"Persona Games and Spin-Offs: Complete Chronological List"

The Persona series, which began as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, 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 cemented its status as a multimedia phenomenon. Its popularity continues to soar, showing no signs of slowing down. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking interest among new players about where to begin their journey into this captivating series. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off, including the best starting points for newcomers, 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

Which modern Persona game is the best? --------------------------------------

Persona 3 ReloadPersona 4 GoldenPersona 5 RoyalOther (Tell us in the comments!)

Answer See Results

How Many Persona Games Are There?

There are currently twenty Persona games in total. These include expanded versions of the mainline entries, such as re-releases with new story content or remakes. While we won't list direct ports or remasters, we will highlight every alternate version of each game in the following sections.

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, respectively, and are available on PC and most major consoles, except for Persona 3 Reload, which is not yet on Nintendo Switch.

Newcomers can dive into any of these games without missing out on the overarching story, as each game features a new narrative and original characters that stand independently from their predecessors. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which one 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)

The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus's response to the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…, another high-school-themed spin-off. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience centered around a group of high schoolers battling a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. The game laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing key elements like Personas in combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast of heroes.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

The second entry, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. They embark on a mission to thwart a mysterious villain, Joker, and the cult of the Masked Circle. The game revolves around an evil plot where rumors in Sumaru come to life, featuring dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and party leveling. It was followed by a direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, a year later.

Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.

3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)

Continuing from Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano. Tasked with investigating a new rumor about the Joker Curse, Maya and her allies confront a returning foe. The game maintains the series' turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, focusing on building the party and using 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, emphasizing its high-school setting with a daily calendar system. Players manage the life of Makoto Yuki, who navigates the mysterious Dark Hour and explores the demonic tower of Tartarus. The game introduced social links, day-to-day activities, and other mechanics that became hallmarks of the franchise.

Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.

Alternate Versions of Persona 3:

Persona 3 has been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES added The Answer and an alternate campaign with a female protagonist. Persona 3 Portable included 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 dancing spin-off set during the main campaign of Persona 3, Dancing in Moonlight 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 to the story, with the team performing 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, a high schooler who moves to the countryside and becomes embroiled in a series of violent murders linked to a mysterious otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. The game builds on Persona 3's mechanics, using a calendar system to balance social links, school life, 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, making it the definitive version of the game.

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

A crossover between Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth occurs during specific segments of both games' storylines. 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' traditional dungeon-crawler roots.

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

8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)

A continuation of both Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena introduces a fighting game spin-off where Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV world. The game features a roster of iconic Persona characters and a narrative that bridges the two mainline games.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.

9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)

Following directly after Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and continues the story, with the Persona 4 squad and the Shadow Operatives teaming up to battle the forces behind the fighting tournament.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)

A rhythm-based dancing game, Persona 4: Dancing All Night offers a canon continuation of the storyline, with the Investigation Squad performing routines to iconic Persona 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)

Set in Tokyo, Persona 5 follows Joker, a high school student on probation, who discovers a supernatural alternate dimension and forms the Phantom Thieves to change the hearts of evildoers. The game builds on the series' formula with massive story-focused levels, a negotiation system, and a new dungeon system called Mementos. Persona 5 became Atlus's best-selling game and garnered a massive fan base.

Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.

Alternate Versions of Persona 5:

Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, added new features, including 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, S.E.E.S team, and Investigation Squad are trapped in a movie theater and must navigate through movie-themed dungeons to escape.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during the events of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off similar to the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves are transported to an alternate realm called the Kingdoms, where 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)

The third rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, features Caroline and Justine challenging the Phantom Thieves to a dance-off 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 for a summer vacation that turns into a Metaverse adventure. The game introduces real-time combat inspired by the Dynasty Warriors series, with the team battling hordes of enemies and using Personas in combat.

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 of Atlus RPGs were treated to two releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, which garnered several awards, Sega announced plans to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise during a developers' Q&A session.

The next Persona project to watch is the free-to-play mobile game Persona 5: The Phantom X, which was released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024. A Japanese release is imminent following a closed beta sign-up in October, with a global release expected, though no official details have been announced yet. The Phantom X features an original story set in the world of Persona 5, introducing new characters who become the Phantom Thieves.

Persona 6 is the highly anticipated next mainline entry in the RPG series, though Atlus has yet to officially confirm its development.