"Legally Play All Persona Games in 2025: Where to Find Them"

Following the release of *Persona 5 Royal*, the *Persona* series by Atlus has cemented its place as an iconic JRPG franchise. *Persona 5* has become so iconic that fans, known as gamer-tourists, visit Shibuya Station 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.

The journey to this level of acclaim was not immediate. The *Persona* series began as a spin-off from Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* franchise, with its first title released nearly three decades ago. Contrary to what the numbering might suggest, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including various spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced versions. It's important to note that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* does not fall under the *Persona* umbrella.

Exploring the rich 30-year history of the JRPG series is highly rewarding, though some titles are more accessible than others. Here's a guide to where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games. A word of advice: consider investing in a PSP.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona*, released in 1996 for the original PlayStation, also saw subsequent releases on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game follows heroes who gain their personas through fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent hardware it's available on is the PlayStation Classic from 2018. As of now, there's no version for modern consoles, so you'll need a physical copy for PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, with Atlus's history of remakes, fans are hopeful for a modern remastered release in the future.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this game was initially released on PlayStation in 1999 but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version became available in North America and Europe via the PSP, with a release on PlayStation Vita as well. The game follows a group of high school students in the fictional town of Sumaru, battling a mysterious villain named Joker whose rumors alter reality. Currently, there's no version for modern consoles, leaving fans to hope for a future update or remake.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* is the direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000. It continues the story a few months later, focusing on a new protagonist, a teen reporter, and the ongoing "Joker Curse." This game saw a simultaneous North American release on PlayStation in 2000 and a PSP remake in 2011, which was also available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 in 2013. Unfortunately, there's no modern hardware version available, but there's speculation about a potential dual remake of *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment*.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the series' emergence from the shadow of *Shin Megami Tensei*. Released in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America for the PlayStation 2, it follows teens grappling with the concept of death during their investigation of the "Dark Hour." An enhanced version, *Persona 3 FES*, added an epilogue and was released for the PS3.

The series saw further iterations with *Persona 3 Portable*, originally for PSP and later for PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Physical versions for Xbox One, Switch, and PS4 were released in 2023, and many consider *Portable* the best version. The latest release, *Persona 3 Reload*, came out in 2024 and is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows, catering especially to fans of *Persona 5 Royal*. Physical versions are available for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

Two years after *Persona 3*, *Persona 4* was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2008, presenting a classic murder mystery where teens use their personas to solve a series of murders. The game has garnered immense love from fans.

The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012, is now available on almost all modern platforms: 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* captured attention, *Persona 5* propelled the series to widespread acclaim. Released simultaneously for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in 2016 and globally in 2017, it introduced players to the protagonist, codenamed Joker, who, after being wrongfully accused, moves to Tokyo and becomes entangled in the world of "palaces," metaphysical spaces born from people's delusions.

The definitive version, *Persona 5 Royal*, released in North America in March 2020 amidst the early stages of the global COVID-19 shutdown, offering a captivating escape to Tokyo. *Royal* is now available on nearly all modern platforms, including PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, with both physical and digital versions accessible through platform-specific online stores.