Persona 6 might be MIA, but this new turn-based RPG featuring social systems, 95% positive Steam reviews, and college kids who beat up demons is the next best thing

Keyart for Demonschool showing Faye's face split into pieces for artistic effect — (Image credit: Ysbryd Games)

Persona 6 is nowhere to be found and Atlus is intent on shoving as much Joker down my eyesockets as humanly possible, but indie developers aren't struggling to pick up the slack. In fact, a new Persona-like has just debuted to stellar reviews.

I'm of course talking about Demonschool, one of the indies that was swept up in the Hollow Knight Silksong delay storm, but has finally made it out the other end. You follow a group of college kids who spend their days going to school and forming friendships (or something more?), and their nights beating up demons to save their home from an inevitable apocalypse. Persona, Scooby Doo, or Demonschool? Regardless, it's a winning recipe.

"Big fan of whenever you can feel the authors' weird extremely specific interests coming through a game, loud and clear," one player wrote. "Also a big fan of something that feels like Into The Breach through the lens of someone who had a real good time playing every Nintendo DS RPG ever made. Necrosoft put together a really generous thing here. Expect something a little goofy and a little exuberantly campy and you'll have a real gosh darn good time."

There are also a few ways in which Demonschool sets itself apart from Atlus' series of high-schooling, demon-punching games, in case you're asking yourself, "Why shouldn't I just play Persona instead?" First is that Demonschool's battles take place over a tactical grid that lets you plan out moves in advance, so your entire squad moves at the same time. Second, there's a greater emphasis on the spookier, horror-filled aspect here. Third is that, well, again, Persona 6 ain't coming out any time soon - sorry!