Every Persona Game and Spin-Off in Order

The Persona series, originally a spin-off from the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, has evolved into a major player in the world of modern RPGs. Its expansive universe spans multiple sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, cementing its status as a multimedia phenomenon with no signs of slowing down.

The latest addition, Persona 3 Reload, now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, is drawing in new players who are eager to dive into the series. To help newcomers find their entry point, we'll provide a comprehensive overview of every game and spin-off, including the best starting points, the chronological order, and the release sequence 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 full remakes. While we won't list direct ports or remasters, we'll highlight all alternate versions of each game.

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 iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch.

New players can dive straight into any of these games without missing out on the overarching story, as each title features a unique narrative and cast of characters. To choose the best fit, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see which one 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)

Revelations: Persona, the inaugural game of the series, was Atlus's response to the positive feedback for Shin Megami Tensei: If…. It introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience centered around high school students combating a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Players harness the power of Personas to battle shadows, explore dungeons, and grow stronger throughout the game, setting the stage for the series' core elements.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

Persona 2: Innocent Sin follows a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou, who confront a mysterious villain named Joker and the cult of the Masked Circle. The game delves into a plot where rumors spread in Sumaru City manifest into reality, blending dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles. A direct sequel, Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, continued the story the following year.

Read our review of Persona 2: Innocent Sin.

3. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000)

Picking up where Innocent Sin left off, Eternal Punishment shifts the protagonist role to Maya Amano, who investigates the Joker Curse. The game continues the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players building 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 marked a significant evolution in the series, introducing a daily calendar system that balanced school life and social activities with battling shadows in the mysterious realm of Tartarus. The story follows Makoto Yuki, who navigates the Dark Hour and confronts a world-threatening plot with his classmates. Social links and daily activities became staples of the series through this landmark entry.

Read our review of Persona 3 Reload.

Alternate Versions of Persona 3:

Persona 3 has been re-released multiple times. Persona 3 FES included an additional chapter, The Answer, and an alternate campaign with a female protagonist. Persona 3 Portable featured the female protagonist route but omitted The Answer. Persona 3 Reload is a modern remake of the original, excluding both The Answer and the female protagonist route.

5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)

A rhythm-based dancing spin-off set during the main Persona 3 campaign, Dancing in Moonlight features Elizabeth challenging the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. Set in a dream, the events are canon, with 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, a high schooler who moves to the countryside and uncovers a series of violent murders linked to an otherworldly realm accessible through TV monitors. The game expands on Persona 3's mechanics, using a calendar system to balance social links and school life with dungeon exploration and Persona combat.

Read our review of Persona 4 Golden.

Alternate Versions of Persona 4:

Persona 4 Golden, released in 2012, added new story content and an extra dungeon, making it the definitive version of the game.

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

Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover that occurs during the typhoon segment of Persona 3 and the Culture Festival segment of Persona 4. Both the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad are trapped in a warped version of Yasogami High School, exploring a labyrinth and facing new enemies in an original story that harks back to the series' dungeon-crawler origins.

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

8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)

Persona 4 Arena is the first major spin-off, continuing the narratives of both Persona 3 and 4. It introduces a fighting game format, with Yu Narukami returning to Inaba and entering a mysterious tournament in the TV World, facing off against allies and the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena.

9. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013)

Following Persona 4 Arena, Ultimax continues the story a year later, with the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives teaming up to battle forces behind the fighting tournament. The game expanded the roster and gameplay mechanics of its predecessor.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)

Persona 4: Dancing All Night is a rhythm-based dancing game that serves as a canon continuation of the storyline. The Investigation Squad is pulled into the Midnight Stage, performing dance routines to iconic Persona tracks.

Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

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

Persona 5, set in Tokyo, follows Joker, a high school student on probation after being framed for a crime. He and his friends discover a supernatural dimension and become the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of evildoers. Building on previous entries, Persona 5 introduced massive story-driven levels, a negotiation system, and the Mementos dungeon system, becoming Atlus's best-selling game.

Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.

Alternate Versions of Persona 5:

Persona 5 Royal, the expanded re-release, added new features like a companion, dungeon, and semester, making it the ultimate version of the game.

12. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018)

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth is another crossover, trapping the Phantom Thieves, S.E.E.S team, and Investigation Squad in a movie theater. They explore movie-inspired dungeons from a first-person perspective, fighting to escape and return to their timelines.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during the events of Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off with a tactical grid-based combat system. The Phantom Thieves, trapped in the Kingdoms, must save their brainwashed allies and return home, aligning with the local resistance against Tyrant Marie.

Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.

14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)

In this rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Caroline and Justine challenge the Phantom Thieves to a dance-off in the Velvet Room, performing routines to Persona 5's memorable tracks.

15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)

Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers sees the Phantom Thieves reunite for a summer vacation, only to be pulled back into the Metaverse by an app called EMMA. The game introduces real-time combat, blending elements from the Dynasty Warriors series with Persona's signature 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 Persona project to watch 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 release is anticipated, though no official details have been announced. The Phantom X offers an original story within the Persona 5 universe, where new characters emerge as Phantom Thieves.

Persona 6, the next anticipated entry in the RPG series, remains unconfirmed by Atlus, but fans eagerly await any news of its development.