"Legal Ways to Play All Persona Games in 2025"

Following the acclaimed release of *Persona 5 Royal*, Atlus' *Persona* series has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the JRPG genre. *Persona 5*, in particular, has achieved such iconic status that it attracts gamers to Shibuya Station in Tokyo, seeking the perfect shot of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the bustling Shibuya Scramble, despite the area's recent remodel. The series' rise to fame, however, has been a gradual one. Originally a spin-off of Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* series, the first *Persona* game debuted almost three decades ago. Contrary to what the numbering might imply, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including the numerous spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced editions. Note that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich 30-year history of this JRPG series is rewarding, though some titles are harder to come by. Here's a guide on where to play all the mainline *Persona* games, legally. Be prepared, you might need a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona*, launched in 1996 for the PlayStation, saw subsequent releases on Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation Portable. The story revolves around heroes who gain their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent hardware it's been re-released on is the PlayStation Classic from 2018. There's no version for modern consoles yet, so you'll need a PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' dedication to remakes, there's hope for a modern remaster in the future.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this sequel was first released in 1999 in Japan on the PlayStation, with a localized version for the PSP in 2011 reaching North America and Europe. It's also available on the PlayStation Vita. The game follows a group of high schoolers in Sumaru City battling a mysterious villain named Joker, whose rumors alter reality. There's no modern console version available yet.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* continues directly from *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000. Set months later, it follows a new protagonist, a teen reporter, still dealing with the "Joker Curse." It saw a simultaneous North American release and later a PSP remake in 2011, also available on the PS3 via the PlayStation Network in 2013. Like its predecessor, it's not on modern hardware, but there's a possibility Atlus might remaster both *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment* together.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the series' emergence from the *Shin Megami Tensei* shadow, released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2. The story revolves around teens exploring the "Dark Hour" and confronting death. *Persona 3 FES*, with an additional epilogue, is available on the PS3. The series saw further iterations with *Persona 3 Portable*, initially for the PSP but later expanded to PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch, with physical versions released in 2023. The latest remake, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, caters to fans of *Persona 5 Royal* and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, with physical copies for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

*Persona 4* debuted in 2008 on the PlayStation 2, weaving a murder mystery where teens use their personas to solve crimes. The beloved game received an enhanced remake, *Persona 4 Golden*, in 2012 for the PlayStation Vita, later expanded to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical copies are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

*Persona 5* catapulted the series into mainstream recognition, launching in 2016 in Japan and 2017 worldwide for PS3 and PS4. *Persona 5 Royal*, the definitive version, released in North America in 2020 amidst the global lockdown, offering a glimpse into Tokyo. The story follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, wrongly accused and drawn into the world of "palaces," metaphysical realms born from human delusions. *Royal* is now playable on PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with physical and digital copies available.