After Persona 5’s massive success, fans clamored for a follow-up to the popular JRPG. Several years later, the Atlus team serves up the continuation of the Phantom Thieves story with Persona 5 Strikers. Set several months after the base game events, Joker and his team reassemble for a road trip across the country. Along the way, they find that the Metaverse is active again. Someone is creating Monarchs who can change hearts and framing the Phantom Thieves.

With some investigation, the team finds out that another god is trying to manipulate the masses. This god is known as Demiurge, a celestial being that uses its power to imprison humanity. Those familiar with the Persona franchise may recognize the name, and there’s a good reason for that. Demiurge has been a recurring character in Shin Megami Tensei and its spin-off, one that serves as an ongoing mystery in this universe. Here are several things many don’t know about the false gods known as Demiurge.

9 EMMA Becomes Demiurge In Persona 5 Strikers

Throughout Persona 5 Strikers, the Phantom Thieves believe that Akira Konoe is behind the creation of the Jails scattered across the country. While he did play a part in bringing them into existence, he was being manipulated by a higher power. This power was EMMA, the artificial intelligence app that he created.

After evolving, EMMA gains independence, using her newfound power to draw on the masses’ desires. Once her transformation is complete, she becomes the Ark of the Covenant. Eventually, she transforms into Demiurge, the False God.

8 Persona 5 Strikers Isn’t Demiurge’s First Appearance

While Persona 5 Strikers’ Demiurge is a powerful foe, this version is far from the first rendition of this Shin Megami Tensei character. Plenty of games in the franchise have this character as the final boss encounter, including Shin Megami Tensei NINE and Persona 5.

This deity is usually the strongest enemy the protagonist encounters. In Persona 5 Strikers, its name is “Demiurge-The False God.” This isn’t the only name it goes by, but it’s a universal term that fans of the franchise can use to reference the false god, no matter which iteration they’re dealing with.

7 Demiurge’s Legend Depicts It As Malevolent

It might surprise some that the origins of the nefarious god, Demiurge, stem from Biblical stories. At the same time, some view him as an inferior version of God from the Old Testament. Others attribute his likeness to the Devil, one who temps humanity and urges them to stray from God’s path.

This inspiration shows throughout the franchise as Demiurge tries to manipulate humankind into accepting his plan for them. If this god had his way, humans would be slaves that follow his whims. Thankfully, the Phantom Thieves step in to stop his plan in the knick of time.

6 The Previous Demiurge Poses As Igor

In Persona 5, the false god disguised himself as the proprietor of the Velvet Room, Igor. After separating Lavenza into Caroline and Justine, he took control of the Velvet Room, using his position to influence Joker’s path.

While he did guide Joker through each Palace, his ultimate goal was to force humanity to accept him as their savior. Once the Palace Rulers are gone, people avoid introspection, choosing to submit to this god’s twisted will.

5 This Demiurge was the Holy Grail of Mementos

The previous Demiurge was able to manipulate the masses by drawing on their desires in Mementos. Like the Holy Grail, their desires gave him power. The more people relied on him, the stronger he became.

To gain this power, Demiurge guided humanity to a point where they felt lost, promising that only he could guide them to the future they desired. Without his influence, humans would have to make their own decisions and decide their own futures.

4 Joker and Demiurge Share An Arcana

In Gnostic teachings, Demiurge is often associated with the “Fool” Arcana. Veterans from Persona 5 will know that this is Joker’s Arcana as well. The Fool is often linked to chaos or disarray. Joker uses his chaotic power, the Wild Card, to aid people, even if what he’s doing breaks the law and ignores law enforcement. Joker is the embodiment of Chaotic Good.

While Joker uses his powers to aid society, Demiurge embraces Chaotic Evil’s attributes, sowing seeds of confusion and panic to manipulate those around him. He forces his desires on the people of Japan, aiming to overthrow individuality.

3 Yaldabaoth Was Persona 5’s Demiurge

In Persona 5, Demiurge donned the name Yaldabaoth. It used powers reminiscent of the Seven Deadly Sins to attack the Phantom Thieves with a different name and form. The fight proves to be tough for the team, but they ultimately overcome this rendition of Demiurge and free Tokyo from his influence.

2 Demiurge Led Joker On The Path To Ruin

In both Persona 5 and Persona 5 Strikers, Demiurge was why Joker appeared in the Velvet Room. His inevitable run-in with ruin is what leads to him being a prisoner. He may not have known it at the time, but Demiurge was using this Phantom Thief as a tool to set a plan in motion.

Without both incarnations of Demiurge, Joker wouldn’t have had to be a prisoner. Once he unveils the god’s identity in both games, he’s freed from his chains and can traverse the Velvet Room freely, signaling that it was Demiurge that was binding him.

1 Sataneal Is Also A Fool Arcana Diety

The diety that steps to end Yaldabaoth, Satanael, is the strongest Persona at Joker’s disposal canonically. Like the confidants in Persona 5, each Persona belongs to an Arcana, and Satanael belongs to the Fool, just like Joker and Demiurge.

It’s somewhat poetic that this is the Persona that brings the boss down, as he represents what Yaldabaoth could have been for humanity.