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

Originally a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has evolved into a powerhouse within the realm of modern RPGs. With its expansive universe spanning numerous sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage productions, 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, now playable on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, has sparked interest among new players eager to dive into the series. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every game and spin-off in the Persona series, helping you determine the best starting point for newcomers and detailing both the chronological and release order of the games.

Jump to:

• How to play in order
• How to play by release date
• Upcoming releases

How Many Persona Games Are There?

Currently, the Persona series boasts twenty games. These include various expanded versions of the mainline entries, featuring new story content or remakes. While direct ports and remasters are not included, we will highlight every alternate version of each game in our listings below.

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 a great starting point. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, respectively, and are available on PC and all major consoles, with the exception of Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch.

If you're worried about missing out on story by starting with a later game, rest assured that each entry from Persona 3 onward tells a standalone story with new characters, making them ideal entry points for newcomers. To choose the best fit for you, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to find what 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 descriptions contain mild spoilers for each game, including characters, settings, and story elements.

1. Revelations: Persona (1996)

The inaugural game of the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus's response to the positive reception of Shin Megami Tensei: If..., another spin-off centered on high-schoolers battling demons. Capitalizing on this concept, Revelations: Persona introduced a full dungeon-crawling RPG experience, featuring a group of high school students fighting a supernatural uprising in Mikage-cho. Players harness the powers of their awakened Personas to combat shadows and explore dungeons, laying the groundwork for the franchise with elements like the Velvet Room and a teenage cast of heroes.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

The second installment, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, follows a new group of high school students led by protagonist Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to thwart a villain known as Joker and his cult, the Masked Circle, who are turning rumors into reality in the town of Sumaru. The game retains the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and shadow battles, and 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 familiar enemy. The game continues the series' tradition of turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players developing their 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, as high school student Makoto Yuki, navigate the Dark Hour—a mysterious time period where people are trapped in coffins and a demonic tower emerges from their school. Alongside classmates, they explore this tower, Tartarus, uncovering a sinister plot. Persona 3 introduced pivotal elements like social links and day-to-day activities, becoming a cornerstone 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 expanded the game with The Answer and an alternate female protagonist campaign. Persona 3 Portable, a handheld version, includes the female protagonist route but omits The Answer. Persona 3 Reload, a full remake for modern consoles, does not include The Answer or 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. Though the events occur within a dream, they are canon to the story, 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 gets entangled in a series of violent murders linked to a supernatural realm accessible through TV monitors. As Yu and his friends delve deeper into this world, they use their Personas to combat the forces behind the murders. Building on Persona 3's mechanics, Persona 4 also employs a calendar system, blending school life, social links, and dungeon exploration.

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, widely regarded as the definitive version.

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

A crossover between Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth takes place during specific segments of both games' storylines. The S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad find themselves trapped in a distorted version of Yasogami High School, working together to solve the mystery and escape. The game returns to the series' traditional dungeon-crawler roots, featuring new enemies and an original story.

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

8. Persona 4 Arena (2012)

Continuing the narratives of Persona 3 and 4, Persona 4 Arena introduces a fighting game spin-off. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and is drawn into a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV World, facing off against allies and members of the Shadow Operatives from Persona 3.

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, with the Persona 4 squad and the Shadow Operatives teaming up to tackle the ongoing threats in the TV World.

Read our review of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax.

10. Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015)

Another rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Dancing All Night continues the Persona 4 storyline. The Investigation Squad is drawn into the Midnight Stage, an alternate dimension, where they perform 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 transports players to Tokyo, where protagonist Joker, on probation for a crime he didn't commit, discovers a supernatural realm called the Metaverse. With friends, he forms the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of evildoers. Persona 5 expanded the series' popularity, becoming Atlus's best-selling game and building on the mechanics of its predecessors with new features like Mementos.

Read our review of Persona 5 Royal.

Alternate Versions of Persona 5:

Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, added new content including a companion, dungeon, 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. Trapped in a movie theater, the groups must navigate through various movie-themed dungeons to escape and return to their timelines.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during the events of Persona 5, Tactica is a strategy-focused spin-off akin to the XCOM series. The Phantom Thieves find themselves in the Kingdoms, battling the brainwashing forces of Tyrant Marie to save their allies and return home.

Read our review of Persona 5 Tactica.

14. Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018)

The third dancing spin-off, Dancing in Starlight features the Phantom Thieves in the Velvet Room, challenged to a dance-off by Caroline and Justine, performing routines to Persona 5's catchy tracks.

15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)

Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves during a summer vacation that quickly turns into a Metaverse adventure. This spin-off introduces real-time combat, blending elements from the Dynasty Warriors series.

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 keep an eye on 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 date has been announced. Described by Atlus as featuring "an original story set in the world of Persona 5 [in which] new characters rise from the shadows and don the masks of the Phantom Thieves."

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