"Legal Ways to Play Persona Games in 2025"

In the wake of the release of Persona 5 Royal, Atlus’ Persona series has firmly established itself as one of the most iconic JRPG franchises. Persona 5, in particular, has reached such iconic status that fans travel to Shibuya station to capture the famous shot of the Phantom Thieves above the Shibuya Scramble, even though the station was remodeled.

While Persona 5 catapulted the series to new heights, the franchise's success was built over nearly three decades. Originally a spin-off of Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series, the first Persona game was released almost thirty years ago. Despite the numbering suggesting otherwise, there are six mainline Persona games, not counting the various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. Note that Metaphor: ReFantazio is not considered part of the Persona series.

Exploring the rich history of this 30-year-old JRPG series is rewarding, though some titles are harder to find than others. Here's a guide on where to play all the mainline Persona games legally. You might want to consider investing in a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

Revelations: Persona, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, was later made available for Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation Portable. The game's narrative begins with our heroes gaining their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent re-release was on the PlayStation Classic in 2018, meaning there's no version available on modern hardware. You'll need a physical copy for a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' dedication to remaking older Persona titles, a modern remastered version might be on the horizon.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as Persona 2: Innocent Sin, this sequel was released on the PlayStation in 1999, but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version became available on the PSP in North America and Europe, with a release on the PlayStation Vita following. Currently, there's no way to play Innocent Sin on modern consoles. The story follows high schoolers in Sumaru dealing with a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors can alter reality.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Eternal Punishment, the direct sequel to Innocent Sin, was released in 2000, shortly after its predecessor. It follows a different protagonist, a teenage reporter, dealing with the "Joker Curse." Unlike Innocent Sin, it had a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation. A PSP remake came out in 2011, which was also available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. Unfortunately, it's not available on modern hardware, but there's hope for a potential future remake combining both Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment.

Persona 3

Persona 3 marked a turning point for the series, distinguishing itself from Shin Megami Tensei. Released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2, it deals with teens exploring the "Dark Hour" time anomaly. The expanded Persona 3 FES version, with an additional epilogue, was released the following year for the PS3.

The series saw further remakes with Persona 3 Portable, initially for the PSP, later available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical releases in 2023. Many consider Portable the best iteration. The latest version, 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 Windows, with physical versions for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

Persona 4, released in 2008 for the PlayStation 2, is a beloved murder mystery where teens use their personas to solve a series of murders. The enhanced version, Persona 4 Golden, came out for the PlayStation Vita in 2012 and is now available on nearly every platform: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, with physical versions for all except the PC.

Persona 5

Persona 5 made the series a household name among gamers. Released in 2016 in Japan and 2017 worldwide for PS3 and PS4, the definitive Persona 5 Royal came out in North America in 2020, offering a rich depiction of Tokyo during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The game follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who moves to Tokyo after being falsely accused of assault. He and his team, the Phantom Thieves, navigate "palaces," metaphysical realms born from people's delusions. Persona 5 Royal is now available on nearly all modern platforms: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both physical and digital versions available.