"Persona Series: Complete Game and Spin-Off Timeline"

Originally conceived as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has evolved into a standalone phenomenon, becoming one of the most celebrated names in modern RPGs. Its expansive universe spans multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, cementing its status as a multimedia juggernaut. With the release of Persona 3 Reload on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, new fans are eager to dive in but may be wondering where to start. Below, we provide a comprehensive guide to every game and spin-off in the series, along with the best entry points for newcomers and both the chronological and release order of the franchise.

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

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

AnswerSee ResultsHow Many Persona Games Are There?

The Persona series boasts a total of twenty games. This number includes several expanded versions of mainline entries, which feature new story content or are remakes. We will focus on these alternate versions while excluding direct ports and remasters in our list below.

Which Persona Game Should You Play First?

For those new to the series, diving into 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 games, respectively, and are available on PC and most major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload, which is not yet on Nintendo Switch.

Starting with any of these titles won't leave you lost; each game offers a fresh narrative with new characters, making them ideal entry points. To help decide, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links featured in each game to see which one resonates with you the most.

### 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 SwitchSee it at Nintendo### Persona 5 Royal

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

These summaries include mild spoilers for characters, settings, and story elements.

1. Revelations: Persona (1996)

As the inaugural game of the series, Revelations: Persona was born from the success of Shin Megami Tensei: If…. It introduced a full-fledged dungeon-crawling RPG experience, centered around a group of high schoolers combating a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Utilizing their Personas, players navigate dungeons, engage in random encounters, and develop their party throughout the game. This title laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing core elements like Personas, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

In Persona 2: Innocent Sin, a new group of high school students, led by Tatsuya Suou, tackle a mysterious villain named Joker and the Masked Circle cult. The narrative revolves around rumors that come to life in the town of Sumaru, leading to dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles. A direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, continued this story a year later.

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 as she investigates the Joker Curse. The gameplay remains rooted in turn-based dungeon-crawling, with players developing their party and using Personas to fight 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 marks a significant evolution in the series, introducing a daily calendar system that balances high school life with supernatural battles in Tartarus. The protagonist, Makoto Yuki, navigates the Dark Hour, where he and his classmates confront a sinister plot in a demonic tower. Persona 3 introduced social links and daily activities, becoming a cornerstone for the franchise's future.

Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.

Alternate Versions of Persona 3:

Persona 3 has been re-released several times. Persona 3 FES added an extra chapter, The Answer, and an alternate female protagonist route. Persona 3 Portable included the female protagonist but omitted The Answer, while Persona 3 Reload is a complete remake for modern consoles, excluding both The Answer and the female protagonist route.

5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)

In this rhythm-based spin-off, Elizabeth challenges the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, set within a dream sequence that remains canon to the Persona 3 storyline. Players engage in dance routines to iconic tracks from the game.

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

Set in the rural town of Inaba, Persona 4 follows Yu Narukami, a high schooler who uncovers a series of murders linked to a mysterious realm accessed through TV monitors. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, the game blends school life, social links, and dungeon exploration. Persona 4 Golden, an enhanced version, added new story content and an additional dungeon, widely regarded as the definitive way to experience the game.

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 elements and an extra dungeon, making it the preferred version for many fans.

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

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover that merges the narratives of Persona 3 and 4 during specific story segments. Both teams find themselves trapped in a distorted 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)

Persona 4 Arena continues the stories of both Persona 3 and 4, introducing a fighting game format where Yu Narukami and allies face off in a mysterious tournament within the TV World. The game features a roster of iconic characters from both titles.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.

9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)

Following directly from Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax expands the fighting game with additional characters and continues the story of the TV World tournament, involving the Persona 4 team and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.

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 dance routines in an alternate dimension known as the Midnight Stage. The game's storyline is considered canon to the Persona 4 universe.

Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

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

Persona 5 follows protagonist Joker, who, after being framed for a crime, discovers a supernatural dimension and forms the Phantom Thieves to change the hearts of wrongdoers. The game builds upon the series' established formula with expansive story-driven levels, a negotiation system, and the new Mementos dungeon system. Persona 5 Royal added further content, including a new character, dungeon, and semester, cementing it as the ultimate version of the game.

Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.

Alternate Versions of Persona 5:

Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, enhanced the original game with additional features, new story segments, and a new dungeon, making it the most comprehensive version available.

12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)

In this sequel to Persona Q, the Phantom Thieves, along with characters from Persona 3 and 4, find themselves trapped in a movie theater, navigating through various film worlds to escape. The game features first-person dungeon exploration and turn-based combat, occurring simultaneously across the timelines of the three games.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during the events of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy game similar to XCOM. The Phantom Thieves are transported to the Kingdoms, where they must save their brainwashed allies and defeat the realm's ruler, Tyrant Marie, using a tactical grid-based combat system.

Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.

14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)

In this third dancing spin-off, Caroline and Justine challenge the Phantom Thieves to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, featuring routines to popular 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 via the EMMA app. The game blends real-time combat from the Dynasty Warriors series with Persona elements, allowing players to battle large enemy groups.

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 major releases: Persona 3 Reload and Metaphor: ReFantazio, a new RPG from Atlus's Studio Zero. Following the success of Metaphor, which won several awards, Sega expressed a commitment to further invest in Atlus and the Persona franchise during a developers' Q&A session.

The next project to keep an eye on is the free-to-play mobile game, Persona 5: The Phantom X, already released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea, with a Japanese release on the horizon after a closed beta sign-up in October. While a global release is anticipated, no official date has been announced. The Phantom X introduces an original story set within the Persona 5 universe, featuring new characters taking on the Phantom Thieves' mantle.

The highly anticipated Persona 6 remains unconfirmed by Atlus, though the gaming community eagerly awaits any news of its development.