Legal Ways to Play Persona Games in 2025

Following the release of *Persona 5 Royal*, Atlus' *Persona* series has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the JRPG genre. *Persona 5*, in particular, has become so iconic that fans, often dubbed "gamer-tourists," make pilgrimages to Shibuya station in Tokyo to capture the famous scene of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Although the station has been remodeled, the iconic angle remains a must-see for enthusiasts.

Despite the rapid rise to fame, the success of *Persona* was not immediate. Originally a spin-off from Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* franchise, the first *Persona* game debuted nearly thirty years ago. Interestingly, despite the numbering, there are six mainline *Persona* games, not counting various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. It's worth noting that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich, thirty-year history of the JRPG series can be rewarding, though accessing all titles can be challenging. Below is a guide on where to legally play each mainline *Persona* game, with a heads-up: you might need a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona*, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, also saw releases on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game follows heroes who gain their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent re-release is on the PlayStation Classic from 2018, meaning there's no version for modern hardware. You'll need a physical copy for PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, Atlus' commitment to remaking older titles suggests a future remastered version might be on the horizon.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this game was initially released for the PlayStation in 1999, but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version was available on the PSP in North America and Europe, with a PlayStation Vita release as well. Currently, there's no modern console version. The story follows high schoolers in Sumaru City battling a mysterious villain, Joker, whose rumors alter reality.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* is the direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000. It follows a new protagonist, a teenage reporter, dealing with the ongoing "Joker Curse." It 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. Despite its availability on older platforms, there's no modern hardware version yet, though a potential remake of both *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment* seems likely.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the series' emergence from the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow. Released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America on the PlayStation 2, it focuses on teens grappling with death and the "Dark Hour" anomaly. *Persona 3 FES*, with an additional epilogue, was released in 2007 for PS3. *Persona 3 Portable*, an abridged version initially for PSP, was later remastered for PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical releases in 2023. The latest iteration, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, caters to *Persona 5 Royal* fans 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 PlayStation 2, is a beloved murder mystery where teens use personas to solve killings. The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, debuted on the PlayStation Vita in 2012 and is now available on nearly all platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC, with physical versions for all except PC.

Persona 5

*Persona 5* elevated the series to mainstream fame. Released in 2016 in Japan and 2017 worldwide on PS3 and PS4, its definitive version, *Persona 5 Royal*, came out in 2020. The story follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who relocates to Tokyo after a wrongful accusation and joins the Phantom Thieves to infiltrate "palaces" born from people's delusions. *Persona 5 Royal* is now available on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both physical and digital copies widely accessible.