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Persona Series Recommended Play Order (Canon Timeline)

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The Persona series currently has five mainline entries, six if you count both of the entries for Persona 2 separately. Along with the mainline entries, there are multiple spin-offs for some of the later games that do connect to multiple of the mainline games.




For those looking to jump into the series for the first time, you may wonder if you need to play all the games first to make sure you don’t miss anything. Here is the best order to play all Persona games. This article will mostly focus on the more recent Persona games, as they are easily accessible and Persona 1 and 2 have become more difficult to find and play, though they will still be included.

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Best Order To Play The Mainline Persona Games

Aside from the Persona 2 dualology, none of the mainline games directly connect. There are a few connections, cameos, or easter eggs from previous games, but not catching these connections never pulls from the experience in a noticeable way. For those looking to jump into the mainline series, you can either play the games canonically and in the order they were released or what offers the best-rounded gameplay to get you into the series.


Persona 3, 4, and 5 all have enhanced editions which are more easily accessible, and available on all modern consoles. Most of these enhanced editions have all the content from the original games, along with various upgrades and even more content to see. The rest of this article will just use the names of the enhanced versions of the game, but the base games are still great experiences.

Each
Persona 3
version has value, and no one version is considered superior, as each has unique content.

Canon Timeline (Release Timeline)

What’s The Best Place To Start For New Players

  • Persona 5 Royal: This game has the best-rounded gameplay from the calendar system to the combat, along with the largest amount of content on offer in the series.
  • Persona 4 Golden / Any Persona 3: These games offer the calendar system which has defined the modern Persona series, and have very similar combat and social link mechanics.
  • Revelations: Persona then Persona 2 Innocent Sin, followed by Persona 2: Eternal Punishment.

The Persona 2 duology has the biggest connection in the series to the first game, with extended cameos from characters from the first game, though knowing who they are doesn’t change the story of Persona 2.


Persona 3 Reload Or Persona 3 Portable

At the moment, Persona 3 Reload and Persona 3 Portable are available on most modern platforms, and overall, both games are a viable choice for a first experience. Persona 3 Reload offers a refined experience as it is a Remaster of the original version of Persona 3 with many elements from Persona 3 FES. Persona 3 Portable offers a different style of gameplay and changes the game to a visual novel point-and-click game when outside of the Dark Hour.

Persona 3 Portable does offer both a male and female protagonist to choose from, with the female protagonist getting a lot of unique content mostly in social links. Overall, either game is a good choice and has its own value, with it mostly coming down to if you don’t mind older remastered games or prefer a remaster that makes the game feel brand new. The base story of either edition is exactly the same.


Rare Enemies from Persona 5

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Best Order To Play The Spinoff Persona Games

While all of the Persona spinoff games are considered official canon, many of them end in a way that doesn’t connect the events to the original games, making many of them completely optional and bonus stories to experience. Some spinoff games require completion of their respective mainline game, while others can be played after all the characters in the game have been introduced.

Canon Sequel Games

  • Persona 4: Dancing All Night – A direct sequel to Persona 4, taking place before Persona 4 Arena.
  • Persona 4 Arena / Persona 4 Arena Ultimax – This game is a direct sequel to both Persona 3 and Persona 4, and should only be played after finishing those games. (Persona 4: Dancing All Night is not required to play before Persona 4 Arena as the events are never mentioned)
  • Persona 5 Strikers – This game is a direct sequel to Persona 5, not Persona 5 Royal, though a playthrough of either game can prepare you for Strikers.

Play Whenever You Want

  • Persona 3: Dancing In Moonlight / Persona 5: Dancing In Starlight – Both of these games are essentially dreams that take place after all main party members join, and the events that happen are never mentioned outside of this game.
  • Persona 5 Tactica – This game takes place towards the end of Persona 5 after all party members join, but is not mentioned in the base game.
  • Persona Q – This game involves the full cast of Persona 3 and Persona 4, taking place during each game at the same time, but is not referenced again.
  • Persona Q2 – This game involves the full cast of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, and like Persona Q is never mentioned outside of the game.

While these tables may be a lot to digest, start with the mainline entries for Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, then work toward the spinoff to make sure nothing gets spoiled or missed.


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