In the wake of the release of *Persona 5 Royal*, Atlus' *Persona* series has firmly established itself as an iconic JRPG franchise. *Persona 5*, in particular, has become so iconic that fans travel to Shibuya station to capture the memorable shot of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Although the station has been remodeled, the angle can still be found.
Despite its current success, the journey to this point was gradual. *Persona* started as a spin-off from Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* series, with the first game released nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the titles might suggest, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. Note that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.
Exploring the rich 30-year history of this JRPG is rewarding, though some titles are harder to find than others. Here's a guide on where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games. Be prepared: you might need to invest in a PSP.
Revelations: Persona
| Platforms | PS1, PlayStation Classic, PSP |
*Revelations: Persona*, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, was later ported to Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation Portable. In this game, characters gain their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent hardware it's available on is the PlayStation Classic, a 2018 remake of the original PlayStation. There's no version for modern hardware, so you'll need a physical copy for PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, Atlus seems dedicated to remaking older *Persona* games, so a modern remastered version may be on the horizon.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita |
Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this game was first released in Japan for the PlayStation in 1999, and later localized for the PSP in 2011 for North America and Europe. It's also available on the PlayStation Vita. The story follows a group of high schoolers in Sumaru as they confront a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors alter reality. Unfortunately, there's no way to play *Innocent Sin* on modern consoles at the moment.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita, PS3 |
*Eternal Punishment*, a direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, was released in 2000. Set a few months later, it follows a different protagonist, a teenage reporter, and continues to explore the "Joker Curse." Initially released in North America for the PlayStation in 2000, it was later remade for the PSP in 2011 and made available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. While not available on modern hardware, there's a good chance Atlus might release a combined remake of *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment*.
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 the series' emergence from the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow, released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2. The game delves into themes of death as teens investigate the "Dark Hour." *Persona 3 FES*, released the following year, added an epilogue and is playable on PS3.
*Persona 3* has seen multiple remakes. *Persona 3 Portable*, originally for PSP, was later released on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical copies available in 2023. Many consider *Portable* the best version. The latest iteration, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, caters to fans of *Persona 5 Royal* and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. Physical versions are available 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 in 2008 for the PlayStation 2, is a beloved murder mystery where teens use personas to solve a series of killings. The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, first released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012, is now widely available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical versions are available for all platforms except PC.
Persona 5
| Platforms (Persona 5) | PS3, PS4 |
| Platforms (Persona 5 Royal) | PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC |
While *Persona 4* garnered attention, *Persona 5* truly elevated the series to mainstream recognition. Released simultaneously for PS3 and PS4 in Japan in 2016 and worldwide in 2017, the definitive version, *Persona 5 Royal*, followed a few years later, with a North American release in March 2020. The story follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who, after being wrongfully accused of assault, moves to Tokyo and gets involved with the "palaces," metaphysical spaces born from people's delusions.
*Persona 5 Royal* is now available on most modern platforms, including PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Both physical and digital copies can be purchased through the respective platform's online store.
