This year at Gen Con, Level 99 Games gave us a sneak peek at something a little outside their normal offering of my favorite board games: a Persona tarot box. This box features not one but three full decks of tarot cards featuring art straight from the popular game series. I can say with confidence that both the box itself and the decks look incredible, especially with the foiled edges that I couldn’t quite capture on my camera. But having only played a bit of P4G myself, I can’t confidently call myself a proper Persona fan. So instead, I asked fellow GamingTrend editor David Flynn what they thought of the set:
Persona has been deeply intertwined with the tarot since 1999 with Persona 2: Innocent Sin on the PS1, so it only makes sense that, for the series’ 30th anniversary, Atlus and L99 would make those cards a reality. This collection only utilizes the decks in the latest three games of the series: 3 Reload, 4 Golden, and 5 Royal, so while it’s a bit disappointing that we don’t get anything for the game that started the trend, these decks look fantastic.
The Persona 3 and 4 Decks utilized the same card designs, so the two are very similar. There are a few new cards in the minor arcana, which fit perfectly among these classics. The Persona 5 deck is the most striking, however, with its entirely new minor arcana and card backs that seem to draw from clown makeup, fitting given how the Joker card is usually depicted.
It all comes in a stunning blue box with gold filigree depicting the velvet rooms of 3, 4, and 5. Each deck also comes in its own card box featuring the typical design of Philemon’s mask rendered in black and that game’s primary color. Even without being connected to a video game series, these are great decks for tarot readings. This set doesn’t include any reference guide for readings or card interpretations. But I think that would really complete the package, especially if the guide included details on how each arcana is presented in the games.
The deckbox backs really complete the Velvet Room look
This set is available for preorder at Level 99’s webstore for $70, and should be shipping late November for any Persona or tarot fans who want to pick up their own set to commemorate the franchise’s 30th anniversary.
