Beginning its life as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, the Persona sequence has rapidly launched into one thing fully of its personal and turn into one of many greatest names in trendy RPGs. From a number of main sequels and remakes to anime diversifications and even stage plays, Persona is a multimedia sensation, and its reputation doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime quickly.
With the most recent entry in the franchise, Persona 3 Reload, now out there to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, new gamers are in all probability questioning the place’s the very best place to start out. Below, we’ll offer you a full rundown of each game and spin-off, together with the very best entry level for newcomers and each the chronological and release order of the sequence.
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How Many Persona Games Are There?
In whole, there are at present twenty Persona video games. Several of those are expanded variations of the mainline entries in the sequence, whether or not that’s in the type of re-releases that includes new story content material or remakes. While we gained’t embrace direct ports or remasters, we’ll ensure to notice each alternate model of every game when itemizing them under.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
If you're in search of the proper place to start out, you’ll be able to’t actually go improper leaping into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden or Persona 5 Royal first. They’re the most recent variations of the third, fourth and fifth mainline entries in the sequence, and, apart from Persona 3 Reload lacking Nintendo Switch, they’re all out there on PC and each main console.
For these involved about skipping the story by leaping into later entries in the sequence, you gained’t miss something by going straight to Persona 3, 4, or 5. Each game tells a completely new story with unique characters that’s largely disconnected from its predecessors, in order that they’re nice launching factors for these coming in contemporary.
Every Persona Game and Spin-Off in Chronological Order
These blurbs comprise gentle spoilers for every game, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The first game in the sequence, Revelations: Persona was Atlus’ response to the optimistic reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…, which was one other Shin Megami Tensei spin-off centered round high-schoolers battling demons. Capitalizing on how a lot gamers loved the central idea, Revelations: Persona provided a full dungeon-crawling RPG centered round a bunch of excessive schoolers battling a supernatural rebellion all through the city of Mikage-cho.
Along the best way, they use the powers of their woke up Personas to take down shadows and discover dungeons stuffed with random encounters, leveling up their occasion and rising stronger over the course of the game. Revelations: Persona was the inspiration of the franchise as we all know it as we speak, introducing parts like wielding Personas in fight, the Velvet Room and a teenage solid of heroes.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
The second entry in the Persona sequence, Persona 2: Innocent Sin launched in 1999. The game follows a brand new set of high-school college students led by protagonist Tatsuya Suou, who set out on a mission to take down a mysterious villain referred to as Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle.
Centring round an evil plot the place malicious rumors spreading across the city of Sumaru come to life, Persona 2 as soon as again focuses on exploring dungeons, wielding Personas, preventing shadows and leveling up your occasion. Unlike different entries in the sequence, it obtained a direct sequel only a yr later, with Persona 2: Eternal Punishment performing as a continuation of the game's story.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Following up the occasions of Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment promoted facet character, Maya Amano, to the protagonist position. Sent to write down an article a few new rumor relating to a phenomenon referred to as the Joker Curse, the game rapidly sees Maya and her allies rally towards a returning foe.
Acting as a direct continuation of Innocent Sin's story, it facilities on the identical type of turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, as gamers build their occasion and wield their Personas to battle shadows.
Read our review of Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
4. Persona 3 (2006) / Persona 3 FES (2007) / Persona 3 Portable (2009) / Persona 3 Reload (2024)
The third mainline entry in the franchise, Persona 3 was a significant evolution of the Persona method. Opting to deal with its high-school premise, Persona 3 launched a daily calendar, with one half of the game tasking gamers with attending faculty, creating friendships and finding out, whereas the opposite despatched them to fight shadows in the supernatural realm of Tartarus.
The story focuses on highschool pupil Makoto Yuki, who finds he's in a position to expertise a mysterious house of time referred to as the Dark Hour, the place common individuals are trapped in coffins and a demonic tower sprouts from his faculty. Teaming together with his classmates, he explores the tower, uncovering a sinister plot that threatens all the world. Persona 3 is taken into account a landmark entry for the sequence, introducing social hyperlinks, day-to-day actions and many different mechanics which have since turn into synonymous with the franchise.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
A rhythm-based dancing spin-off of Persona 3 that takes place throughout the principle marketing campaign, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight sees Elizabeth problem the S.E.E.S group to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The occasions of the game are set throughout a dream however are fully canon to the story, and observe the group performing varied dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
The fourth mainline entry in the Persona sequence, Persona 4 takes place in the agricultural city of Inaba. Players assume the position of Yu Narukami: a excessive schooler from the town who strikes to the nation to stay together with his uncle and cousin for a yr. After arriving, a string of violent murders start to happen in the city, as Yu and his buddies rapidly uncover they’re in some way linked to a mysterious otherworldly realm they will entry by stepping by means of TV screens.
Delving into this mysterious new world, Yu and his buddies face supernatural forces as they be taught extra concerning the murders, utilizing their powers to strive and cease them. Building off the mechanics of Persona 3, Persona 4 as soon as again makes use of the calendar system, as gamers build social hyperlinks and attend faculty whereas additionally exploring huge dungeons and defeating enemies with their Personas.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
Technically happening through the Persona 3 and Persona 4 storylines concurrently, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover between each video games. During the storm phase of Persona 3 and the Culture Festival phase of Persona 4, the S.E.E.S group and the Investigation Squad are trapped inside a warped model of Yasogami High School.
The time-bending occasion sees each groups come collectively to analyze the unusual prevalence and escape back to their respective spots on the timeline. Along the best way, gamers discover a labyrinth stuffed with new enemies and uncover an unique story, with the spin-off performing as a callback to the sequence’ extra conventional dungeon-crawler roots.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A continuation of each Persona 3 and 4’s narratives and the franchise’s first main spin-off, Persona 4 Arena sees Yu Narukami return to Inaba and stumble into a brand new journey, as he returns to the TV world for a mysterious preventing match. Forced to battle towards his allies and a bunch referred to as the Shadow Operatives, which is comprised of Persona 3's Mitsuru, Akihiko and Aigis, Arena gives a full preventing game boasting a roster of iconic Persona characters.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
A yr following the release of Persona 4 Arena, the spin-off obtained a sequel titled Persona 4 Arena Ultimax. Taking place instantly after the occasions of the primary game, the Persona 4 squad groups up with the Shadow Operatives to return to the TV World and battle towards the mysterious forces operating the preventing match. Ultimax was in the end an improve for the primary game, bringing in an expanded roster together with returning characters like Yukari, Junpei, Ken and Koromaru.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
The fourth and arguably most sudden spin-off of Persona 4, Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a rhythm-based dancing game the place the Investigation Squad performs routines to iconic Persona tracks. It gives a totally canon continuation of the storyline, following Yu and the group as they’re sucked into an alternate dimension referred to as the Midnight Stage.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
The fifth mainline entry in the sequence, Persona 5 hit cabinets in Japan in 2016 earlier than launching worldwide in 2017. Taking gamers to Tokyo, it casts them as a brand new protagonist referred to as Joker, who finds himself on probation after being framed for a criminal offense he didn’t commit. Attending the native highschool, Joker and his buddies uncover a supernatural alternate dimension, which permits them to infiltrate mystical palaces and change the hearts of evil-doers across the metropolis.
Before lengthy, the group turns into infamous on the streets of Tokyo, going below the alias of the Phantom Thieves. The game builds closely off the method established by Persona 3 and 4, together with huge story-focused ranges that unfold over a month, the return of the negotiation system and a brand new dungeon system referred to as Mementos. Persona 5 launched the franchise into the stratosphere, rapidly changing into Atlus' best-selling game of all time and cultivating an enormous fan base.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, New Cinema Labyrinth as soon as again depicts a crossover between varied Persona characters. After the Phantom Thieves discover themselves trapped in a movie show, they ally with Persona 3's S.E.E.S group and Persona 4's Investigation Squad to search out an escape, touring into the films on the display in an try to repair their endings.
Much like the unique game, Persona Q2 concurrently takes place through the Persona 3, 4 and 5 storylines, with the journey pulling every group out of their respective timeline. There, they discover dungeons from a first-person perspective and fight turn-based battles towards varied enemies.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Taking place through the occasions of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off that’s comparable in type to the XCOM franchise. The story follows the Phantom Thieves mysteriously touring to an alternate realm referred to as the Kingdoms. Unable to flee, Joker and Morgana are compelled to desert the remainder of the Phantom Thieves after they're brainwashed by the realm's monstrous ruler, Tyrant Marie, forcing the pair to start an journey to avoid wasting their allies and return dwelling.
Along the best way, they group up with the native resistance, serving to them fight towards Tyrant Marie's forces. The game revolves round a tactical grid-based fight system, as gamers direct three models throughout the battlefield and take out enemies.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
Atlus’ third rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight sees Caroline and Justine carry the Phantom Thieves to the Velvet Room and problem them to a dance off. There, the group carry out dance routines to a number of of Persona 5's catchiest tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
A spin-off set 4 months after the occasions of Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer time trip. However, the group discover themselves sucked into the Metaverse after utilizing an app referred to as EMMA. Escaping with the assistance of a brand new ally, the group don their Phantom Thieves gear as soon as extra and got down to uncover the reality behind EMMA, the Metaverse, and what it means for the individuals of Tokyo.
Persona 5 Strikers is a crossover with the long-running Dynasty Warriors franchise, introducing real-time fight to the sequence. Battles middle across the Phantom Thieves taking over giant hordes of enemies, which they will cope with by means of combos or by calling on Personas.
Read our review of Persona 5 Strikers.
Every Persona Game and Spin-Off in Release Order
- Revelations: Persona (1996)
- Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
- Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
- Persona 3 (2006)
- Persona 3 FES (2007)
- Persona 4 (2008)
- Persona 3 Portable (2009)
- Persona 4 Arena (2012)
- Persona 4 Golden (2012)
- Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
- Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
- Persona 5 (2016)
- Persona 3: Dancing in the Moonlight (2018)
- Persona 5: Dancing in the Starlight (2018)
- Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
- Persona 5 Royal (2019)
- Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
- Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
- Persona 3 Reload (2024)
What's Next for Persona?
Although Persona 3 Reload has solely simply hit cabinets, it appears Atlus has one other Persona challenge in the pipeline. Last yr, they introduced they have been engaged on a mobile spin-off known as Persona 5: The Phantom X. When saying the challenge, Atlus stated it was comparable in type to the unique Persona 5, that includes a brand new group of characters as they discover the Metaverse and navigate day by day highschool life.
While we look forward to an inevitable Persona 6, we additionally know the group behind Persona 3, 4 and 5 is working laborious on their subsequent RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio. It's slated to release later this yr and guarantees to be a sprawling fantasy story with all of the type, intense turn-based fight and intricate storytelling of the Persona sequence. It doesn't have a release date simply but, however you’ll be able to try the official trailer above.
Callum Williams is a freelance media author with years of expertise as a game critic, information reporter, guides author and options author.