The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has grown into a powerhouse of modern RPGs, captivating fans with its engaging stories and unique gameplay. With its evolution into a multimedia phenomenon, featuring major sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, the series' popularity continues to soar. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking interest among newcomers on where to dive in. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, detailing the best starting points for new players, 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?
There are currently twenty Persona games in total. Many of these are enhanced versions of the mainline entries, offering new story content or complete remakes. While we exclude direct ports and remasters, we will highlight every alternate version of each game in our listings below.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For those starting their journey into the Persona universe, you can't go wrong with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal. These represent the latest versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload on the Nintendo Switch.
Newcomers can jump right into any of these games without missing out on the overarching story. Each game presents a new narrative with unique characters, making them excellent entry points. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to find what 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 summaries include mild spoilers, covering characters, settings, and key story elements.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was developed by Atlus in response to the positive feedback on Shin Megami Tensei: If… This spin-off introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience, following a group of high school students combating a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. They harness the power of their Personas to battle shadows, explore dungeons, and evolve throughout the game. Revelations: Persona laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing key elements like Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
The second entry, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, launched in 1999 and follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart a mysterious villain named Joker and the Masked Circle cult. The game revolves around an evil plot where rumors materialize into reality in Sumaru, emphasizing dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and party development. Notably, it was followed by a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, 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. Tasked with investigating a rumor about the Joker Curse, Maya and her team confront a familiar enemy. The game maintains the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, focusing on Persona battles and party growth.
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 emphasizing its high school setting. It introduced a daily calendar system, splitting gameplay between school life, social interactions, and battling shadows in Tartarus, a supernatural realm. The narrative follows Makoto Yuki, who discovers the Dark Hour, a time where he and his classmates must navigate a demonic tower to uncover a sinister plot. Persona 3 introduced pivotal mechanics like social links and daily activities, which have become hallmarks of 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 an expansion, The Answer, and a female protagonist route. Persona 3 Portable, designed for handhelds, included the female protagonist but omitted 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 set during the main campaign, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight features Elizabeth challenging the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The events occur within a dream but are canon, with the team performing routines 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 and uncovers a series of murders linked to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. Players explore this realm, combat supernatural forces, and unravel the mystery of the murders. The game builds on Persona 3's mechanics, including the calendar system and social links, while delving into vast dungeons.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, is an enhanced version with new story content and an additional dungeon, considered the definitive way to experience the game.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
Set during the timelines of Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover where the S.E.E.S team and Investigation Squad are trapped in a distorted version of Yasogami High School. They must navigate a labyrinth, battle new enemies, and solve an original story, harkening back to the series' dungeon-crawler origins.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
A continuation of both Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena is the franchise's first major spin-off, featuring a fighting game set in the TV world. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and participates in a mysterious tournament, battling allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Following the events of Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and storyline, with the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives teaming up to confront the forces behind the tournament.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
A rhythm-based dancing game, Persona 4: Dancing All Night sees the Investigation Squad performing to iconic Persona tracks in an alternate dimension called the Midnight Stage, continuing the storyline in a unique way.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Set in Tokyo, Persona 5 introduces players to Joker, a high schooler on probation after being framed. He and his friends discover a supernatural realm, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of evildoers as the Phantom Thieves. The game expanded on previous mechanics, introducing massive story levels, negotiation systems, and a new dungeon system, Mementos. Persona 5 skyrocketed the franchise's popularity, becoming Atlus's best-selling game.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal, the expanded re-release, adds new content including a companion, dungeon, and an additional semester, making it the ultimate version of the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth brings together characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5. Trapped in a movie theater, they must navigate through film worlds to correct their endings, blending the timelines of the three games.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy spin-off similar to XCOM. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in the Kingdoms, an alternate realm, where they must rescue their brainwashed allies and defeat Tyrant Marie, using a tactical grid-based combat system.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
The third rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight features the Phantom Thieves performing dance routines to Persona 5's catchy tracks in the Velvet Room.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months post-Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation turned adventure. They're pulled into the Metaverse via an app called EMMA, prompting them to resume their roles to uncover the truth behind EMMA and its effects on Tokyo. Strikers blends real-time combat with the Dynasty Warriors style, allowing players to battle hordes of enemies and use Personas in combat.
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 Moonlight (2018)
- Persona 5: Dancing in 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, Atlus fans were treated to Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Studio Zero. Following Metaphor's success, Sega expressed continued investment in Atlus, particularly in the Persona franchise, during a developers' Q&A session.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 in October. A global release is anticipated, though details remain scarce. The Phantom X offers an original story within the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters as Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6, the eagerly awaited next installment in the RPG series, remains unconfirmed by Atlus, but fans eagerly await any official announcements.
