Tokyo who awakened to the power of Persona amidst the so-called psychotic breakdown incidents. Formed the Phantom Thieves of Hearts with his friends to reform the corrupt adults who rule their society.

Adventurer Stories[]

Adventurer Stories
Advertisement