Legal Play Options for All Persona Games in 2025

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 iconic that it attracts fans to Shibuya Station to capture the famous scene of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Although the area has been remodeled, fans can still find the perfect angle to snap their photos.

Despite its current success, the *Persona* series' popularity grew gradually. Initially a spin-off of Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* series, the first *Persona* game was released almost three decades ago. Contrary to what the game titles might suggest, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. For clarity, *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich, 30-year history of this JRPG is a rewarding journey, though some games are more accessible than others. Here's a guide on where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games. Note that you might need to invest in a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona* was first released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, with later versions for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game's storyline involves heroes gaining personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent re-release was on the PlayStation Classic in 2018, and there are no versions available on modern hardware. To play, you'll need a physical copy for the PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' commitment to remaking older titles, a modern remastered version may be on the horizon.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this sequel was initially released on the PlayStation in 1999 in Japan, with a localized version for the PSP in North America and Europe in 2011. It's also available on the PlayStation Vita. Currently, there's no way to play this game on modern consoles. The narrative follows a group of high schoolers in Sumaru confronting a villain named Joker, whose rumors can alter reality.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* is the direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000. It continues the story of the "Joker Curse" but with a new protagonist, a teenage reporter. The game saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation and later a PSP remake in 2011, which was also available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 in 2013. Unfortunately, there's no modern hardware version yet, but there's potential for a future remake combining *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment*.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked a significant turning point for the series, stepping out of the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow. Released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2, it follows teens grappling with the concept of death amidst a mysterious time anomaly called the "Dark Hour". An expanded version, *Persona 3 FES*, was released the following year for the PS3. The series saw further remakes with *Persona 3 Portable*, initially for the PSP and later for PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical versions released in 2023. The latest iteration, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, appealing particularly to fans of *Persona 5 Royal*.

Persona 4

*Persona 4*, released in 2008 for the PlayStation 2, is a beloved entry in the series, revolving around a murder mystery solved by teens using their personas. The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, launched in 2012 for the PlayStation Vita and is now available across multiple platforms including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical copies are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

*Persona 5* catapulted the series into mainstream gaming fame. Initially released in 2016 for PS3 and PS4 in Japan and worldwide in 2017, the enhanced version, *Persona 5 Royal*, released in 2020, became a standout during the early days of the global COVID-19 lockdown. The story follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who, after being wrongfully accused, moves to Tokyo and becomes embroiled in the world of "palaces," metaphysical realms born from people's delusions. *Persona 5 Royal* is now available on nearly all modern platforms, with both digital and physical copies accessible through various online stores.