"Legal Ways to Play Persona Games in 2025"

With the release of *Persona 5 Royal*, Atlus' *Persona* series has cemented its status as one of the most iconic JRPG franchises. *Persona 5* has become so emblematic that it draws fans to Shibuya station in Tokyo, eager to capture the iconic scene of the Phantom Thieves overlooking the Shibuya Scramble. Despite the station's recent remodel, you can still find the perfect angle to recreate that memorable shot.

While *Persona 5* catapulted the series into mainstream success, the franchise's journey to this point was gradual. Originating as a spin-off from Atlus' *Shin Megami Tensei* series, the first *Persona* game was released nearly three decades ago. Interestingly, despite the numerical titles, there are actually six mainline *Persona* games, not including the numerous spin-offs, remakes, and enhanced editions. It's worth noting that *Metaphor: ReFantazio* is not considered part of the *Persona* series.

Exploring the rich 30-year history of this JRPG series is highly rewarding, though some titles are harder to come by than others. Here’s a guide on where you can legally play all the mainline *Persona* games. Be prepared, as you might need to dust off your PSP for some of these adventures.

Revelations: Persona

*Revelations: Persona* hit the shelves in 1996 for the original PlayStation, with later releases on Microsoft Windows and PlayStation Portable. The game's premise involves heroes gaining their personas through an epic session of fortune-telling. Unfortunately, the most recent hardware this game has seen is the PlayStation Classic, Sony's 2018 mini-console. Currently, there's no version available on modern platforms, so you'll need a physical copy for your PS1, PlayStation Classic, or PSP. However, given Atlus' commitment to remastering older *Persona* titles, fans can remain hopeful for a modern remastered release in the future.

Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2—Innocent Sin

Also known as *Persona 2: Innocent Sin*, this second installment in the series was initially released in 1999 on the PlayStation, but only in Japan. It wasn't until 2011 that a localized version reached North America and Europe, ported to the PSP. It's also available on the PlayStation Vita. Unfortunately, like its predecessor, *Innocent Sin* has not made its way to modern consoles yet.

The narrative follows a group of high school students in the fictional town of Sumaru as they face off against a mysterious villain named Joker, whose ability to spread rumors alters reality itself.

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

*Eternal Punishment* is the direct sequel to *Innocent Sin*, released in 2000, just a year after its predecessor. Set a few months later, it continues the story of the "Joker Curse" but through the eyes of a new protagonist, a teenage reporter. Unlike *Innocent Sin*, *Eternal Punishment* saw a simultaneous North American release on the PlayStation in 2000. A PSP remake followed in 2011, and it became available on the PlayStation Network for PS3 owners in 2013.

Despite its wider availability, *Eternal Punishment* is currently not accessible on modern hardware. However, there's a good chance Atlus might be considering a remastered version of both *Innocent Sin* and *Eternal Punishment* in the future.

Persona 3

*Persona 3* marked the moment when the series stepped out from the shadow of *Shin Megami Tensei*. Released on the PlayStation 2 in 2006 in Japan and 2007 in North America, it follows a group of teens grappling with the concept of death while exploring a mysterious time anomaly called the "Dark Hour." An enhanced version, *Persona 3 FES*, which includes an additional epilogue, was released the following year and is available on the PS3.

*Persona 3* has seen multiple remakes. *Persona 3 Portable*, an abridged version initially released for the PSP, later became available on PS4, Windows, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Physical copies for Xbox One, Switch, and PS4 were released in 2023, and some fans consider *Portable* to be the best version of the game.

The most recent remake, *Persona 3 Reload*, released in 2024, is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows. This version is tailored to appeal to fans of *Persona 5 Royal*, with physical copies available for PS4, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Persona 4

Just two years after *Persona 3*, *Persona 4* was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2008. This entry takes the form of a classic murder mystery, with the protagonists using their personas to solve a series of murders. *Persona 4* has garnered a massive following over the years.

The enhanced version, *Persona 4 Golden*, originally released for the PlayStation Vita in 2012, is now widely available across modern platforms including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Physical copies are available for all platforms except PC.

Persona 5

While *Persona 4* turned heads, it was *Persona 5* that truly brought the series into the gaming mainstream. Initially released for both PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 in Japan in 2016 and worldwide in 2017, the enhanced version, *Persona 5 Royal*, followed a few years later. Its release in North America in March 2020 offered a captivating glimpse into Tokyo just as the world was entering lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

*Persona 5* follows a protagonist, codenamed Joker, who is wrongfully accused of assault and moves to Tokyo to start anew. There, he becomes entangled in the world of "palaces," metaphysical realms born from people's delusions, and joins the Phantom Thieves in their mission to "take your heart."

*Persona 5 Royal* is now available on nearly all modern platforms, including 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.