The Persona series, initially a spin-off from Shin Megami Tensei, has grown into a powerhouse within the modern RPG genre. With its compelling narratives, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay, Persona has expanded beyond video games into anime, stage plays, and more, maintaining its momentum and captivating audiences worldwide.
The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, has sparked interest among newcomers eager to dive into this beloved franchise. To help you navigate the series, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off, including the best starting points for new players, as well as both 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. These include mainline entries and their expanded versions, such as re-releases with new content or complete remakes. We'll detail each game, focusing on their unique features and story elements.
Which Persona Game Should You Play First?
For newcomers, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is highly recommended. These are the latest versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload which isn't on Nintendo Switch.
Don't worry about missing out on the story by starting with these later entries; each game presents a fresh narrative with new characters, largely independent from previous installments. To choose the best fit, explore gameplay videos and the social links of each game to see which 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 inspired by the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If... and centered around high-schoolers battling demons. Set in the town of Mikage-cho, players control a group of students using their Personas to combat a supernatural threat, laying the groundwork for the series with elements like dungeon exploration, Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)
In Persona 2: Innocent Sin, players follow protagonist Tatsuya Suou and his high school friends as they tackle a villain named Joker and the Masked Circle cult. Set in Sumaru City, where rumors come to life, the game retains the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and party development. It's unique in having a direct sequel released the following year.
Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.
3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)
Following Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts focus to Maya Amano, who becomes the protagonist while investigating the Joker Curse. Continuing the story and gameplay mechanics of its predecessor, this entry deepens the narrative and expands on the series' turn-based combat.
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 revolutionized the series by integrating a daily calendar system, balancing school life, social activities, and battling shadows in Tartarus. Protagonist Makoto Yuki navigates the Dark Hour, a mysterious time where a demonic tower emerges from his school. The game introduced social links and other mechanics that became staples of the series.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.
Alternate Versions of Persona 3:
Persona 3 has seen multiple releases: Persona 3 FES added The Answer and a female protagonist route; Persona 3 Portable included the female protagonist but not The Answer; and Persona 3 Reload is a full remake for modern consoles, excluding The Answer and the female route.
5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)
This rhythm-based spin-off set during the main Persona 3 campaign, features Elizabeth challenging the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The events occur in a dream but are canon, featuring dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.
6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)
Set in Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, who moves to the countryside and gets entangled in a series of murders linked to a mysterious realm accessible through TVs. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, the game blends school life with dungeon exploration and Persona battles.
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)
Persona Q merges the timelines of Persona 3 and 4, trapping both teams in a warped Yasogami High School during specific events in their stories. They collaborate to navigate a labyrinth and return to their timelines, blending traditional dungeon-crawling with the series' signature style.
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 format. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious tournament in the TV World, facing both allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.
9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)
Following directly after Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and storyline, reuniting the Persona 4 team with the Shadow Operatives to battle the forces behind the tournament.
Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.
10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)
This rhythm-based spin-off sees the Investigation Squad performing in the Midnight Stage, a canon continuation of the Persona 4 storyline, featuring dance routines to iconic tracks.
Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.
11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)
Persona 5 introduces protagonist Joker, a student on probation in Tokyo who discovers a supernatural realm to change the hearts of wrongdoers. As the Phantom Thieves, the group navigates massive palaces and the Mementos dungeon, becoming cultural icons in the process. Persona 5 Royal enhances the original with new content, including a new character, dungeon, and semester.
Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.
Alternate Versions of Persona 5:
Persona 5 Royal is the expanded version of Persona 5, adding significant new features and widely considered the best way to experience the game.
12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)
A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth features a crossover between Persona 3, 4, and 5, where the characters are trapped in a movie theater and must navigate movie-themed dungeons to escape.
13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)
Set during Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy spin-off similar to XCOM, where the Phantom Thieves are pulled into the Kingdoms and must fight to free their brainwashed comrades and return home.
Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.
14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)
This rhythm-based spin-off sees the Phantom Thieves challenged to a dance-off in the Velvet Room by Caroline and Justine, performing to Persona 5's iconic tracks.
15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)
Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves during a summer vacation that turns into a Metaverse adventure, featuring real-time combat inspired by Dynasty Warriors.
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 released both Persona 3 Reload and the new RPG Metaphor: ReFantazio, which garnered significant acclaim. Following this success, Sega expressed a commitment to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise.
The next project to keep an eye on is the free-to-play mobile game, Persona 5: The Phantom X, already released in several regions in 2024 with a Japanese release soon to follow. A global launch is anticipated, though no official date has been announced. The Phantom X offers an original story within the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters.
While not yet confirmed, Persona 6 is eagerly awaited as the next mainline RPG in the series.
