The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has evolved into a powerhouse in the realm of modern RPGs. With its expansive universe spanning multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has solidified its status as a multimedia phenomenon, showing no signs of slowing down. The latest addition to the franchise, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking curiosity among newcomers about the best starting point. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, including the ideal entry point for new players, as well as the chronological and release order of the games.
Jump to:
- How to play in order
- How to play by release date
- Upcoming releases
Which modern Persona game is the best?
- Persona 3 Reload
- Persona 4 Golden
- Persona 5 Royal
- Other (Tell us in the comments!)
How Many Persona Games Are There?
In total, there are currently twenty Persona games. These include expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. While we won't list direct ports or remasters, we'll highlight every alternate version of each game in our listings below.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For those new to the series, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is highly recommended. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which is not yet available on Nintendo Switch.
New players can dive straight into any of these games without missing out on crucial story elements, as each installment features a standalone narrative with new characters. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which one resonates with you.
Persona 3 Reload
Available on PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X.
See it at Amazon
Persona 4 Golden
Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
See it at Nintendo
Persona 5 Royal
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, Revelations: Persona, was born from the positive reception to Shin Megami Tensei: If… Another high-school-themed spin-off, it inspired Atlus to create a full dungeon-crawling RPG. Set in Mikage-cho, the game follows a group of high schoolers battling a supernatural uprising, using their awakened Personas to combat shadows and navigate dungeons. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing key elements such as Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin, released in 1999, follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart a mysterious villain, Joker, and his cult, the Masked Circle, amid a plot where rumors come to life in Sumaru City. The game retains the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and character development. A direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, continued the story a year later.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Following the events of Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano. Tasked with investigating a new rumor, the "Joker Curse," Maya and her team confront familiar enemies. The game continues the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players managing their party and utilizing 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 series, introducing a daily calendar system. Players manage protagonist Makoto Yuki's life as a high school student, balancing school, friendships, and combat against shadows in the mysterious realm of Tartarus during the Dark Hour. This entry introduced social links and other mechanics that became staples of the franchise.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
- Persona 3 FES expanded the original with The Answer and an alternate female protagonist campaign.
- Persona 3 Portable offered the female protagonist route 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 spin-off, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight occurs during the main campaign's dream sequence. Elizabeth challenges the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, set to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Set in Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, a high schooler investigating a series of murders linked to a mysterious realm accessible through TV monitors. The game expands on Persona 3's mechanics, integrating a calendar system with social links and dungeon exploration.
Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.
Alternate Versions of Persona 4:
- Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, added new story content and an additional dungeon, considered the definitive way to experience the game.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth merges the worlds of Persona 3 and 4 during key moments in their respective stories. The S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad are trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, navigating a labyrinth and facing new enemies in a nod to the series' dungeon-crawler origins.
Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.
8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)
Persona 4 Arena continues the narratives of Persona 3 and 4 through a fighting game. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba for a mysterious tournament in the TV world, battling allies and members of the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
A direct sequel to Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax sees the Persona 4 squad and the Shadow Operatives teaming up to combat the forces behind the fighting tournament, expanding the roster with returning characters.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
In this rhythm-based spin-off, the Investigation Squad performs dance routines to Persona tracks in the Midnight Stage, a canon continuation of the Persona 4 storyline.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Persona 5 introduces players to Tokyo and the protagonist, Joker, on probation after being framed. Discovering a supernatural dimension, Joker and his friends become the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of wrongdoers. The game refined the series' mechanics, adding new dungeon systems and becoming Atlus' best-selling title.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
- Persona 5 Royal expanded the original with new characters, dungeons, 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 features a crossover of characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5, trapped in a movie theater and navigating cinematic dungeons to fix movie endings and escape.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy spin-off similar to XCOM. The Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdoms, where they must save their brainwashed allies and defeat Tyrant Marie using tactical grid-based combat.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
In this rhythm-based spin-off, Caroline and Justine challenge the Phantom Thieves to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, set to Persona 5's catchy tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation turned adventure. Drawn into the Metaverse via an app, they confront new threats using 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 enjoyed two major releases from Atlus: Persona 3 Reload and the new RPG, Metaphor: ReFantazio, which garnered numerous awards. Following Metaphor's success, Sega expressed a commitment to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise.
The next project on the horizon is Persona 5: The Phantom X, a free-to-play mobile game released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024, with a Japanese release following a closed beta in October. While a global release is anticipated, no official date has been announced. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, introducing new characters as Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is the eagerly awaited next mainline entry, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.
