"Legal Ways to Play All Persona Games in 2025"

With the release of *Persona 5 Royal*, Atlus’ *Persona* series has cemented its status as a cornerstone of the JRPG genre. *Persona 5* has become so iconic that it has inspired fans to visit Shibuya station in Tokyo, hoping to capture the famous scene where the Phantom Thieves hang out above the Shibuya Scramble. Even though the station has been remodeled, dedicated fans can still find the perfect spot for that iconic shot.

Despite its current fame, the *Persona* series had a humble beginning as a spin-off of Atlus’ *Shin Megami Tensei* franchise, debuting nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the numbering might suggest, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced editions. It's worth noting that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich 30-year history of the *Persona* franchise is a rewarding journey, though some games may be harder to find than others. Here's a guide to where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games, and you might want to consider investing in a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona* first hit the shelves in 1996 for the original PlayStation, and later saw releases on Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation Portable. The game's story revolves around a group of heroes who gain their personas through fortune-telling. The most recent re-release of this game was on the PlayStation Classic in 2018, meaning there's no version available on modern hardware. To play it, you'll need a physical copy for a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' history of remaking older *Persona* titles, fans can hope for a modern remastered version in the future.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this sequel launched on the PlayStation in 1999, but was initially exclusive to Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version became available on the PSP, and it's also playable on the PlayStation Vita. Unfortunately, there are no modern console versions of *Innocent Sin*. The game follows a group of high schoolers in the fictional town of Sumaru as they battle a villain named Joker, whose rumors can alter reality itself.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment*, a direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, came out in 2000. The story continues the "Joker Curse" saga but with a new protagonist, a teenage reporter. It saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation and was later remade for the PSP in 2011, which was also available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. Like its predecessor, *Eternal Punishment* isn't available on modern hardware, though fans speculate about a potential future remake that might include both *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment*.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the series' departure from the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow, releasing on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America. The game explores themes of death through the lens of a mysterious time anomaly called the "Dark Hour." *Persona 3 FES*, released the following year, added an epilogue and is playable on the PS3.

*Persona 3* has seen multiple remakes. *Persona 3 Portable*, an abridged version, originally came out for the PSP and was later made available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical versions released in 2023. Many consider *Portable* the best iteration of *Persona 3*. The latest remake, *Persona 3 Reload*, launched in 2024 and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, catering especially to fans of *Persona 5 Royal*. Physical copies are available for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

Two years after *Persona 3*, *Persona 4* debuted on the PlayStation 2 in 2008. The game is a murder mystery where the protagonists use their personas to solve a series of killings. *Persona 4* has garnered a massive following.

The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, was released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012 and is now accessible on nearly all current platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical versions are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

While *Persona 4* captured fans' hearts, *Persona 5* propelled the series into mainstream popularity. The original game was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in 2016 in Japan and 2017 worldwide. *Persona 5 Royal*, the definitive enhanced version, followed a few years later, arriving in North America in March 2020 amidst the early days of the global COVID-19 shutdown.

*Persona 5* follows a protagonist known as Joker, who, after being falsely accused of assault, moves to Tokyo. There, he becomes entangled in the world of "palaces," metaphysical spaces born from people's delusions, and forms the Phantom Thieves, who use "take your heart" calling cards to change the world. *Persona 5 Royal* is now playable on nearly all modern platforms: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both digital and physical copies widely available.