The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei, has evolved into a major franchise within the realm of modern RPGs. Its expansive universe now encompasses multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, making Persona a true multimedia phenomenon. Its popularity continues to surge, showing no signs of slowing down.
The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking interest among new players about where to begin their journey. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, including the best starting point for newcomers, as well as both the chronological and release order of the titles.
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How Many Persona Games Are There?
There are currently twenty Persona games. These include expanded versions of the mainline entries, which may feature new story content or be remakes. We'll list every alternate version below, excluding direct ports and remasters.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a safe bet. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which isn't on the Nintendo Switch. Each game offers a standalone story with unique characters, making them excellent entry points for new players. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links to see which game resonates with you.
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 inspired by the positive reception to Shin Megami Tensei: If… and featured high-schoolers battling demons. Set in Mikage-cho, players control a group of students who use their awakened Personas to combat a supernatural uprising, exploring dungeons and engaging in random encounters to level up and strengthen their party. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing key elements like Personas, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast of heroes.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou as they combat a villain named Joker and the Masked Circle cult. Set in Sumaru, the game revolves around a plot where rumors come to life, involving dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles. Unlike other entries, it had a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, released a year later.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Continuing from Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano, who investigates the Joker Curse. The game retains the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players building their party and using Personas to fight shadows, all while continuing the story from its predecessor.
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 marked a significant evolution in the series by introducing a daily calendar system, blending school life and social interactions with nightly battles in the supernatural realm of Tartarus. The story follows Makoto Yuki, who navigates the Dark Hour, teaming up with classmates to uncover a sinister plot. This entry introduced social links and many 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 The Answer and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable included the female protagonist but not 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)
A rhythm-based dancing spin-off set during Persona 3's main campaign, Dancing in Moonlight 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 to the story, with the team dancing to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Set in the rural town of Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, who moves to live with his uncle and cousin. As murders occur in town, Yu and his friends uncover a link to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. The game builds on Persona 3's mechanics, utilizing a calendar system for social links and school life, alongside dungeon exploration and Persona combat.
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, considered the definitive version of the game.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
A crossover between Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth occurs during both games' timelines. The S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad are trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, working together to escape and explore a new labyrinth filled with enemies and an original story, harkening back to the series' dungeon-crawler roots.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A continuation of both Persona 3 and 4's narratives, Persona 4 Arena introduces a fighting game spin-off where Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV world. Players battle against allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3, featuring a roster of iconic characters.
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 the Shadow Operatives teaming up to battle forces in the TV World. It expands the roster with returning characters from Persona 3, offering an upgraded fighting game experience.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
An unexpected rhythm-based dancing game, Dancing All Night continues the Persona 4 storyline. The Investigation Squad dances in an alternate dimension called the Midnight Stage, performing routines to iconic Persona tracks in a canon continuation of the story.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Set in Tokyo, Persona 5 follows protagonist Joker, who is on probation after being framed. Attending a new high school, he and his friends discover a supernatural alternate dimension where they infiltrate palaces and change the hearts of wrongdoers as the Phantom Thieves. The game builds on the mechanics of Persona 3 and 4, introducing new features like the negotiation system and Mementos dungeons, becoming Atlus's best-selling game and a cultural phenomenon.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal expands on the original with new content, including a new companion, dungeon, and semester, making it the definitive version of the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth features a crossover of characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5. The Phantom Thieves find themselves trapped in a movie theater, teaming up with the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad to escape by fixing movie endings, exploring dungeons from a first-person perspective and engaging in turn-based battles.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during the events of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off inspired by the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves travel to an alternate realm called the Kingdoms, where they fight to save their brainwashed allies and return home, utilizing a tactical grid-based combat system.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
Another rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Dancing in Starlight challenges 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 reuniting for a summer vacation that leads them back into the Metaverse. They team up with a new ally to uncover the truth behind EMMA and the Metaverse, engaging in real-time combat 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?
In 2024, fans of Atlus RPGs were treated to two releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, which won several awards, Sega announced plans to continue investing in Atlus and the Persona franchise.
The next Persona project to watch is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024, with a Japanese release following a closed beta sign-up in October. A global release is anticipated, though no official date has been confirmed. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters who become the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is eagerly awaited as the next mainline RPG release, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.
