The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has evolved into a powerhouse within the realm of modern RPGs. With its captivating mix of storytelling, character development, and unique gameplay mechanics, Persona has not only spawned multiple major sequels and remakes but has also ventured into anime adaptations and even stage plays, solidifying its status as a multimedia juggernaut. The fervor surrounding Persona shows no signs of waning, especially with the recent release of Persona 3 Reload, available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Newcomers to the franchise might be curious about the best entry point into this sprawling series. Below, we offer a comprehensive overview of all the games and spin-offs, detailing the ideal starting point for beginners, as well as both the chronological and release order of the series.
Jump to:
- How to play in order
- How to play by release date
- Upcoming releases
Answer
See Results
How Many Persona Games Are There?
The Persona series boasts a total of twenty games. These include various iterations and expansions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. While we exclude direct ports or remasters, we'll highlight every alternate version of each game in our list below.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For those 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 accessible on PC and most major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch. New players can jump straight into any of these titles without missing crucial story elements, as each game offers a standalone narrative with fresh characters. To help you choose, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which one resonates with you the most.
Persona 3 Reload
54
Available on PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X.
See it at Amazon
Persona 4 Golden
42
Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch
See it at Nintendo
Persona 5 Royal
103
Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch
See it at Amazon
Every Persona Game and Spin-Off in Chronological Order
These blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus' response to the acclaim of Shin Megami Tensei: If… Another spin-off centered on high-schoolers battling demons, it introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience set in Mikage-cho. Players control a group of high schoolers harnessing their awakened Personas to combat shadows and navigate dungeons filled with random encounters, setting the stage for the franchise's future.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
The second entry, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, follows a new group of high-school students led by Tatsuya Suou, battling a mysterious villain known as Joker and the Masked Circle cult. Set in Sumaru, the game explores dungeons and fights shadows, with a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, continuing the narrative the following year.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Following the events of Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano. As she investigates the Joker Curse, the game continues with familiar turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, as players build their party and wield 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)
Persona 3 revolutionized the series by introducing a daily calendar system, balancing school life and social interactions with dungeon exploration in the supernatural realm of Tartarus. Protagonist Makoto Yuki uncovers a sinister plot during the mysterious Dark Hour. The game introduced social links and other mechanics now iconic to the franchise.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES added a new chapter, The Answer, and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable introduced the female protagonist route but excluded The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a modern remake of the base game without The Answer or the female protagonist route.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
This rhythm-based dancing spin-off, set during Persona 3's main campaign, features Elizabeth challenging the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The events occur in a dream but are canon, with the team performing dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Persona 4 takes players to the rural town of Inaba, where protagonist Yu Narukami investigates a series of murders linked to a mysterious realm accessible through TV monitors. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, the game features a calendar system, social link development, and dungeon exploration.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, expanded the game with new story content and an additional dungeon, considered the definitive version.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
A crossover between Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth occurs simultaneously during both games' timelines. Trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, the S.E.E.S team and Investigation Squad work together to escape, exploring a labyrinth and engaging in turn-based battles.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A continuation of both Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena introduces a fighting game spin-off where Yu Narukami returns to Inaba for a mysterious tournament in the TV world. Players battle against allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Following the events of Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax sees the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives team up to battle the forces behind the tournament. The game expands the roster, including returning characters from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
This rhythm-based dancing game continues the Persona 4 storyline, with the Investigation Squad performing routines to iconic tracks in the Midnight Stage dimension.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Set in Tokyo, Persona 5 introduces protagonist Joker, on probation after being framed. With his friends, he navigates a supernatural realm to change the hearts of corrupt individuals, becoming the notorious Phantom Thieves. The game builds on the series' mechanics, introducing new dungeon systems and negotiation.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal expands the original with new features, including a companion, dungeon, and semester, making it the definitive version.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth features a crossover of Persona 3, 4, and 5 characters trapped in a movie theater. They explore movie-themed dungeons from a first-person perspective, aiming to escape and return to their timelines.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off where the Phantom Thieves navigate an alternate realm, the Kingdoms. After being brainwashed, Joker and Morgana team up with the local resistance to rescue their allies, engaging in tactical grid-based combat.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
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 catchy Persona 5 tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer vacation that leads them back into the Metaverse. The game blends real-time combat with Persona mechanics, inspired by the Dynasty Warriors series.
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?
Fans of Atlus RPGs enjoyed two releases in 2024: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following Metaphor's success, Sega announced plans to further invest in Atlus and the Persona IP. The next project to watch is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, released in several Asian countries in 2024, with a Japanese release soon to follow and a global release expected. The game features an original story within the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters.
Anticipation is also high for Persona 6, the next mainline entry in the series, though Atlus has yet to confirm its development officially.
Latest Downloads
Downlaod
Top News
