In the aftermath of Persona 5 Royal's launch, Atlus cemented its Persona series as one of the most iconic entries in the JRPG genre. While Persona 5 became a cultural phenomenon, drawing gamer-tourists to Shibuya Station for that iconic photo op, the franchise's journey to such acclaim was far from immediate. Interestingly, Persona began as a spin-off of Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei series, with the first title launching nearly three decades ago. Contrary to popular belief, there aren’t five mainline Persona games but six. And that doesn’t even count the numerous spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced editions.
Exploring this rich 30-year history is worthwhile, though some titles are easier to find than others. Here’s where you can legally play all the mainline Persona games, though you might need to dust off your PSP for a few.
Revelations: Persona
| Platforms | PS1, PlayStation Classic, PSP |
Released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, *Revelations: Persona* later appeared on Microsoft Windows and PSP. Set against the backdrop of a fortune-telling session gone awry, players uncover the origins of personas. The most recent hardware to feature this game is the PlayStation Classic. Unfortunately, no modern version exists yet, so you’ll need a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. Let’s hope Atlus remasters it soon!
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita |
Known simply as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this 1999 PlayStation release remained exclusive to Japan until 2011, when a PSP localization hit shelves. The game follows students in Sumaru City battling a villain known as Joker, whose rumors alter reality. Like *Revelations: Persona*, no modern version exists. Keep an eye out for potential remakes!
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita, PS3 |
As a direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, *Eternal Punishment* launched in 2000 and received a simultaneous North American release. A PSP remake in 2011 brought it to the PlayStation Network in 2013. While unavailable on modern consoles, its close ties to *Innocent Sin* make it ripe for a joint remaster.
Persona 3
| Platforms (Persona 3) | PlayStation 2 |
| Platforms (Persona 3 FES) | PlayStation 3 |
| Platforms (Persona 3 Portable) | PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Platforms (Persona 3 Reload) | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
*Persona 3* marked the series’ breakout moment in 2006. Available on PS2, it received an expanded version, *Persona 3 FES*, for PS3. Later, *Persona 3 Portable* launched on PSP and was ported to PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The 2024 remake, *Persona 3 Reload*, is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Some prefer the portable version, while others swear by *Reload*.
Persona 4
| Platforms (Persona 4) | PlayStation 2 |
| Platforms (Persona 4 Golden) | PlayStation Vita, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC |
Following in 2008, *Persona 4* became a fan favorite with its murder-mystery premise. Its enhanced remake, *Persona 4 Golden*, launched on Vita in 2012 and is now available on nearly every platform, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical copies exist for all hardware except PC.
Persona 5
| Platforms (Persona 5) | PS3, PS4 |
| Platforms (Persona 5 Royal) | PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
With *Persona 5*, the series reached global stardom. Launched in 2016–2017, the definitive *Persona 5 Royal* arrived in 2020. Available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, it remains a must-play. Physical and digital copies are readily available across platforms.
Enjoy the journey through the Persona universe!
