GameTimeline

Release & story order

Persona timeline

Atlus mainline Persona from Revelations: Persona through Persona 5 Strikers—US release dates, canon story order (Innocent Sin before Eternal Punishment), and FAQ for Golden, Royal, Reload, Persona Q, Arena, and where newcomers should start.

Updated June 2026

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Release order Story order

Release order

When Atlus shipped each mainline chapter—Revelations: Persona (1997 US), Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000 US before Innocent Sin), Persona 3 (2007), Persona 4 (2008), Persona 5 (2017), then Persona 5 Strikers (2021). 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
  • 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—connections are cameos and lore, not one continuous cast saga.

  • 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
  • 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

    The original—St. Hermelin High and the SEBEC incident.

    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.
    Should you play it?
    Dated but story foundation for P2—optional for P3+ newcomers.
    Release date
    US PS1 launch September 1997. PSP remake 2009—FAQ.
  2. Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

    Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

    PS1RPGMainline

    Maya Amano in Sumaru City—US got this Persona 2 first.

    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.
    Should you play it?
    On Release order only—Story requires Innocent Sin first.
    Release date
    US PS1 launch December 22, 2000. Japan 2000.
  3. Persona 3

    Persona 3

    PS2RPGMainline

    SEES and the Dark Hour—Minato or Makoto.

    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.
    Should you play it?
    Play FES Answer or Reload for complete P3—FAQ.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch August 14, 2007. FES (2008) and Reload (2024)—FAQ.
  4. Persona 4

    Persona 4

    PS2RPGMainline

    Investigation Team in Inaba—TV world murders.

    Overview
    Murder mystery tone with rural setting—Social Links and party combat refined.
    In-game setting
    Standalone story—cameos from P3, not required play.
    Should you play it?
    Golden is the recommended buy—FAQ.
    Release date
    US PS2 launch December 9, 2008. Golden (2012)—FAQ definitive edition.
  5. Persona 2: Innocent Sin

    Persona 2: Innocent Sin

    PSPRPGMainline

    Tatsuya Suou's side of Persona 2—US PSP debut.

    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.
    Should you play it?
    Play before Eternal Punishment on Story order.
    Release date
    US PSP launch March 29, 2011. Japan original 1999.
  6. Persona 5

    Persona 5

    PS3PS4RPGMainline

    Phantom Thieves of Hearts—Tokyo palaces.

    Overview
    Stealth palace heists and Confidants—series' biggest mainstream hit.
    In-game setting
    New cast—Phantom Thieves in Tokyo.
    Should you play it?
    Royal replaces base P5 for new players—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch April 4, 2017. Royal (2020)—FAQ.
  7. Persona 5 Strikers

    Persona 5 Strikers

    PS4SwitchPCAction RPGMainline sequel

    Summer road trip across Japan—after Persona 5.

    Overview
    Musou-style action sequel—same Phantom Thieves, travel arc.
    In-game setting
    Direct follow-up to Royal's ending—Story after P5.
    Should you play it?
    Requires Persona 5 Royal context—FAQ.
    Release date
    US launch February 23, 2021. PS5 port later.

FAQ

Release vs story order, Persona 2 dualogy, modern remasters, spin-offs, and Strikers placement.

Release order

Release order follows US launch dates—note Eternal Punishment (2000) before Innocent Sin (2011) in America. Story order is Persona → Innocent Sin → Eternal Punishment → Persona 3 → 4 → 5 → Strikers. Persona 3 onward, Release and Story match except spin-offs (FAQ).

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 (modern calendar RPG). Full mainline: Story tab order—expect P1/P2 to feel dated. Skip 1/2? Valid for P3+—you miss lore cameos, not plot essentials.

Story & canon

Persona 5 Strikers is a canon sequel set the summer after Persona 5—play after Persona 5 Royal (third semester included). Same Phantom Thieves cast; action combat instead of calendar dungeons. Persona 5 Tactica is a separate spin-off—FAQ only.

Remasters & editions

Persona 4 Golden is the definitive P4—buy instead of base P4. Persona 5 Royal adds third semester—buy instead of base P5. Persona 3 FES included The Answer; Persona 3 Reload is the 2024 remake without The Answer (DLC Episode Aigis—check current edition). None are separate Release rows.

Optional & related

More timelines

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