Originally conceived as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has evolved into a standout name within modern RPGs. Its expansion into sequels, remakes, anime, and even stage plays has cemented its status as a multimedia phenomenon, with no signs of slowing down. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, now graces PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC platforms, sparking curiosity among newcomers about where to begin their journey into this captivating universe. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off, including the ideal starting points for new players, as well as the chronological and release order of the series.
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The Persona series boasts a total of twenty games. This includes expanded versions of the mainline entries through re-releases with new story content or remakes. We will detail every alternate version of each game in the lists that follow, excluding direct ports and remasters.
For those embarking on their Persona journey, diving into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a fantastic starting point. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are accessible on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which is not available on Nintendo Switch.
Newcomers need not worry about missing out on the story by starting with these later entries. Each game presents a fresh narrative with new characters, largely disconnected from its predecessors, making them excellent entry points. To help choose, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links featured in each game to find what resonates with you.
54 Available on PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. See it at Amazon
42 Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch See it at Nintendo
103 Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch See it at Amazon
These summaries include mild spoilers regarding characters, settings, and story elements.
The inaugural game of the series, Revelations: Persona, emerged as Atlus's response to the acclaim of Shin Megami Tensei: If… This spin-off centered around high-schoolers battling demons, and Revelations: Persona expanded upon it, offering a full dungeon-crawling RPG. Set in Mikage-cho, players control a group of high schoolers combating a supernatural uprising using their awakened Personas to navigate dungeons and engage in battles. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing key elements such as Personas in combat, the Velvet Room, and a youthful cast of heroes.
The second installment, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, launched in 1999, featuring a new group of high-school students led by protagonist Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart a mysterious villain named Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle amidst a backdrop where harmful rumors in Sumaru come to life. The game retains the focus on dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles, and was followed by a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, a year later.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
Continuing the story from Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano. Tasked with investigating the Joker Curse rumor, Maya and her allies confront a returning adversary. The gameplay remains centered on turn-based, dungeon-crawling mechanics, with players enhancing their party and utilizing Personas to combat shadows.
Read our review of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
Persona 3 marked a significant evolution in the series, emphasizing its high-school setting with a daily calendar system. Players juggle attending school, nurturing friendships, and studying, alongside battling shadows in the otherworldly Tartarus. The narrative follows Makoto Yuki, who can access a mysterious time period known as the Dark Hour, where he and his classmates uncover a sinister plot threatening the world. Persona 3 introduced pivotal mechanics like social links and day-to-day activities, becoming a cornerstone of the franchise.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has seen multiple re-releases. Persona 3 FES expanded the game with The Answer and an alternate campaign featuring a female protagonist. Persona 3 Portable, designed for handhelds, includes the female protagonist but excludes The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a complete remake for modern consoles, omitting The Answer and the female protagonist route.
A rhythm-based spin-off set during the main campaign of Persona 3, Dancing in Moonlight sees Elizabeth challenge the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The events, occurring in a dream, are canon and involve the team dancing to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
Set in the rural town of Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, a high schooler uncovering a series of murders linked to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. Utilizing the calendar system from Persona 3, players balance social links and school life with dungeon exploration and Persona combat. Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, added new story content and an additional dungeon, widely regarded as the definitive way to experience the game.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden is an enhanced version of the original, introducing new elements that enrich the narrative and gameplay experience.
This crossover game intertwines the stories of Persona 3 and Persona 4, occurring during their typhoon and Culture Festival segments, respectively. Both teams find themselves trapped in a distorted version of Yasogami High School, exploring a labyrinth and battling new enemies in a nod to 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 introduces Yu Narukami to a new adventure in the TV world, participating in a mysterious fighting tournament against allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3. This spin-off offers a robust fighting game experience with a cast of beloved Persona characters.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
Following directly from Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and sees the Persona 4 team and Shadow Operatives returning to the TV World to battle the tournament's mysterious forces. It enhances the original game, bringing back characters like Yukari, Junpei, Ken, and Koromaru.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
An unexpected spin-off, Dancing All Night continues the Persona 4 storyline in a rhythm-based dancing game set in an alternate dimension called the Midnight Stage. The Investigation Squad performs routines to iconic Persona tracks in a fully canon continuation of the story.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
Persona 5, set in Tokyo, casts players as Joker, a high schooler on probation after being framed for a crime. Discovering a supernatural realm, he and his friends become the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of wrongdoers. Building on the mechanics of its predecessors, Persona 5 introduces significant new elements and quickly became Atlus's best-selling game, fostering a massive fan base.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal is an expanded re-release that adds new content, including a companion, dungeon, and semester, making it the ultimate version of the game.
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth features a crossover between Persona 3, 4, and 5. The Phantom Thieves find themselves trapped in a movie theater, joining forces with the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad to navigate through movie-themed dungeons and fix their endings.
Set during the events of Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off reminiscent of the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdoms, where they must save their brainwashed allies from Tyrant Marie using a tactical grid-based combat system.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
The third rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Dancing in Starlight, sees 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 leads them back into the Metaverse via an app called EMMA. This spin-off blends the series with the Dynasty Warriors franchise, introducing real-time combat against hordes of enemies.
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. Launched in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024, with a Japanese release on the horizon following a closed beta sign-up in October, a global release is anticipated, though no official date has been announced. The Phantom X offers an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters who become the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is the eagerly awaited next installment in the RPG series, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.
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