Originally a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has evolved into a standout name in modern RPGs, captivating audiences worldwide. With its expansive universe encompassing multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has established itself as a multimedia juggernaut, with its popularity continuing to soar. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking curiosity among newcomers about the best entry point into this rich series. Below, we'll explore every game and spin-off, providing insights on the ideal starting point for new players, 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
How Many Persona Games Are There?
The Persona series boasts a total of twenty games. This count includes expanded versions of the mainline entries, which often feature new story content or are full remakes. While we exclude direct ports and remasters, we'll detail every alternate version in the lists 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 offers a fantastic starting point. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which isn't on Nintendo Switch.
Each game in the series presents a standalone story with new characters, meaning you won't miss out on any crucial narrative by starting with one of these later entries. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which 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 summaries contain mild spoilers regarding characters, settings, and story elements.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The inaugural game of the series, Revelations: Persona, was inspired by the positive feedback to Shin Megami Tensei: If… and introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience. Set in Mikage-cho, it follows a group of high schoolers battling a supernatural uprising using their awakened Personas. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing core mechanics like Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart the plans of a villain named Joker and his cult, the Masked Circle, in Sumaru City, where rumors become reality. The game continues the series' tradition of dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and party development.
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 phenomenon. The gameplay remains true to the series, with turn-based combat and dungeon exploration at its core.
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, balancing school life and social interactions with combat in the mysterious realm of Tartarus. The story centers on Makoto Yuki, who navigates the Dark Hour to unravel a global threat. This entry introduced iconic elements like social links and day-to-day activities.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has seen multiple re-releases, each adding different content. Persona 3 FES included "The Answer" and a female protagonist option, Persona 3 Portable offered the female protagonist but omitted "The Answer," and Persona 3 Reload is a full modern remake without "The Answer" or the female protagonist route.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
This rhythm-based spin-off occurs during the main campaign of Persona 3, where the S.E.E.S team participates in a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The game is canon and features the team dancing to iconic tracks from the original game.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Set in Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami as he moves to the countryside and becomes embroiled in a murder mystery linked to a supernatural realm accessed through TV monitors. The game refines the mechanics introduced in Persona 3, including the calendar system and social links.
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, widely regarded as the definitive version of the game.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
This crossover game combines elements from Persona 3 and Persona 4, occurring during specific segments of each game's timeline. The teams are trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, exploring a labyrinth and battling new enemies.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A narrative continuation of both Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena introduces a fighting game format. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and gets drawn into a mysterious tournament in the TV world, facing off against allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Following directly after Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and continues the storyline, with the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives teaming up to tackle the ongoing tournament's mysteries.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
Another rhythm-based spin-off, this game sees the Investigation Squad dancing to Persona tracks in an alternate dimension called the Midnight Stage, offering a canon continuation of the story.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Persona 5 introduces players to Tokyo and the protagonist, Joker, who, after being framed, forms the Phantom Thieves to infiltrate palaces and reform corrupt individuals. The game builds on previous mechanics and introduced new elements like Mementos, becoming Atlus' best-selling title.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, adds new content including a companion, dungeon, and additional semester, considered the ultimate version of the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
This sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth features another crossover, this time involving characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5, trapped in a movie theater and navigating through film-inspired dungeons.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during the events of Persona 5, Tactica offers a strategic spin-off similar to XCOM, where the Phantom Thieves navigate the Kingdoms to rescue their brainwashed allies and confront the ruler, Tyrant Marie.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
In this rhythm-based spin-off, the Phantom Thieves are challenged to a dance-off in the Velvet Room by Caroline and Justine, dancing to catchy tracks from Persona 5.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set after Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer vacation that leads them back into the Metaverse via an app called EMMA. The game introduces 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 enjoyed two releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, Sega has expressed interest in further investing in Atlus, particularly the Persona franchise, during a developers' Q&A session.The next Persona project to keep an eye on is Persona 5: The Phantom X, a free-to-play mobile game released in several Asian regions in 2024, with a Japanese release planned following a closed beta. A global release is anticipated, though no official dates have been announced. The Phantom X features an original story within the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters who become Phantom Thieves.
Additionally, anticipation builds for Persona 6, the next mainline RPG in the series, although Atlus has yet to confirm its development officially.
