With 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 emblematic that fans and tourists alike visit Shibuya station to capture the iconic shot of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble, despite the station's recent remodel.
However, the journey to this level of acclaim was gradual. Persona initially started as a spin-off from Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series, with the first game released nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the game titles might imply, there are actually six mainline Persona games, not including spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. And just for the record, Metaphor: ReFantazio does not count as a Persona game.
Exploring this rich, 30-year history of JRPGs is highly rewarding, though availability varies across titles. Here’s a guide to where you can legally play all the mainline Persona games. Note that you might need to invest in a PSP to access some of these classics.
Revelations: Persona
| Platforms | PS1, PlayStation Classic, PSP |
*Revelations: Persona*, launched in 1996 on the original PlayStation, saw subsequent releases on Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation Portable. The storyline involves heroes gaining personas through a dramatic fortune-telling session. Unfortunately, the latest hardware it's been re-released on is the PlayStation Classic from 2018.
Currently, there's no version available on modern consoles. You would need a physical copy and a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP to play it. However, given Atlus' commitment to remaking older Persona games, there's hope for a modern remaster in the future.
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita |
Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this sequel hit the PlayStation in Japan in 1999, but wasn't localized for North America and Europe until its PSP port in 2011, with an additional release on the PlayStation Vita.
The game follows high school students in Sumaru City as they confront a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors have the power to alter reality. Unfortunately, like Revelations: Persona, there's no way to play Innocent Sin on current-generation consoles.
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
| Platforms | PlayStation, PSP, PlayStation Vita, PS3 |
*Eternal Punishment*, a direct follow-up to *Innocent Sin*, was released in 2000, shortly after its predecessor. The narrative continues the "Joker Curse" storyline but shifts focus to a new protagonist, a teenage reporter.
Unlike Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation in 2000. It was later remade for the PSP in 2011 and became available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. Despite this, there's no modern hardware version available yet. Rumors suggest Atlus might be planning a combined remake of both 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 on PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America. The storyline involves teenagers grappling with the concept of death while investigating the "Dark Hour." An enhanced version, *Persona 3 FES*, which includes an additional epilogue, is playable on PS3.
The game has seen multiple remakes, including Persona 3 Portable, initially for PSP but later available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical releases in 2023. Many consider Portable to be the best version of Persona 3. The latest iteration, Persona 3 Reload, released in 2024, is tailored for fans of Persona 5 Royal and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, 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 |
Released in 2008 for the PlayStation 2, *Persona 4* presents a gripping murder mystery, where the protagonist and friends utilize their personas to solve a series of killings. The game has garnered a significant following.
Persona 4 Golden, an enhanced remake, debuted on the PlayStation Vita in 2012 and is now available across multiple platforms: 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 |
*Persona 4* caught attention, but *Persona 5* elevated the series to widespread recognition. Initially released for PS3 and PS4 in 2016 in Japan and 2017 globally, the definitive version, *Persona 5 Royal*, followed a few years later, notably launching in North America in March 2020, amidst the early stages of the global COVID-19 shutdown.
In Persona 5, the protagonist, codenamed Joker, is wrongfully accused and moves to Tokyo, where he becomes entangled in the world of "palaces," manifestations of people's distorted desires. The Phantom Thieves and their "take your heart" calling cards are central to the plot.
Persona 5 Royal is now accessible on almost all modern platforms, including PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both physical and digital copies available.
