"Where to Play Persona Games Legally in 2025"

In the wake of 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 fans and tourists alike visit Shibuya station to capture the famous shot of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Interestingly, the station was remodeled, but the iconic angle can still be found.

But the journey to this level of success was gradual. The Persona series, a spin-off of Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei RPG franchise, first debuted nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the game titles might suggest, there aren't just five mainline Persona games; there are six, not counting the numerous spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. It's worth noting that Metaphor: ReFantazio does not count as part of the Persona series.

Exploring this rich, 30-year JRPG history is highly rewarding, though some titles are easier to find than others. Here's a guide on where you can 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 ported to Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game follows heroes who gain their personas through an epic fortune-telling session. However, the most recent hardware it's been re-released on is the PlayStation Classic from 2018. Currently, there's no version available on modern consoles, so you'll need a physical copy for a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. Fortunately, Atlus has shown interest in remaking older Persona titles, so 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 in 1999 for the PlayStation but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version was ported to the PSP and made available in North America and Europe. It's also accessible on the PlayStation Vita. Unfortunately, there's no modern console release yet. The game follows a group of high schoolers in the fictional town of Sumaru battling a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors can alter reality.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Eternal Punishment, released in 2000, is a direct sequel to Innocent Sin. It continues the story a few months later, focusing on the "Joker Curse" through the eyes of a teenage reporter. Unlike its predecessor, Eternal Punishment saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation in 2000. It was remade for the PSP in 2011 and became available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013. Despite its availability on these platforms, it's not yet on modern hardware. However, there's hope that Atlus might eventually release a combined remake of Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment.

Persona 3

Persona 3, released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2, marked the series' emergence from the Shin Megami Tensei shadow. It deals with teens grappling with the concept of death as they explore the "Dark Hour" anomaly. An expanded version, Persona 3 FES, featuring an additional epilogue, came out the following year for the PS3.

The game has seen multiple remakes, including Persona 3 Portable, originally for the PSP and later available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Physical versions for Xbox One, Switch, and PS4 were released in 2023. Many consider Portable to be the best iteration of Persona 3.

The latest remake, Persona 3 Reload, released in 2024, is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, appealing especially to fans of Persona 5 Royal. Physical versions are available for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

Just two years after Persona 3, Persona 4 was released in 2008 for the PlayStation 2. It follows a group of teens solving murders using their personas. Persona 4 is widely beloved.

The enhanced remake, Persona 4 Golden, launched 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. Physical versions are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

While Persona 4 turned heads, Persona 5 propelled the series into mainstream gaming culture. The original was released in 2016 for PS3 and PS4 in Japan and globally in 2017. The definitive version, Persona 5 Royal, was released in North America in March 2020, offering a glimpse into Tokyo just as the world began to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Persona 5 follows a protagonist named Joker, wrongfully accused of assault and forced to relocate to Tokyo. There, he joins the Phantom Thieves to 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. Both physical and digital copies can be found on the respective platform's online store.