Originally conceived as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has blossomed into a major force in the world of modern RPGs. With its compelling narratives, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay, Persona has expanded far beyond its roots to encompass multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays. As a multimedia phenomenon, its influence continues to grow, captivating fans across various platforms. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, is drawing in new players eager to dive into the series. To help you navigate this expansive universe, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off, highlighting the best entry point for newcomers as well as 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?
Currently, there are twenty Persona games in total. These include mainline entries as well as expanded versions that offer new story content or remakes. While we won't cover direct ports or remasters, we will highlight every alternate version of each game in our listings.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, diving into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a solid 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, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload, which is not yet on the Nintendo Switch.
Don't worry about missing out on the overarching story by starting with one of these later entries; each game features a standalone narrative with unique characters, making them ideal for new players. To decide which game suits you best, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which 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 title in the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus' response to the warm reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…, another high-school-themed spin-off. Revelations: Persona introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience centered around high schoolers combating a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Players harness the powers of Personas in combat, explore dungeons with random encounters, and grow stronger through leveling up. This game laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing key elements like the Velvet Room and a teenage cast of heroes.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin, released in 1999, follows a new group of high school students led by protagonist Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart a mysterious villain named Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle. The game revolves around combating an evil plot where rumors become reality in Sumaru City. Players explore dungeons, wield Personas, fight shadows, and level up their party. Unlike other entries, it has a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, which continues the story.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Following Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment elevates side character Maya Amano to the protagonist role. Tasked with investigating the Joker Curse, Maya and her allies confront a returning enemy. This direct continuation maintains the series' turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, where players build their party and use 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 marked a significant evolution in the franchise, emphasizing the high school setting and introducing a daily calendar system. Players live the life of Makoto Yuki, a high school student who can experience the Dark Hour, a mysterious time where ordinary people are trapped in coffins and a demonic tower emerges from his school. Alongside his classmates, Makoto explores the tower, Tartarus, uncovering a sinister plot threatening the world. Persona 3 introduced social links, daily activities, and other mechanics that have become hallmarks of the series.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES expanded the game with The Answer and an alternate campaign featuring a female protagonist. Persona 3 Portable is a handheld version with the female protagonist route but without The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a full remake for modern consoles, excluding The Answer and the female protagonist route.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
A rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight challenges the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room during a dream sequence. Set within the main campaign, the events are canon, featuring the team performing 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, a high schooler who moves to the countryside. A series of violent murders coincides with his arrival, leading Yu and his friends to discover a connection to a supernatural realm accessible through TV monitors. Players delve into this realm, using their Personas to combat supernatural forces and solve the mystery of the murders. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, Persona 4 includes a calendar system, social links, and dungeon exploration.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, expanded the original game with new story content and an additional dungeon, widely regarded as the definitive version.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth intertwines the stories of Persona 3 and 4 during specific segments of each game. Both the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad find themselves trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, collaborating to navigate a labyrinth, fight new enemies, and unravel an original story. This spin-off harks back to the series' traditional dungeon-crawler roots.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A fighting game that continues the narratives of Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena follows Yu Narukami as he returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV world. Players can control a roster of iconic Persona characters, including members of the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Persona 4 Arena Ultimax continues the story from the first game, with the Persona 4 team and the Shadow Operatives teaming up to confront the forces behind the fighting tournament. This sequel expands the roster with additional characters from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
In this rhythm-based dancing game, the Investigation Squad finds themselves in the Midnight Stage, a dimension where they perform routines to iconic Persona tracks. This spin-off continues the storyline in a canon manner.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Persona 5 transports players to Tokyo, where protagonist Joker, on probation for a crime he didn't commit, discovers a supernatural dimension. Alongside his friends, he forms the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of corrupt individuals. The game introduces massive story-focused levels, a negotiation system, and the new Mementos dungeon system. Persona 5 became Atlus' best-selling game and significantly expanded the franchise's fan base.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, adds new features, including a new companion, dungeon, and semester, making it the ultimate version of the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
In this sequel to Persona Q, the Phantom Thieves find themselves trapped in a movie theater and team up with characters from Persona 3 and 4. They explore movie-themed dungeons to fix their endings and escape back to their respective timelines.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during the events of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off similar to the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdoms, where they must save their brainwashed allies and defeat Tyrant Marie. The game features a tactical grid-based combat system.
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, Persona 5 Strikers follows the Phantom Thieves on a summer vacation that turns into a Metaverse adventure. They must uncover the truth behind the EMMA app. This spin-off 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 were treated to two major releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, which garnered multiple awards, Sega expressed a strong commitment to further investing in Atlus and the Persona franchise during a developers' Q&A session.The next Persona project to keep an eye on is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, which launched in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024. A Japanese release is on the horizon following a closed beta sign-up in October, with a global release anticipated, though no official date has been announced. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters who become the next generation of Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is the highly anticipated next mainline entry in the RPG series, though Atlus has yet to confirm its development officially.
