The best Persona games, ranked

While historically the Persona release schedule has been spotty in terms of making its way from Japan to the rest of the world, the last few generations of consoles has thankfully seen that trend diminish. It's now at the point where Persona 3 Reload released globally at the same time, without having to wait months for a translation. A good thing too, as this series stands tall among the likes of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Like A Dragon as some of the best JRPG games out there. The series' ideas have even been reinterpreted in a new project from some of Persona's original creators – and, as our Metaphor ReFantazio review attests, they still very much have legs.

Despite only releasing six numbered mainline games (depending on how you count them), Persona has grown a lot from PS1 to PS5. While battling enemies, recruiting demons, and exploring dungeons has always been at the fore, it's only gotten snappier and slicker to do so. Meanwhile, from Persona 3 onward, a calendar and social link system have become key to its identity, giving the series a unique flavor that's unmatched. Its roots as a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off mean that there's still plenty of dark elements to Persona's stories, even if it's become a bit more vibrant in recent years.

With the likes of Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Royal now with us, and plenty of additional games in between, we've looked at the best Persona games to play right now – and thankfully a lot are on modern consoles (especially if you own a PS Vita or PS3 for digital downloads of classics). With plenty of different versions available for each, we'll be spotlighting the ones that feel like the most definitive releases, as those are our recommendations. Even though they're all great games, read on to find out our ranking!

12. Persona 4: Dancing All Night

Developer: P-Studio
Platform(s): PS Vita, PS4
Release date: September 29, 2015 (Persona 3 and Persona 5 versions: December 4, 2018)

For brevity's sake, we'll also count this entry as representing Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight as well. Look, these are some of the best rhythm games we've played, and the hour count some of our staff have clocked up in these would make you shudder. But if we're ranking Persona games here we need to take into account how Persona-y they really are, and as far the series' spin-offs go these have little in common with the core series. Persona 4: Dancing All Night is the best of the bunch, thanks to a fully-featured storyline that acts as an epilogue to the Persona 4 cast you came to love. While the other two games don't feature stories that are as in-depth, it's still nice to continue to grow closer to the characters in conversations between busting down sick moves.

Learn more in our Persona 4: Dancing All Night review, where we said the game was "a challenging, gorgeous rhythm game that marks a joyous reunion with characters you adore" 

11. Shin Megami Tensei: Persona

Developer: Atlus
Platform(s): PSP (Original: PS1)
Release date: September 22, 2009 (Original: December 14, 1996)

The first Persona game, released in 1996 for PS1, doesn’t have any of the features we associate with the series now – the music isn’t quite funky enough, there are no bright colors, and the social links with your teammates don’t exist yet. You can't even negotiate demons into your party like in early Shin Megami Tensei games, though they can still give you bonuses. Its English release also cut out the game's entire second route. Thankfully, this was restored in the much improved PSP release, Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, as well as the addition of boppier tunes and slicker combat. The foundations are here, but its limitations stand out in retrospect, making this still feel like a prototype for what was to come rather than an essentially play for anyone but the most committed.

10. Persona 4 Arena Ultimax 

Developer: Arc System Works, P-Studio
Platform(s): PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Switch, PC
Release date: September 30, 2014 (Remaster: March 17, 2022)

Similar to Persona 4: Dancing, this spin-off is a phenomenal entry in its respective genre, and was one of the best fighting games available in its time, but it's too different from the core series to really rank higher. This combines content from the original Persona 4 Arena while adding much more. The storyline gives a new adventure for both the Persona 3 and Persona 4 cast, and each fighter feels unique to control with plenty of references to how they act in the RPGs they come from. Gorgeous pixel art meets responsive combat, as you'd expect from developer Arc System Works (read our Dragon Ball FighterZ review for more on why they're so good). If that's not all, the most recent remaster of the game across PC and PS4 even added rollback netcode so online play is silky smooth.

Learn more in our Persona 4: Arena review, where we said it "marks the best initial entry in a fighting game franchise to date" 

9. Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth

Developer: P-Studio
Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS
Release date: November 25, 2014

Classic Persona games already shared a lot in common with sister series Etrian Odyssey, so it made sense when making the jump to less powerful hardware with the Nintendo 3DS to lean further into it. Developers were shuffled around, resulting in a team made up of staff from both the most recent game in that series (a great one too – read our Etrian Odyssey 4: Legends of the Titan review for that!), and Persona veterans. Combining the cast of Persona 3 and Persona 4 they must journey together through mazes and fighting in turn-based battles. What's neat is you can make up different combinations of party members, and see how they bounce off one another. Despite being a spin-off, this feels as Persona as they come, even if the story ultimately feels a little inconsequential by virtue of having to fit within the scope of both pre-existing games.

Learn more in our Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth review, where we called it a "sugary sweet confection laced with the familiar darkness of the Shin Megami Tensei series"

8. Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth 

Developer: P-Studio
Platform(s): Nintendo 3DS
Release date: June 4, 2019

Honestly, this was a struggle to fit in, as it plays so similarly to the original Persona Q, once again iterating on the premise of fitting core Persona mechanics into an Etrian Odyssey-styled structure. Injecting Persona 5 characters into the mix alongside the returning Persona 3 and Persona 4 cast, there's certainly lots to love. Even so, it's spread a bit thin as a result, meaning the story and interactions stick with us a little less. So why rank it higher? Simply put, a dungeon crawler like this is all about the mechanics and how it feels to play moment to moment, and this is where Persona Q2 really evolves on what came before. From exploring the mazes to combat, everything just feels better in action. It really makes us hope for another game in the series in the future, as it's honestly quite a unique combination that deserves to be explored further.

7.  Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 – Innocent Sin

Developer: Atlus
Platform(s): PSP (Original: PS1)
Release date: September 20, 2011 (Original: June 24, 1999)

While we've included the original release date above, this sequel only received an English localization for its PSP re-release, meaning for many it was over a decade in the making. And as a sequel, it doesn't disappoint. Battles are slicker, recruiting demons feels more fluid, and a switch from first- to third-person dungeon crawling does a lot to remove the original's monotony (though there are still a lot of hallways to run through). The story is also a cut above, a dark tale revolving around a group of teens who must use their new powers to pursue the jester-like Joker, who is seeding reality-warping rumors to cause havoc in Sumaru City. In a neat twist, you can use these rumors yourself as well, to, for example, change the items stocked by certain shops or unlock new areas.

Learn more in our Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2 – Innocent Sin review, where we called it "a charming RPG with mature, likable characters and a well-paced story featuring plenty of surprises" 

6. Persona 5 Tactica

Developer: P-Studio
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release date: November 17, 2023

Persona 5 Tactica may have chibi-like redesigns like the Persona Q games, but this Persona 5-dedicated spin-off couldn't be further from it in terms of gameplay. There's no dungeon crawling whatsoever, instead focusing entirely on battles. Though here, the skills and abilities you're familiar with from Persona 5 are translated into XCOM-like skirmishes across grid-based spaces. It's a neat twist on a battle system you may already be familiar with to add positioning into the mix. Flanking enemies is rewarded as well, with the power to unleash triangular synergy strikes. The story, while a bit weightless overall, has some fantastic character writing throughout all with an interesting revolutionary framing.

Learn more in our Persona 5 Tactica review, where we called it a "charming, compelling tactical spinoff" 

5. Persona 5 Strikers

Developer: Omega Force, P-Studio
Platform(s): PS4, Switch, PC
Release date: February 23, 2021

Developed in collaboration with Omega Force, it'd be easy to think this would just be another licensed reskin of their popular Dynasty Warriors action games where you use flashy skills to demolish hundreds of enemies in every level. While that is the case to an extent, there's a lot more to exploring each level in this road trip adventure across Japan. Also, with a really in-depth storyline that both introduces great new characters and builds upon those from the original game, this really is the closest we've got to an actual Persona 5 sequel. It has all the emotional moments you've come to expect from Persona, with an epic conclusion to match. Plus, it's just neat to go ham with big moves in real-time combat for a change, and Omega Force just knows how to make that feel good.

Learn more in our Persona 5 Strikers impressions, where we called it "a proper sequel forged from entirely new material" 

4. Persona 4 Golden

Developer: Atlus
Platform(s): PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS Vita (Original: PS2)
Release date: November 20, 2012 (Original: July 10, 2008)

You're right, some of the weather effects did look more atmospheric on the PS2 original. But the allure of playing this amazing RPG on the go through the PS Vita was too much to not catapult this version ahead. Thanks to its portability on a handheld console starved of big budget support, this is the game that really made people pay attention to Persona. The core of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 is much the same: dungeon crawling, recruiting powerful demonic persona, and forging bonds with allies in downtime via Social Links to grow more powerful. Persona 4 Golden's small town murder mystery vibe is phenomenal, and each party member feels more centered to each chapter's events than its predecessor. Despite the bleak murder, this is the brightest and peppiest in the series as well. It's just a shame that the corridor heavy dungeons that have you popping into TVs can grate, and that some characters' plot threads haven't aged all too gracefully.

Learn more in our Persona 4 Golden review, where we called it "the definitive way to experience the gripping tale of the Midnight Channel"

4. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Developer: Atlus
Platform(s): PS1
Release date: June 24, 2000

Yes, there are two Persona 2 games, so it might be best to think of this one as Persona 2-2 as it follows on from Persona 2: Innocent Sin directly while also mirroring the events that take place there. In a bizarre inversion from that game's release, this one only released on PS1 in English and we did not get the improved PSP re-release. Go figure. So why is this more dated version higher on the list? Because it just rocks. The cast of characters skews more mature here, focusing on young adults rather than high school teens, and every element from its predecessor has been iterated upon to feel better in play: the dungeons, the combat, recruiting persona, and the writing. While its reuse of assets from the other Persona 2 can feel repetitive back-to-back, it's also a canny way to get the most out of what they'd built. More games could do well to consider iterating in this way, as it pays dividends here. 

2. Persona 3 Reload

Developer: P-Studio, Atlus
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC (Original: PS2)
Release date: February 2, 2024 (Original: July 13, 2006)

As the first part of the series to use social links and the calendar system, we owe Persona 3 the social and dating elements that added a lot of flavor to the series. It also overhauled the battle system, introducing the "one more" system that allowed you to build momentum in fights. Originally, you could only control the main character, but this was changed in later releases, including the gorgeous and complete overhaul that is Persona 3 Reload, the series' first true remake to date.

With a somber tone, Persona 3 carries Shin Megami Tensei's torch forward but without being too gloomy (thanks in part to an incredibly toe-tapping soundtrack). Persona 3 asks more difficult questions, without delving into silly or problematic territory as its sequels could. In short, it's aged very well. Even the lengthy central dungeon, Tartarus, can feel soothing to explore rather than purely grindy thanks to its expected design, which has been given some needed redecoration with Persona 3 Reload especially. It is a shame, though, that the female protagonist's route is not included in this version, as we loved it in our Persona 3 Portable review.

Learn more in our Persona 3 Reload impressions, where we called it "a cleverly-hewn epic tale"

1. Persona 5 Royal

Developer: P-Studio
Platform(s): PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release date: March 31, 2020 (Original: April 4, 2017) 

Persona 5 gets the most out of the gameplay series of the system, making sure that no encounter gets too long if you exploit your enemies’ weaknesses properly thanks to its genuinely additive "baton pass" system. With the return of negotiations, demon enemies, the fuller suite of elemental powers, and the mix of melee and gun combat from the classics like Persona 2, this really is Persona firing on all cylinders. Dungeons are massively overhauled, with much less corridor crawling, instead feeling like fully realized explorable spaces that tie into the theming of the story chapter you're in.

Mixing sweet and sour, the story is both light-hearted and gripping, featuring some of the best social links in the series all set within well-known locations in Tokyo. The additional third term in Persona 5 Royal pushes this even further, with a great story arc that every Persona fan needs to play. On top of all that, Persona 5 is just incredibly stylish, right down to a typeface that’s so iconic people have previously cosplayed it.

Learn more in our Persona 5 review, where we called it "an experience that's perfectly realized from the moment it begins"

Want more? Our list of the best RRG games gives you more to explore. Wondering what's next for the series? We break down the Persona 6 rumors to separate fact from fiction!