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

Originally starting as a spin-off of the Shin Megami Tensei series, the Persona franchise has evolved into a powerhouse of modern RPGs, captivating fans worldwide. With its expansive universe spanning major sequels, remakes, anime adaptations, and even stage plays, Persona has become a multimedia phenomenon that continues to grow in popularity.

The latest addition to the series, Persona 3 Reload, is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, inviting new players to dive into this captivating world. If you're wondering where to start, we've got you covered with a comprehensive guide to all the games and spin-offs, including the best entry points for newcomers and both chronological and release order listings of the series.

Jump to:

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

How Many Persona Games Are There?

Currently, there are twenty Persona games available. 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'll highlight every alternate version of each game in the listings below.

Which Persona Game Should You Play First?

If you're new to the series, starting with Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden, or Persona 5 Royal is a fantastic choice. These are the latest iterations of the third, fourth, and fifth mainline entries, available on PC and most major consoles (except for Persona 3 Reload, which is not on Nintendo Switch).

Don't worry about missing out on the story by starting with a later entry. Each game features a new story and original characters, making them perfect starting points for newcomers. To choose the best fit for you, consider watching gameplay videos and exploring the social links in each game to see what 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)

The inaugural game in the series, Revelations: Persona, was Atlus's response to the positive feedback on Shin Megami Tensei: If…, another high-school-themed spin-off. Revelations: Persona expanded into a full dungeon-crawling RPG set in Mikage-cho, where a group of high schoolers battle a supernatural uprising using their awakened Personas. This game laid the groundwork for the franchise, introducing key elements like Persona combat, the Velvet Room, and a teenage cast.

2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999)

The second game in the series, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, launched in 1999, following a new group of high school students led by Tatsuya Suou. Their mission is to stop a mysterious villain called Joker and his cult, the Masked Circle, amidst a plot where rumors turn into reality. The game maintains the series' focus on dungeon exploration, Persona combat, and party development, 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 features Maya Amano as the protagonist, tasked with investigating the Joker Curse. As a direct continuation, it retains the turn-based, dungeon-crawling gameplay, with players using Personas to combat 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 interactions with supernatural battles in Tartarus. The protagonist, Makoto Yuki, navigates the Dark Hour, fighting shadows to uncover a sinister plot threatening the world. This entry introduced social links and other mechanics now synonymous with 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 a follow-up chapter, 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 modern remake of the base game, excluding The Answer and the female protagonist route.

5. Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018)

A rhythm-based dancing spin-off, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight, features a dream sequence where Elizabeth challenges the S.E.E.S team to a dance-off in the Velvet Room. Set during the main campaign, it's fully canon and includes 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 in with his uncle and cousin. As a series of violent murders unfolds, Yu and his friends discover a link to an otherworldly realm accessible via TV monitors. The game builds on Persona 3's mechanics, using the calendar system to balance social interactions with dungeon exploration and Persona battles.

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, widely considered the definitive version of the game.

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

Set during the events of Persona 3 and 4, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover where the S.E.E.S team and the Investigation Squad are trapped in a warped Yasogami High School. Players navigate a labyrinth, 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 fighting game spin-off, Persona 4 Arena continues the narratives of Persona 3 and 4. Yu Narukami returns to Inaba and enters a mysterious fighting tournament in the TV world, battling 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 expands the roster and continues the story, with the Persona 4 squad and Shadow Operatives teaming up to tackle the TV World's mysterious forces.

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, is set in the Midnight Stage, where the Investigation Squad performs routines to iconic Persona tracks. It continues the storyline in a canon manner.

Read our review of Persona 4: Dancing All Night.

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

Persona 5 introduces players to Tokyo and the protagonist, Joker, who is on probation after being framed. Discovering a supernatural alternate dimension, Joker and his friends form the Phantom Thieves, infiltrating palaces to change the hearts of evildoers. The game expanded the series' popularity, becoming Atlus's best-selling game and gaining a massive fanbase.

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 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 where the Phantom Thieves, S.E.E.S team, and Investigation Squad are trapped in a movie theater. They explore dungeons within movie worlds to escape and return to their timelines.

13. Persona 5 Tactica (2023)

Set during Persona 5, Persona 5 Tactica is a strategy spin-off where the Phantom Thieves enter an alternate realm, the Kingdoms. They fight to save their brainwashed allies and return home, using a tactical grid-based combat system.

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 catchy tracks.

15. Persona 5 Strikers (2020)

Set four months after Persona 5, Strikers reunites the Phantom Thieves for a summer vacation that leads them back into the Metaverse via an app called EMMA. The game introduces real-time combat with Dynasty Warriors-style action, as the team battles hordes of enemies.

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 Persona 5: The Phantom X, a free-to-play mobile game released in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Korea in 2024. A Japanese release is expected soon after a closed beta sign-up in October, and a global release is anticipated, though no official date has been announced. The Phantom X features an original story set in the Persona 5 world, with new characters taking up the mantle of the Phantom Thieves.

Anticipation is high for Persona 6, the next mainline RPG in the series, though Atlus has yet to confirm its development officially.