Starting its life as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, the Persona sequence has rapidly launched into one thing solely of its personal and turn into one of many greatest names in fashionable RPGs. From a number of main sequels and remakes to anime diversifications and even stage performs, Persona is a multimedia sensation, and its recognition doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime quickly.
With the most recent entry within the franchise, Persona 3 Reload, now accessible to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X, and PC, new gamers are most likely questioning the place’s one of the best place to begin. Under, we’ll provide you with a full rundown of each sport and spin-off, together with one of the best entry level for newcomers and each the chronological and launch order of the sequence.
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How Many Persona Video games Are There?
In complete, there are at the moment twenty Persona video games. A number of of those are expanded variations of the mainline entries within the sequence, whether or not that’s within the type of re-releases that includes new story content material or remakes. Whereas we gained’t embody direct ports or remasters, we’ll make certain to notice each alternate model of every sport when itemizing them beneath.
Which Persona Recreation Ought to You Play First?
In the event you’re on the lookout for the right place to begin, you’ll be able to’t actually go mistaken leaping into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden or Persona 5 Royal first. They’re the most recent variations of the third, fourth and fifth mainline entries within the sequence, and, apart from Persona 3 Reload lacking Nintendo Swap, they’re all accessible on PC and each main console.
For these involved about skipping the story by leaping into later entries within the sequence, you gained’t miss something by going straight to Persona 3, 4, or 5. Every sport tells a completely new story with unique characters that’s largely disconnected from its predecessors, in order that they’re nice launching factors for these coming in recent.
Each Persona Recreation and Spin-Off in Chronological Order
These blurbs include gentle spoilers for every sport, together with characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The primary sport within the sequence, Revelations: Persona was Atlus’ response to the optimistic reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…, which was one other Shin Megami Tensei spin-off centered round high-schoolers battling demons. Capitalizing on how a lot gamers loved the central idea, Revelations: Persona provided a full dungeon-crawling RPG centered round a bunch of excessive schoolers battling a supernatural rebellion all through the city of Mikage-cho.
Alongside the way in which, they use the powers of their woke up Personas to take down shadows and discover dungeons crammed with random encounters, leveling up their get together and rising stronger over the course of the sport. Revelations: Persona was the inspiration of the franchise as we all know it at present, introducing components like wielding Personas in fight, the Velvet Room and a teenage solid of heroes.
2. Persona 2: Harmless Sin (1999)
The second entry within the Persona sequence, Persona 2: Harmless Sin launched in 1999. The sport follows a brand new set of high-school college students led by protagonist Tatsuya Suou, who set out on a mission to take down a mysterious villain generally known as Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle.
Centring round an evil plot the place malicious rumors spreading across the city of Sumaru come to life, Persona 2 as soon as once more focuses on exploring dungeons, wielding Personas, preventing shadows and leveling up your get together. Not like different entries within the sequence, it acquired a direct sequel only a 12 months later, with Persona 2: Everlasting Punishment appearing as a continuation of the sport’s story.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 2: Harmless Sin.
3. Persona 2: Everlasting Punishment (2000)
Following up the occasions of Harmless Sin, Everlasting Punishment promoted facet character, Maya Amano, to the protagonist function. Despatched to jot down an article a couple of new rumor relating to a phenomenon generally known as the Joker Curse, the sport rapidly sees Maya and her allies rally in opposition to a returning foe.
Appearing as a direct continuation of Harmless Sin’s story, it facilities on the identical model of turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, as gamers construct their get together and wield their Personas to battle shadows.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 2: Everlasting Punishment.
4. Persona 3 (2006) / Persona 3 FES (2007) / Persona 3 Transportable (2009) / Persona 3 Reload (2024)
The third mainline entry within the franchise, Persona 3 was a significant evolution of the Persona system. Opting to deal with its high-school premise, Persona 3 launched a day by day calendar, with one half of the sport tasking gamers with attending faculty, growing friendships and finding out, whereas the opposite despatched them to combat shadows within the supernatural realm of Tartarus.
The story focuses on highschool scholar Makoto Yuki, who finds he is capable of expertise a mysterious area of time generally known as the Darkish Hour, the place common persons are trapped in coffins and a demonic tower sprouts from his faculty. Teaming together with his classmates, he explores the tower, uncovering a sinister plot that threatens all the world. Persona 3 is taken into account a landmark entry for the sequence, introducing social hyperlinks, day-to-day actions and plenty of different mechanics which have since turn into synonymous with the franchise.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 3 Reload.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
A rhythm-based dancing spin-off of Persona 3 that takes place throughout the primary marketing campaign, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight sees Elizabeth problem the S.E.E.S crew to a dance-off within the Velvet Room. The occasions of the sport are set throughout a dream however are utterly canon to the story, and comply with the crew performing varied dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
The fourth mainline entry within the Persona sequence, Persona 4 takes place within the rural city of Inaba. Gamers assume the function of Yu Narukami: a excessive schooler from the town who strikes to the nation to dwell together with his uncle and cousin for a 12 months. After arriving, a string of violent murders start to happen within the city, as Yu and his associates rapidly uncover they’re one way or the other linked to a mysterious otherworldly realm they will entry by stepping via TV displays.
Delving into this mysterious new world, Yu and his associates face supernatural forces as they study extra in regards to the murders, utilizing their powers to try to cease them. Constructing off the mechanics of Persona 3, Persona 4 as soon as once more makes use of the calendar system, as gamers construct social hyperlinks and attend faculty whereas additionally exploring huge dungeons and defeating enemies with their Personas.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 4 Golden.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
Technically going down in the course of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 storylines concurrently, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover between each video games. Throughout the storm phase of Persona 3 and the Tradition Pageant phase of Persona 4, the S.E.E.S crew and the Investigation Squad are trapped inside a warped model of Yasogami Excessive College.
The time-bending occasion sees each groups come collectively to analyze the unusual incidence and escape again to their respective spots on the timeline. Alongside the way in which, gamers discover a labyrinth crammed with new enemies and uncover an unique story, with the spin-off appearing as a callback to the sequence’ extra conventional dungeon-crawler roots.
Learn our evaluate of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Enviornment (2012)
A continuation of each Persona 3 and 4’s narratives and the franchise’s first main spin-off, Persona 4 Enviornment sees Yu Narukami return to Inaba and stumble into a brand new journey, as he returns to the TV world for a mysterious preventing match. Pressured to battle in opposition to his allies and a bunch generally known as the Shadow Operatives, which is comprised of Persona 3’s Mitsuru, Akihiko and Aigis, Enviornment affords a full preventing sport boasting a roster of iconic Persona characters.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 4 Enviornment.
9. Persona 4 Enviornment Ultimax (2013)
A 12 months following the discharge of Persona 4 Enviornment, the spin-off acquired a sequel titled Persona 4 Enviornment Ultimax. Happening straight after the occasions of the primary sport, the Persona 4 squad groups up with the Shadow Operatives to return to the TV World and battle in opposition to the mysterious forces operating the preventing match. Ultimax was in the end an improve for the primary sport, bringing in an expanded roster together with returning characters like Yukari, Junpei, Ken and Koromaru.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 4 Enviornment Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Evening (2015)
The fourth and arguably most surprising spin-off of Persona 4, Persona 4: Dancing All Evening is a rhythm-based dancing sport the place the Investigation Squad performs routines to iconic Persona tracks. It affords a very canon continuation of the storyline, following Yu and the crew as they’re sucked into an alternate dimension generally known as the Midnight Stage.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 4: Dancing All Evening.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
The fifth mainline entry within the sequence, Persona 5 hit cabinets in Japan in 2016 earlier than launching worldwide in 2017. Taking gamers to Tokyo, it casts them as a brand new protagonist generally known as Joker, who finds himself on probation after being framed for a criminal offense he didn’t commit. Attending the native highschool, Joker and his associates uncover a supernatural alternate dimension, which permits them to infiltrate mystical palaces and alter the hearts of evil-doers across the metropolis.
Earlier than lengthy, the group turns into infamous on the streets of Tokyo, going below the alias of the Phantom Thieves. The sport builds closely off the system established by Persona 3 and 4, together with huge story-focused ranges that unfold over a month, the return of the negotiation system and a brand new dungeon system generally known as Mementos. Persona 5 launched the franchise into the stratosphere, rapidly changing into Atlus’ best-selling sport of all time and cultivating an enormous fan base.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 5 Royal.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, New Cinema Labyrinth as soon as once more depicts a crossover between varied Persona characters. After the Phantom Thieves discover themselves trapped in a movie show, they ally with Persona 3’s S.E.E.S crew and Persona 4’s Investigation Squad to seek out an escape, touring into the flicks on the display screen in an try to repair their endings.
Very similar to the unique sport, Persona Q2 concurrently takes place in the course of the Persona 3, 4 and 5 storylines, with the journey pulling every group out of their respective timeline. There, they discover dungeons from a first-person perspective and combat turn-based battles in opposition to varied enemies.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Happening in the course of the occasions of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off that’s related in model to the XCOM franchise. The story follows the Phantom Thieves mysteriously touring to an alternate realm generally known as the Kingdoms. Unable to flee, Joker and Morgana are compelled to desert the remainder of the Phantom Thieves after they’re brainwashed by the realm’s monstrous ruler, Tyrant Marie, forcing the pair to start an journey to avoid wasting their allies and return residence.
Alongside the way in which, they crew up with the native resistance, serving to them combat in opposition to Tyrant Marie’s forces. The sport revolves round a tactical grid-based fight system, as gamers direct three models throughout the battlefield and take out enemies.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
Atlus’ third rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight sees Caroline and Justine carry the Phantom Thieves to the Velvet Room and problem them to a dance off. There, the group carry out dance routines to a number of of Persona 5’s catchiest tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
A spin-off set 4 months after the occasions of Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer time trip. Nevertheless, the crew discover themselves sucked into the Metaverse after utilizing an app generally known as EMMA. Escaping with the assistance of a brand new ally, the crew don their Phantom Thieves gear as soon as extra and got down to uncover the reality behind EMMA, the Metaverse, and what it means for the folks of Tokyo.
Persona 5 Strikers is a crossover with the long-running Dynasty Warriors franchise, introducing real-time fight to the sequence. Battles heart across the Phantom Thieves taking over massive hordes of enemies, which they will take care of via combos or by calling on Personas.
Learn our evaluate of Persona 5 Strikers.
Each Persona Recreation and Spin-Off in Launch Order
- Revelations: Persona (1996)
- Persona 2: Harmless Sin (1999)
- Persona 2: Everlasting Punishment (2000)
- Persona 3 (2006)
- Persona 3 FES (2007)
- Persona 4 (2008)
- Persona 3 Transportable (2009)
- Persona 4 Enviornment (2012)
- Persona 4 Golden (2012)
- Persona 4 Enviornment Ultimax (2013)
- Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
- Persona 4: Dancing All Evening (2015)
- Persona 5 (2016)
- Persona 3: Dancing within the Moonlight (2018)
- Persona 5: Dancing within 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 Subsequent for Persona?
Though Persona 3 Reload has solely simply hit cabinets, it appears Atlus has one other Persona undertaking within the pipeline. Final 12 months, they introduced they have been engaged on a cell spin-off generally known as Persona 5: The Phantom X. When asserting the undertaking, Atlus mentioned it was related in model to the unique Persona 5, that includes a brand new group of characters as they discover the Metaverse and navigate day by day highschool life.
Whereas we look ahead to an inevitable Persona 6, we additionally know the crew behind Persona 3, 4 and 5 is working arduous on their subsequent RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio. It is slated to launch later this 12 months and guarantees to be a sprawling fantasy story with all of the model, intense turn-based fight and complex storytelling of the Persona sequence. It does not have a launch date simply but, however you’ll be able to take a look at the official trailer above.
Callum Williams is a freelance media author with years of expertise as a sport critic, information reporter, guides author and options author.
