"Legal Ways to Play 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 fans visit Shibuya station to capture the famous shot of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. While that area of the station has been remodeled, the angle can still be found.

However, the success of *Persona* developed gradually. Initially a spin-off of Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* series, the first *Persona* game was released nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the numbering might suggest, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. Note that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich 30-year history of the *Persona* JRPGs is rewarding, though some games are harder to find than others. Here's where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games. You might need to invest in a PSP to access some of them.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona*, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, also saw releases on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game's heroes gain their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent release is on the PlayStation Classic, Sony's 2018 remake of the original PlayStation. There's no version available on modern hardware, so you'll need a physical copy for your PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, Atlus is committed to remaking older *Persona* games, 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 game was released for the PlayStation in 1999, but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version was released for the PSP in North America and Europe. It's also available on the PlayStation Vita. Unfortunately, there's no way to play *Innocent Sin* on modern consoles. The story follows a group of high schoolers in the fictional town of Sumaru, battling a villain named Joker whose rumors can alter reality.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* is a direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000. It follows a new protagonist, a teenage reporter, and continues the "Joker Curse" storyline. It was released simultaneously in North America for the PlayStation and later remade for the PSP in 2011, which was also available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 in 2013. Unfortunately, it's not available on modern hardware, but there's hope for a future two-for-one remake of *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment*.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the series' emergence from the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow. Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America, it follows teens exploring the "Dark Hour" time anomaly. *Persona 3 FES*, with an additional epilogue, was released for the PS3 the following year. *Persona 3 Portable*, an abridged version, was initially for the PSP but later made available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical versions released in 2023. The latest version, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, catering to fans of *Persona 5 Royal*. Physical versions are available 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 personas to solve a series of murders. The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012, is now available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical versions are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

*Persona 4* turned heads, but *Persona 5* made the series a household name. Released for PS3 and PS4 in 2016 in Japan and 2017 worldwide, the enhanced *Persona 5 Royal* came out in North America in March 2020, offering a glimpse of Tokyo during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The game follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who, after being wrongfully accused of assault, moves to Tokyo and gets involved with the "palaces," metaphysical spaces 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.