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

The Persona series, originally a spin-off of Shin Megami Tensei, has evolved into a major force in the realm of modern RPGs. With its captivating narratives, engaging gameplay, and memorable characters, the franchise has expanded into a multimedia phenomenon, encompassing multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays. The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, sparking interest among new players on where to dive in. Below, we'll explore every game and spin-off in the series, suggesting the best starting point for newcomers, and detailing both the chronological and release order.

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There are currently twenty Persona games in total. These include expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. We'll highlight each alternate version of the games in our listings below, excluding direct ports and remasters.

Which Persona Game Should You Play First?

For newcomers, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a solid choice. These are the latest versions of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, available on PC and most major consoles (with Persona 3 Reload not yet on Nintendo Switch). You won't miss out on the story by starting with any of these games, as each entry tells a new story with original characters that are largely independent of previous games. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to find what resonates with you.

### Persona 3 Reload

54Available on PS5, PS4, and Xbox Series X. See it at Amazon### Persona 4 Golden

42Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. See it at Nintendo### Persona 5 Royal

103Available on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch. See it at AmazonEvery Persona Game and Spin-Off in Chronological Order

These descriptions contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story beats.

1. Revelations: Persona (1996)

Revelations: Persona marked the beginning of the series, inspired by the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If…. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience, where high school students combat a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho using their awakened Personas. This game laid the groundwork for the series, introducing key elements like Personas in combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou, tasked with stopping the villainous Joker and the Masked Circle cult. The game delves into a plot where rumors in Sumaru City manifest into reality, maintaining the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona battles, and party 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)

Eternal Punishment picks up where Innocent Sin left off, with Maya Amano stepping into the protagonist role. She investigates the Joker Curse, leading her team in a battle against a familiar enemy. The gameplay remains consistent, focusing on turn-based combat and dungeon crawling.

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 introducing a daily calendar system, balancing school life and social interactions with combat in Tartarus. Protagonist Makoto Yuki navigates the Dark Hour, a mysterious time where he battles shadows in a tower emerging 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 been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES added The Answer chapter and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable included the female protagonist 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)

This rhythm-based spin-off sees the S.E.E.S team engaging in a dance-off within the Velvet Room, set during a dream that's canon to the main story. Players perform dance routines to iconic Persona 3 tracks.

6. Persona 4 (2008) / Persona 4 Golden (2012)

Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami in the rural town of Inaba, where a series of murders leads him and his friends into a mysterious realm accessed through TV monitors. The game expands on Persona 3's mechanics, with players juggling school life and dungeon exploration.

Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.

Alternate Versions of Persona 4:

Persona 4 Golden is an enhanced version released in 2012, featuring 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 blends the storylines of Persona 3 and 4 during specific events, trapping both teams in a warped version of Yasogami High School. Players explore a labyrinth, facing new enemies and engaging in turn-based battles.

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

8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)

This fighting game spin-off continues the narratives of Persona 3 and 4, with Yu Narukami returning to Inaba for a mysterious tournament in the TV world. It features a roster of iconic Persona characters.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.

9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)

Following the events of Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the roster and storyline, bringing back characters from Persona 3 to battle against new threats in the TV world.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)

This rhythm-based game follows the Investigation Squad as they're pulled into the Midnight Stage, performing dance routines to iconic Persona tracks in a canon continuation of the story.

Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

11. Persona 5 (2016) / Persona 5 Royal (2019)

Persona 5 introduces players to Tokyo, where protagonist Joker, on probation, discovers a supernatural realm to change the hearts of wrongdoers as the Phantom Thieves. The game builds on previous entries with extensive story levels, the negotiation system, and the new Mementos dungeon system, becoming Atlus's best-selling title.

Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.

Alternate Versions of Persona 5:

Persona 5 Royal is an expanded version, adding new content, a companion, dungeon, and an additional semester.

12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)

This sequel to Persona Q features a crossover of characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5, trapped in a movie theater. They explore movie-based dungeons to fix their endings and escape.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off similar to XCOM. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in the Kingdoms, fighting to save their brainwashed allies and return home.

Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.

14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)

This rhythm-based game features the Phantom Thieves performing dance routines in the Velvet Room to Persona 5 tracks.

15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)

Set post-Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reuniting for a summer vacation turned Metaverse adventure. It introduces real-time combat, blending with the Dynasty Warriors style.

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 project to watch is Persona 5: The Phantom X, a free-to-play mobile game released in several Asian regions in 2024, with a Japanese release following a closed beta sign-up in October. A global release is anticipated, though no official date has been set. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 universe with new characters.

Persona 6, the next mainline RPG, remains unconfirmed by Atlus, but anticipation is high among fans.