GameTimeline

Release & story order

Persona timeline

Persona game timeline from Revelations: Persona through Persona 5 Strikers—US release dates, story order (Innocent Sin before Eternal Punishment), Persona 4 Revival (February 2027), announced Persona 6, and FAQ for Golden, Royal, Reload, and where newcomers should start.

Updated July 2026

Start with:

Release order Story order

Release order

When Atlus shipped each mainline chapter—Revelations: Persona (1997 US) through Persona 5 Strikers (2021), plus Persona 4 Revival planned for February 18, 2027. Persona 6 is announced with no date yet (FAQ). Golden, Royal, Reload, and FES are FAQ-only definitive editions—not extra Release rows.

  • Newcomers → Persona 5 Royal or Persona 3 Reload—FAQ; skip 1/2 unless curious
  • Full canon → Story tab order; budget time for P1/P2 dated systems
  • Upcoming → Persona 4 Revival (Feb 18, 2027) then Persona 6 (TBA, after Revival)
  • US Release order ≠ Story for Persona 2—read FAQ
  • Spin-offs (Q, Arena, Dancing) after their base game—FAQ only
Story order tips

Canon mainline: Persona → Persona 2: Innocent Sin → Persona 2: Eternal Punishment → Persona 3 → Persona 4 → Persona 5 → Persona 5 Strikers. Each numbered entry is mostly standalone. Persona 4 Revival retells P4 on modern hardware—not a new Story year. Persona 6 has no Story row until Atlus confirms fiction.

  • Core mainline: P1 → P2 IS → P2 EP → P3 → P4 → P5 → Strikers
  • P3–P5 share calendar-RPG format but new casts each game
  • Strikers is the post-P5 road trip—after Royal's third semester
  • Persona 4 Revival remakes P4—same Inaba era, not a new Story slot
  • On Story order, P5 block may be hidden—reveal when ready or use Show all spoilers

Timeline

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Revelations: Persona

    Revelations: Persona

    PS1RPGMainline

    Revelations: Persona (1997). The original—St. Hermelin High and the SEBEC incident. It marks the PS1 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Shin Megami Tension meets high-school social sim—Persona summoning and negotiation.
    In-game setting
    Persona series begins—1996 Japan, 1997 US as Revelations: Persona. Atlus JRPG lane; cultural peer market to Final Fantasy.
    Should you play it?
    Dated but story foundation for P2—optional for P3+ newcomers. Play Revelations: Persona where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PS1 launch September 1997. PSP remake 2009—FAQ. Shipped around 1997 on PS1; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  2. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

    Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

    PS1RPGMainline

    Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000). Maya Amano in Sumaru City—US got this Persona 2 first. It marks the PS1 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Dual-protagonist RPG with rumor and contact systems—P2 half two.
    In-game setting
    US Release row before Innocent Sin (2011)—Story order reversed. Use neighboring rows with Persona 2: Eternal Punishment to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    On Release order only—Story requires Innocent Sin first. Play Persona 2: Eternal Punishment where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PS1 launch December 22, 2000. Japan 2000. Shipped around 2000 on PS1; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  3. Persona 3

    Persona 3

    PS2RPGMainline

    Persona 3 (2007). SEES and the Dark Hour—Minato or Makoto. It marks the PS2 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Calendar school life plus Tartarus dungeon crawl—Social Links and daily time management.
    In-game setting
    Modern Persona template begins—new cast in Iwatodai. Use neighboring rows with Persona 3 to align cast continuity across Release and Story. Reload preferred; tone peers Final Fantasy casts, not shared lore.
    Should you play it?
    Play FES Answer or Reload for complete P3—FAQ. Play Persona 3 where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch August 14, 2007. FES (2008) and Reload (2024)—FAQ. Shipped around 2007 on PS2; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  4. Persona 4

    Persona 4

    PS2RPGMainline

    Persona 4 (2008). Investigation Team in Inaba—TV world murders. It marks the PS2 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Murder mystery tone with rural setting—Social Links and party combat refined. Persona 4 refined series combat, exploration, or presentation in ways sequels still reference.
    In-game setting
    Standalone story—cameos from P3, not required play. Use neighboring rows with Persona 4 to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Golden is the recommended buy—FAQ. Play Persona 4 where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch December 9, 2008. Golden (2012)—FAQ definitive edition. Shipped around 2008 on PS2; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  5. Persona 2: Innocent Sin

    Persona 2: Innocent Sin

    PSPRPGMainline

    Persona 2: Innocent Sin (2011). Tatsuya Suou's side of Persona 2—US PSP debut. It marks the PSP ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Never localized on PS1 in the US—PSP port finally shipped Innocent Sin west.
    In-game setting
    Story chapter one of P2—Release row reflects US launch date. Use neighboring rows with Persona 2: Innocent Sin to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Play before Eternal Punishment on Story order. Play Persona 2: Innocent Sin where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US PSP launch March 29, 2011. Japan original 1999. Shipped around 2011 on PSP; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  6. Persona 5

    Persona 5

    PS3PS4RPGMainline

    Persona 5 (2017). Phantom Thieves of Hearts—Tokyo palaces. It marks the PS3, PS4 ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Stealth palace heists and Confidants—series' biggest mainstream hit.
    In-game setting
    New cast—Phantom Thieves in Tokyo. Use neighboring rows with Persona 5 to align cast continuity across Release and Story. JRPG cultural peer to big Final Fantasy hits—different continuity.
    Should you play it?
    Royal replaces base P5 for new players—FAQ. Play Persona 5 where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US launch April 4, 2017. Royal (2020)—FAQ. Shipped around 2017 on PS3, PS4; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.
  7. Persona 5 Strikers

    Persona 5 Strikers

    PS4SwitchPCAction RPGMainline sequel

    Persona 5 Strikers (2021). Summer road trip across Japan—after Persona 5. It marks the PS4, Switch, PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Musou-style action sequel—same Phantom Thieves, travel arc.
    In-game setting
    Direct follow-up to Royal's ending—Story after P5. Use neighboring rows with Persona 5 Strikers to align cast continuity across Release and Story.
    Should you play it?
    Requires Persona 5 Royal context—FAQ. Play Persona 5 Strikers where this Release tab places it; remasters can replace older versions when listed.
    Release date
    US launch February 23, 2021. PS5 port later. Shipped around 2021 on PS4, Switch, PC; prefer current digital editions when originals are awkward.

  8. Persona 4 Revival

    PS5Xbox Series X|SPCRPGRemakeUpcoming

    Persona 4 Revival (2027). Full remake of Persona 4 / Golden—Inaba on modern hardware. It marks the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC ship window for this chapter.

    Overview
    Atlus remake of the 2008 investigation RPG—announced with a firm launch date at Xbox Games Showcase June 2026.
    In-game setting
    Same Persona 4 fiction era (Inaba)—not a new story year. Prefer Golden until Revival ships if you want the definitive old edition.
    Should you play it?
    Not shipped yet—verify the store page before pre-ordering. Atlus plans Persona 6 after this remake.
    Release date
    Planned US launch February 18, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam / Xbox). Day one Xbox Game Pass / PC Game Pass.

FAQ

Persona timeline, P2 dualogy, Persona 4 Revival and Persona 6 upcoming, remasters, spin-offs, and Strikers placement.

Release order

Story timeline: Persona → Innocent Sin → Eternal Punishment → Persona 3 → 4 → 5 → Strikers. Release order follows US launch dates—America got Eternal Punishment (2000) before Innocent Sin (2011). From Persona 3 onward, Release and Story match except spin-offs. Persona 4 Revival (Feb 2027) is a remake Release row only. Persona 6 is announced—FAQ until dated.

Always Persona 2: Innocent Sin then Persona 2: Eternal Punishment on story order. The US shipped Eternal Punishment on PS1 (2000) years before Innocent Sin (PSP, 2011)—Release order reflects that quirk, not canon sequence.

Newcomers: Persona 5 Royal (most accessible) or Persona 3 Reload. Full mainline: Story tab order—expect P1/P2 to feel dated. Skip 1/2? Valid for P3+. For Inaba on modern hardware, wait for Persona 4 Revival (February 18, 2027) or play Persona 4 Golden now. Persona 6 has no date—Atlus says it comes after Revival.

Story & canon

Remasters & editions

Persona 4 Revival is Atlus's full remake of Persona 4 (the Inaba investigation story also in Golden). Announced at Xbox Games Showcase June 2026 with a planned launch of February 18, 2027 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC—day one on Xbox Game Pass. It is a Release row on this page, not a new Story year. Until it ships, Persona 4 Golden remains the definitive way to play P4.

Persona 4 Golden is the definitive P4 today—buy instead of base P4. Persona 4 Revival (Feb 2027) will remake that era on current consoles—see the Revival FAQ. Persona 5 Royal adds third semester—buy instead of base P5. Persona 3 FES included The Answer; Persona 3 Reload is the 2024 remake (DLC Episode Aigis—check current edition). Golden, Royal, Reload, and FES are not separate Release rows; Revival is, because it is a dated remake launch.

Optional & related

Yes—Persona 6 was revealed at Xbox Games Showcase on June 7, 2026 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Game Pass day one planned). It is a new standalone mainline with a fresh cast—not a numbered sequel that continues P5's cast. No release window as of July 2026. Atlus said the team is aiming for P6 after Persona 4 Revival (Feb 2027). This page keeps P6 as FAQ only until a date ships—then it gets a Release row (and Story row once fiction is clear).

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.