The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has evolved into a major force in modern RPGs. With its extensive lineup of sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has become a multimedia phenomenon whose popularity continues to soar. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking interest among newcomers about where to begin their journey into this captivating universe. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore every game and spin-off in the series, offering insights into the best entry points for new players, as well as detailing both the chronological and release order of the series.
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In total, there are currently twenty Persona games. These include various iterations of the mainline entries, such as re-releases with new story content or remakes. While we exclude direct ports and remasters, we'll highlight every alternate version of each game in the lists below.
If you're new to the series, diving into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a fantastic starting point. These are the latest versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which isn't on Nintendo Switch.
Newcomers can jump straight into any of these games without missing crucial story elements, as each entry features a new story and original characters largely disconnected from its predecessors. To help you choose, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see what resonates with you.
54 Available on PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. See it at Amazon
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These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was born from the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience centered around high schoolers battling a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Players harness the powers of their awakened Personas to combat shadows, explore dungeons, and grow stronger throughout the game. Revelations: Persona laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing core elements like Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin, the second entry, follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. They confront the villainous Joker and the Masked Circle cult amidst a backdrop where malicious rumors in Sumaru come to life. The game continues the tradition of dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and shadow combat, with a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, released a year later.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
Following Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano, who investigates the Joker Curse. The game maintains the series' turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay as players battle shadows and wield Personas.
Read our review of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
Persona 3 marked a significant evolution with its daily calendar system, blending school life, social interactions, and supernatural battles in Tartarus. The story follows Makoto Yuki, who discovers the Dark Hour and a demonic tower emerging from his school. Persona 3 introduced social links and many mechanics now iconic to the series.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES added The Answer and a female protagonist route, while Persona 3 Portable offered a handheld version with the female protagonist but without The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a full remake for modern consoles, excluding The Answer and the female protagonist route.
This rhythm-based dancing spin-off set during the Persona 3 campaign features Elizabeth challenging the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. Set within a dream, the events are canon and involve performing dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
Set in the rural town of Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami as he investigates a series of murders linked to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. The game builds on Persona 3's mechanics, blending school life, social links, and dungeon exploration.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, added new story content and an additional dungeon, making it the definitive version of the game.
A crossover between Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth traps the S.E.E.S team and Investigation Squad in a warped version of Yasogami High School during specific segments of their respective stories. They explore a labyrinth, battle new enemies, and uncover an original story rooted in the series' dungeon-crawler origins.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
A continuation of both Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena features Yu Narukami returning to Inaba for a fighting tournament in the TV world. It introduces a full fighting game with a roster of iconic Persona characters.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
Following the events of Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and continues the story as the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives battle mysterious forces in the TV World.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
This rhythm-based dancing game continues the Persona 4 storyline, with the Investigation Squad performing routines in the Midnight Stage, an alternate dimension.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
Set in Tokyo, Persona 5 follows Joker, a high school student on probation, as he and his friends become the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating mystical palaces to change the hearts of wrongdoers. Building on the series' formula, Persona 5 introduced new mechanics and became Atlus' best-selling game.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal expanded the game with a new companion, dungeon, and semester, offering the ultimate version of the game.
This sequel to Persona Q features a crossover between Persona 3, 4, and 5 characters trapped in a movie theater. They explore movie-based dungeons to escape and fix the movie endings.
Set during Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off where the Phantom Thieves navigate an alternate realm, the Kingdoms, using tactical grid-based combat to battle against Tyrant Marie and save their allies.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
In this rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Caroline and Justine challenge the Phantom Thieves to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, performing routines to Persona 5's catchy tracks.
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation that turns into a Metaverse adventure involving a mysterious app, EMMA. The game introduces real-time combat inspired by the Dynasty Warriors series.
Read our review of Persona 5 Strikers.
The next Persona project to keep an eye on is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024. A Japanese release is imminent following a closed beta sign-up in October, with a global release expected, though no official details are available yet. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters who become the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is the eagerly anticipated next installment in the RPG series, although Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.
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