"Chronological List of All Persona Games and Spin-Offs"

Originally conceived as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has swiftly evolved into a standalone juggernaut within the realm of modern RPGs. Its reach extends beyond gaming, captivating audiences through anime adaptations, stage plays, and a multitude of sequels and remakes. Persona's multimedia empire shows no signs of waning, continually drawing in fans worldwide. With the recent launch of Persona 3 Reload on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, newcomers are eager to dive in but may wonder where to start. This guide will navigate you through the full spectrum of Persona games and spin-offs, offering insights into the best entry points for beginners, as well as the chronological and release order of the series.

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Currently, there are a total of twenty Persona games. This count includes expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. We'll focus on noting each game's alternate versions in the lists below, excluding direct ports and remasters.

Which Persona Game Should You Play First?

For those new to the series, jumping into Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is an excellent starting point. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload on the Nintendo Switch. Don't worry about missing out on the story by beginning with these later entries; each game introduces a new narrative and cast of characters, making them perfect for newcomers. To choose the right game for you, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each title to see which resonates with you the most.

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)

Revelations: Persona marked the inception of the series, drawing inspiration from the success of Shin Megami Tensei: If…. This full-fledged RPG centers on high school students in Mikage-cho battling a supernatural uprising. Players harness the power of their Personas to combat shadows in dungeons, laying the groundwork for the series' core elements like Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a youthful cast of heroes.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

Persona 2: Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students, led by Tatsuya Suou, as they confront the villainous Joker and the Masked Circle cult. The game delves into a plot where rumors materialize into reality, continuing the tradition of dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and party development. Notably, this entry was directly followed by a sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.

3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)

Eternal Punishment picks up where Innocent Sin left off, with Maya Amano taking the lead role. Tasked with investigating the Joker Curse, Maya and her allies tackle returning adversaries. The game retains the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players enhancing their party and wielding 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 revolutionized the series by emphasizing its high school setting and introducing a daily calendar system. Players navigate the life of Makoto Yuki, who can enter the mysterious Dark Hour, confronting shadows in the supernatural realm of Tartarus. This landmark entry introduced social links, daily activities, and mechanics that became hallmarks of the franchise.

Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.

Alternate Versions of Persona 3:

Persona 3 has seen multiple re-releases. Persona 3 FES added the follow-up chapter, The Answer, and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable offered the female protagonist route but omitted The Answer. Persona 3 Reload, a modern remake, does not include The Answer or the female protagonist route.

5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)

This rhythm-based spin-off set during the main campaign of Persona 3 sees Elizabeth challenge the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. The events unfold in a dream but are canon, featuring the team dancing 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 uncovers a string of murders linked to a mysterious realm accessible through TV monitors. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, players juggle school life, social links, and dungeon exploration as they fight to stop the murders.

Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.

Alternate Versions of Persona 4:

Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, expanded the original game with new story content and an additional dungeon, making it the definitive version.

7. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth intertwines the narratives of Persona 3 and 4, trapping the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad in a time-bending event at Yasogami High School. Players explore a labyrinth, fight new enemies, and experience a story that harkens back to the series' dungeon-crawler roots.

Read our review of Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth.

8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)

Persona 4 Arena extends the narratives of Persona 3 and 4 into a fighting game, where Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious tournament in the TV world. The game features a roster of iconic characters from both games, engaging in battle.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.

9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)

A sequel to Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax continues the story immediately after the first game. The Persona 4 squad and the Shadow Operatives team up to battle forces within the TV World, expanding the roster with returning characters.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)

This rhythm-based spin-off sees the Investigation Squad dancing to iconic Persona tracks in the Midnight Stage, an alternate dimension. The story is a canon continuation of Persona 4.

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, who is on probation after being framed. Discovering a supernatural realm, the Phantom Thieves change the hearts of evildoers, becoming notorious in Tokyo. The game enhanced the series' formula with massive story-focused levels, a negotiation system, and the new Mementos dungeon system. 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, released in 2019, adds new companions, dungeons, and an additional semester, making it the definitive version of the game.

12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)

A sequel to Persona Q, New Cinema Labyrinth brings together characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5 as they navigate a movie theater and its cinematic worlds. The adventure takes place simultaneously during the main storylines, offering a first-person dungeon-crawling experience.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off reminiscent of the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in the Kingdoms, fighting to save their brainwashed allies and return home, using a tactical grid-based combat system.

Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.

14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)

In this rhythm-based dancing spin-off, the Phantom Thieves are challenged to a dance-off by Caroline and Justine in the Velvet Room, performing routines to catchy Persona 5 tracks.

15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)

Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves during a summer vacation that leads them back into the Metaverse. This spin-off introduces real-time combat reminiscent of the Dynasty Warriors series, with the team battling 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?

The next anticipated Persona project is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X. Launched in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024, with a Japanese release on the horizon following a closed beta sign-up in October, a global rollout is expected, though official dates remain undisclosed. The Phantom X promises an original story set within the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters joining the ranks of the Phantom Thieves.

Persona 6, the much-anticipated next installment in the RPG series, is rumored to be in development, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its existence.