The Persona series, initially a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei, has evolved into a major force in the world of modern RPGs. With its expansive universe spanning multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has firmly established itself as a multimedia phenomenon that continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
The latest addition to the franchise, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. For newcomers, the question of where to start can be daunting. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, including 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?
In total, there are currently twenty Persona games. These include several expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. While direct ports and remasters are not included, we will highlight all alternate versions of each game in the listings below.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
If you're new to the series, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a great choice. These are the latest versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are available on PC and most major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload, which is not available on Nintendo Switch.
Newcomers can jump into any of these games without missing out on the story, as each installment features a new narrative and original 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 blurbs contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.
1. Revelations: Persona (1996)
The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus's response to the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG centered around high schoolers battling a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Players harness the powers of their Personas to combat shadows, explore dungeons, and level up their party. This game laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing key elements like Personas, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou as they battle the villainous Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle in Sumaru. The game delves into dungeons, utilizes Personas, and follows a narrative where rumors come to life, directly continued in the sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Continuing from Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment elevates Maya Amano to protagonist status. The game follows her investigation into the Joker Curse, which leads to a confrontation with returning enemies. It maintains the series' focus on turn-based combat, dungeon exploration, and Persona usage.
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 that balanced school life and social interactions with dungeon exploration in the supernatural realm of Tartarus. The story follows Makoto Yuki and his classmates as they uncover a sinister plot during the mysterious Dark Hour. This game introduced social links and other mechanics that have become staples of the franchise.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has been re-released several times. Persona 3 FES included an expansion, The Answer, and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable was a handheld version with the female protagonist route but without The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a full remake of the base game for modern consoles, excluding 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 but canon to the story, featuring dance 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 as he and his friends investigate a series of violent murders linked to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. The game expands on Persona 3's mechanics, using a calendar system to balance social links and school life with 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, widely regarded as the definitive version of the game.
7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
This crossover between Persona 3 and Persona 4 occurs simultaneously during both games' timelines. The S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad are trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, exploring a labyrinth and battling 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)
A fighting game spin-off, Persona 4 Arena continues the narratives of both Persona 3 and 4. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV World, facing allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Following directly after Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax sees the Persona 4 squad and the Shadow Operatives teaming up to battle forces in the TV World. It expands the roster and gameplay from the original.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
This rhythm-based dancing game continues the Persona 4 storyline, with the Investigation Squad performing routines to iconic tracks in an alternate dimension called 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 casts them as Joker, a student on probation who discovers a supernatural dimension to infiltrate palaces and change the hearts of evildoers. As the Phantom Thieves, the group becomes notorious in Tokyo. Persona 5's success propelled the franchise to new heights.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal, the expanded re-release, added a new companion, dungeon, and 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. The Phantom Thieves are trapped in a movie theater and must navigate through movie worlds to escape, blending the timelines of all three games.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during the events of Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off where the Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdoms. They must save their brainwashed allies and return home through tactical grid-based combat.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
This rhythm-based dancing spin-off features the Phantom Thieves performing dance routines to Persona 5's catchiest tracks, challenged by Caroline and Justine in the Velvet Room.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation turned adventure in the Metaverse. It introduces real-time combat inspired by the Dynasty Warriors series, with the team fighting hordes of enemies.
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 releases from Atlus: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, an all-new RPG from Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, Sega announced plans to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise.The next Persona project to watch is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, which has been released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea, with a Japanese release imminent following a closed beta sign-up in October. A global release is anticipated, though no official date has been set. The Phantom X offers an original story set in the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters joining the ranks of the Phantom Thieves.
Persona 6 is eagerly awaited as the next mainline entry in the RPG series, though Atlus has yet to confirm its development officially.
