In the wake of the release of Persona 5 Royal, Atlus' Persona series has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the JRPG genre. Persona 5 has become particularly iconic, drawing fans to Shibuya station in Tokyo to capture the famous scene of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. While the station has undergone renovations, the angle remains a beloved photo spot for fans.
Despite its current fame, the Persona series had a slow rise to prominence. Originally a spin-off of Atlus' Shin Megami Tensei franchise, the first Persona game was released nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the numbering might suggest, there are actually six mainline Persona games, not counting various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced editions. Note that Metaphor: ReFantazio is not part of the Persona series.
Exploring the rich 30-year history of the Persona series is highly rewarding, though accessing some of the earlier titles can be challenging. Here's a guide to where you can legally play each of the mainline Persona games, with a heads-up that a PSP might be a useful investment.
Revelations: Persona
| Platforms | PS1, PlayStation Classic, PSP |
Revelations: Persona, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, also saw releases on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game's narrative centers around high school students who gain personas following a dramatic fortune-telling session. Unfortunately, the most recent hardware re-release is on the PlayStation Classic, which means there's no modern console version available. To play, you'll need a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' commitment to remaking older titles, fans can hope for a modern remaster in the future.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita |
Known simply as Persona 2: Innocent Sin, this sequel was initially released in Japan for the PlayStation in 1999, with a North American and European release on the PSP in 2011, and later on the PlayStation Vita. The game follows a group of high school students in the fictional town of Sumaru as they confront a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors have the power to alter reality. Currently, there are no versions available on modern consoles.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita, PS3 |
Eternal Punishment is a direct sequel to Innocent Sin, released a year later in 2000. It continues the story of the "Joker Curse" through the eyes of a new protagonist, a teenage reporter. Unlike its predecessor, it saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation. The 2011 PSP remake was also made available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. While not available on modern hardware, there's a strong possibility that Atlus may consider remaking both Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment together.
Persona 3
| Platforms (Persona 3) | PlayStation 2 |
| Platforms (Persona 3 FES) | PlayStation 3 |
| Platforms (Persona 3 Portable) | PS4, Windows, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch |
| Platforms (Persona 3 Reload) | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
Persona 3 marked a significant shift, stepping out from the shadow of Shin Megami Tensei. Released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America, it delves into themes of death through the lens of teens exploring the mysterious "Dark Hour." The expanded Persona 3 FES version, featuring an additional epilogue, is playable on the PS3.
Further enhancing the game's reach, Persona 3 Portable, an abridged version initially released for the PSP, became available on the PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical releases for the latter three in 2023. Many consider Portable to be the definitive version of Persona 3. The latest iteration, Persona 3 Reload, released in 2024, targets fans of Persona 5 Royal and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, with physical copies for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.
Persona 4
| Platforms (Persona 4) | PlayStation 2 |
| Platforms (Persona 4 Golden) | PlayStation Vita, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC |
Persona 4, released on the PlayStation 2 in 2008, is a beloved murder mystery where a group of teens harness their personas to solve a series of murders. The enhanced Persona 4 Golden, released on the PlayStation Vita in 2012, has since been made available across a wide range of platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, with physical copies available for all except PC.
Persona 5
| Platforms (Persona 5) | PS3, PS4 |
| Platforms (Persona 5 Royal) | PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
Persona 5 catapulted the series into mainstream gaming culture. Initially released in 2016 for the PS3 and PS4 in Japan and worldwide in 2017, it follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who, after being wrongfully accused, moves to Tokyo and becomes embroiled in the world of "palaces"—metaphysical constructs born from human delusions. The enhanced Persona 5 Royal, released in North America in March 2020, has since become available on nearly all modern platforms: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both physical and digital versions accessible through various online stores.
