Originally a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has carved out its own unique identity and risen to prominence as a leading name in modern RPGs. With its expansion into multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has become a multimedia phenomenon with no signs of slowing down. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking curiosity among new players about the best starting point. Below is a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, including the ideal entry for newcomers, and both the chronological and release order of the titles.
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. These include several expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. We'll highlight every alternate version when listing the games below, excluding direct ports and remasters.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, diving into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is an excellent choice. These are the most recent versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are available on PC and major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which is not available on Nintendo Switch. Each game offers a standalone story with new characters, making them perfect for fresh players. 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 blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The inaugural game of the series, Revelations: Persona, was inspired by the positive reception to Shin Megami Tensei: If…, another spin-off centered around high-schoolers battling demons. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG where high school students combat a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho, using their Personas to defeat shadows and explore dungeons. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing key elements like Personas in combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin introduced players to a new group of high-schoolers led by Tatsuya Suou, who confront a mysterious villain, Joker, and the Masked Circle cult. The game revolves around combating an evil plot fueled by rumors that come to life in Sumaru, continuing the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles. A direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, followed a year later.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Picking up from Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment features Maya Amano as the protagonist, investigating the Joker Curse. It continues the narrative and gameplay style of its predecessor, focusing on turn-based combat and dungeon exploration.
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 with its daily calendar system, blending high-school life with supernatural battles in Tartarus. Players control Makoto Yuki, who navigates the Dark Hour and uncovers a sinister plot. This game introduced social links and day-to-day activities, becoming a landmark entry in 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 included an expansion, The Answer, and an alternate campaign with a female protagonist. Persona 3 Portable offered a handheld version with the female protagonist route but excluded The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a modern remake of the base game, omitting The Answer and the female protagonist route.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
This rhythm-based dancing spin-off occurs during the main campaign of Persona 3. Elizabeth challenges the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, set within a dream that remains canon to the story.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Set in the rural town of Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, a city high schooler who moves in with his uncle and cousin. As murders occur, Yu and his friends explore a mysterious realm accessed through TV monitors, blending the calendar system with dungeon exploration and Persona combat.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, expanded the original with new story content and an additional dungeon, widely regarded as the definitive version.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
A crossover set during the events of Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q traps the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad inside a warped Yasogami High School. They must navigate a labyrinth and uncover an original story, echoing 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. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba for a fighting 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 Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and continues the story, with the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives battling in the TV World.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
This rhythm-based dancing game follows the Investigation Squad in a canon continuation of the storyline, performing dance routines in an alternate dimension known as the Midnight Stage.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Persona 5 introduces players to Tokyo and protagonist Joker, who's on probation after being framed. With friends, he infiltrates mystical palaces to change the hearts of evildoers as the Phantom Thieves. The game refined the series' formula, becoming Atlus' best-selling title and gaining a massive following.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal enhanced the original with additional features, including a new companion, dungeon, and semester, considered the ultimate version of the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth features a crossover where the Phantom Thieves, S.E.E.S team, and Investigation Squad are trapped in a movie theater, exploring movie-based dungeons to escape.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during Persona 5, Tactica offers a strategy-focused spin-off similar to XCOM. The Phantom Thieves navigate the Kingdoms, fighting to save their brainwashed allies and return home.
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 to iconic Persona 5 tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation turned Metaverse adventure. The game introduces real-time combat inspired by Dynasty Warriors, featuring battles against large enemy hordes.
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, Atlus delighted fans with two releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, which garnered several awards, Sega expressed their commitment to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise during a developers' Q&A session.The next project to keep an eye on is Persona 5: The Phantom X, a free-to-play mobile game released in 2024 in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea, with a Japanese release on the horizon after a closed beta sign-up in October. A global release is 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 Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is the eagerly awaited next installment in the RPG series, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.
