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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteShin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the stronger starting point for most players: it includes the original game’s Canon of Creation, adds the substantially altered Canon of Vengeance, and makes several meaningful changes to exploration, saving, tutorials, and demon interactions. Calling it “the game SMT V should have always been” is a fair opinion about those improvements—not an objective fact. It launched June 14, 2024, and whether it is the right purchase depends chiefly on which story route you want and what platforms are available to you.
What Vengeance adds—and what it keeps
Shin Megami Tensei V launched in 2021. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, released June 14, 2024, is an expanded edition that retains the original story under the name Canon of Creation and adds a separate Canon of Vengeance. Atlus describes the game and its features on its official product page; Sega’s Vengeance page gives the release date and route details.
That distinction matters: Vengeance is not a replacement story that removes the original. You can choose either route. Nor is the new route merely a small extra chapter: Sega Japan says it follows the original scenario at first, then changes considerably from the middle onward and reaches a different ending. The two routes share an initial framework, but they are not interchangeable retellings from start to finish.
Should you play the original or Vengeance?
| If you want… | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The original story only | Shin Megami Tensei V or Vengeance’s Canon of Creation | Vengeance retains the original route as Canon of Creation. |
| The original story plus a substantially different route | Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance | It includes Canon of Creation and adds Canon of Vengeance, which diverges considerably after the middle. |
| The broader set of documented exploration and convenience features | Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance | It adds changes such as saving anywhere on the map, tutorials available at any time, map-navigation improvements, and Demon Haunts. |
For someone choosing between the two editions without a specific reason to seek out the original release, Vengeance is the more complete package on the evidence available: it preserves the original route while adding another and revising several systems. That does not establish that its story is better paced or that it fixes every criticism of the 2021 game. Those are matters of judgment, not measurable consequences of a feature list.
#1 Best Overall
- The Definitive Version of Shin Megami Tensei V: Fully evolved with stunning visuals for modern consoles, the dark lore, unnerving atmosphere, and beautiful and monstrous demons are back and better than ever. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration.
- A Tale of Vengeance or Creation: Which path will you choose? Experience a brand-new tale of revenge by the fallen or the original story of Shin Megami Tensei V, both filled with conflicting and tragic choices, forcing you to confront which ideologies you are willing to fight for. As order and chaos crumble around you, forge your own path to dictate the fate of humanity.
- Explore a Post-Apocalyptic World: Battle through a decimated Tokyo, reduced to an expansive wasteland and overrun by mythical demons. Roam across wide, open areas and explore new locations for life-saving items or encounter hundreds of familiar demons and dozens of new ones to battle or befriend as allies.
How the gameplay and convenience changes work
Atlus game director Shigeo Komori outlined Vengeance’s changes in a June 4, 2024 PlayStation Blog feature article. The changes address friction in exploring Da’at and managing encounters as well as adding interactions with demons.
- Save anywhere on the map: The original restricted saving to leyline founts; Vengeance lets players save anywhere on the map.
- Read tutorials later: Tutorials can be accessed at any time, which is useful if a mechanic is unclear after its initial explanation.
- Navigate more easily: The director describes Magatsuhi Rails, quicker map access, clearer navigation markers, shortcuts, and a full map view.
- Interact with demons in Demon Haunts: These conversations can improve Nahobino abilities and the stats of party demons.
- Change how Estoma works: Estoma, which helps avoid enemy encounters, is a Miracle rather than a skill. Komori says this lets players spend Magatsuhi instead of MP and frees a skill slot.
- More demon and battle options: Official materials describe an improved battle system and new demon experiences; Sega also notes new elements affecting demon fusion.
These are documented changes, not a guarantee that every player will prefer the new balance or find navigation effortless. The strongest practical case is that Vengeance gives players more flexibility and makes key information easier to revisit.
Rank #2
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How much content is included?
Sega Asia’s official page states that Vengeance features 270 demons, including new creatures and returning demons from the series. Sega Japan describes the roster as more than 270. These are publisher-provided figures, not an independent count. Sega Japan also says demon and quest content previously sold as downloadable content for the original game is included in Vengeance.
Included original-game DLC should not be confused with add-ons released specifically for Vengeance. Vengeance has its own separate DLC, and Atlus West’s version 1.0.3 patch notes document additions including six Demon Navigators and Marici. Those notes confirm what that update added; they do not establish that version 1.0.3 is the latest version.
Rank #3
- The Definitive Version of Shin Megami Tensei V - Fully evolved with stunning visuals for modern consoles, the dark lore, unnerving atmosphere, and beautiful and monstrous demons are back and better than ever. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration
- A Tale of Vengeance or Creation - Which path will you choose? Experience a brand-new tale of revenge by the fallen or the original story of Shin Megami Tensei V, both filled with conflicting and tragic choices, forcing you to confront which ideologies you are willing to fight for. As order and chaos crumble around you, forge your own path to dictate the fate of humanity
- Explore a Post-Apocalyptic World - Battle through a decimated Tokyo, reduced to an expansive wasteland and overrun by mythical demons. Roam across wide, open areas and explore new locations for life-saving items or encounter hundreds of familiar demons and dozens of new ones to battle or befriend as allies
Platforms, release date, and physical editions
Vengeance launched June 14, 2024. Sega Asia lists Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows. The specific format you can buy varies by platform and region: Sega Japan says the Xbox and PC versions in Japan are download-only, while it lists Switch and PlayStation platforms. Do not assume every listed platform has a boxed edition in every country; check the retailer’s listing for the region, console generation, and edition you want.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the “should have always been” claim gets right—and what it cannot prove
The title’s claim works as a verdict on direction, not as a factual description of the original. Vengeance keeps the 2021 story available, adds a second route that changes substantially, and addresses concrete convenience and exploration needs identified by the game’s director. That is enough to make the expanded edition a compelling default recommendation for new players.
Rank #4
- The Definitive Version of Shin Megami Tensei V - Fully evolved with stunning visuals for modern consoles, the dark lore, unnerving atmosphere, and beautiful and monstrous demons are back and better than ever. Massively expanded with new areas, demons, and music, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance features more accessible gameplay, an improved battle system, new demon experiences, and greater field exploration
- A Tale of Vengeance or Creation - Which path will you choose? Experience a brand-new tale of revenge by the fallen or the original story of Shin Megami Tensei V, both filled with conflicting and tragic choices, forcing you to confront which ideologies you are willing to fight for. As order and chaos crumble around you, forge your own path to dictate the fate of humanity
- Explore a Post-Apocalyptic World - Battle through a decimated Tokyo, reduced to an expansive wasteland and overrun by mythical demons. Roam across wide, open areas and explore new locations for life-saving items or encounter hundreds of familiar demons and dozens of new ones to battle or befriend as allies
It does not prove that Vengeance is the definitive version for every player, that the new route is narratively superior, or that performance is better on one platform than another. The official materials cited here provide no comparative performance measurements, and the available publisher sales figure—more than 1 million copies worldwide—refers to the original Shin Megami Tensei V, not Vengeance, according to Sega Japan’s product page.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Unfold an allusive story filled with tragic choices, make sacrifices to uphold your ideals as you pursue light or covet darkness to discover your role in the new world
- Fight through a demon-infested wasteland with the Press Turn Battle System, pinpoint enemy weaknesses so you can perform consecutive actions but make one mistake and it may be your last
- Turn formidable foes into worthy allies by recruiting them via negotiations, then fuse them to create demons customized to fit your playstyle
- Explore the expansive world of post-apocalyptic Tokyo, fully rendered in stunning 3D utilizing Unreal Engine 4, a first for the mainline Shin Megami Tensei series
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