Shin Megami Tensei V - What is the protagonist's canon name?
Shin Megami Tensei V wastes no time introducing you to its nameless protagonist, the Nahobino. We’re all quite familiar with the term after a cycle of teasers and announcements from Atlus in the lead-up to SMTV’s launch, but like plenty of the developer’s other titles before it, you may not immediately be aware of a canon name for the enigmatic protagonist.
Atlus games quite often tend to work that way. If you’re familiar with SMT III Nocturne, perhaps you’re expecting to hear Nahobino’s got a canonical name mentioned somewhere in a light novel, manga, or radio drama, but those things aren't available for SMTV now. They aren't typically available immediately upon launch, and even if they are, their name is often different depending upon the medium. Even in Persona 4, we saw the protagonist use both Yu Narukami and Souji Seta.
What is the canon name of the protagonist in SMTV?
SMTV’s protagonist does not have a canon name. At least, he doesn’t have one for now, but that could always change later. You haven't missed any spin-off anime series or short stories, he's just whatever you wish to call him in the beginning.
Until Atlus spins up additional media around SMTV, you’re out of luck on official suggestions. But as for unofficial advice, I just kept things easy and went back to my favorite Atlus game, Persona 3, and named the dude Shinjiro Aragaki. I couldn’t help myself. I’m someone who’s always insistent upon naming their player character the canon name, so until Atlus gives him something, my Nahobino is just Shinji.
There's plenty of other places to look for inspiration if you're after something more in-line with the universe. Both the SMT and Persona series boast protagonists with more widely accepted, preferred names and other more obscure options from less popular media. We've got a complete guide on more Persona nods, too.
Should I name the protagonist Nahobino?
If you’ve seen folks referring to him as Nahobino and haven’t begun the journey just yet, just know that’s an alias you’ll hear in-game - think something like SMT III’s Demi-fiend or Persona 5’s Joker. How he gets that name is an early story beat, but it’s not something for you to go naming SMTV’s lead.
If Shin Megami Tensei V's protagonist does wind up with a canon name, we'll update our guide for future adventures. Until then, we've got plenty of other handy references to check out: