The game follows Persona 5 ' story, where a group of high school students known as the Phantom Thieves are forced to transfer to a new school after being expelled from their previous one. The protagonist and his friends soon discover that their new school is actually a prison for corrupt adults who have become trapped in their own personal demons.
Players take control of the Phantom Thieves, navigating through the Metaverse, a manifestation of each character's psychological struggles, to force these adults to confront their inner demons and change their ways. The gameplay involves turn-based combat, social simulation, and exploration.