JRPGs are known for their grandiose, globe-trotting fantasy adventures, taking players through some of gaming’s most iconic worlds. While obviously Japan has been enjoying the genre considerably since the late-eighties, JRPGs eventually saw some worldwide popularity in the mid-to-late nineties with releases likeFinal Fantasy 7. Comparatively speaking, thePersonaseries was a late-bloomer for its worldwide popularity. However, whenPersonadid start gaining traction in the west, the franchise’s popularity spiked immensely. Two entries in particular, one of which released just a few years ago, madePersonathe massive JRPG franchise that it’s become.
ThePersonaseries has grown significantly since its very humble beginnings as aShin Megami Tenseispin-off. Some of the earliest efforts in the series pale in comparison to whatPersonahas become, but the modernPersonagames have quickly become some of the most beloved games of all time.Personahas since outgrown itsShin Megami Tenseinamesake and become its own franchise, and for good reason. The last threePersonagames are critically-acclaimed JRPGs adored by players worldwide. It’s tough to objectively say whichPersonagame is the best entry, but here’s how every mainlinePersonaentry stacks up against one another.
D-Tier: Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, A.K.A. Revelations: Persona
Like many long-running JRPG series before it, the firstPersonagame (also known asRevelations: Persona) is comparatively the worst among its successors.Persona’s inaugural effortaway from theShin Megami Tenseiseriesdid establish a few thematic elements, but otherwise played like a very traditional JRPG. The firstPersonaspin-off was initially born from another spin-off (Shin Megami Tensei: If…), but any classicShin Megami Tenseifan would find this game near-indistinguishable from otherSMTentries. The same mostly goes for the PSP remake of the first game (Shin Megami Tensei: Persona) in 2009, though some modern conveniences were added.
Shades of whatPersonawould become can be found in the first game, but it was stillvery much closer to aSMTentry. The firstPersonagame had none of the social simulator aspects/social links, the story was far more obtuse and deliberately disturbing, and the dungeon design is pitifully archaic. Much ofPersona’s thematic elements, like bright color symbolism or iconic musical themes, these things hadn’t becomePersona’s aesthetic yet. Die-hard fans couldmaybeenjoy playing through the firstPersonagame, but none of the modern features that makePersonaunique had been implemented yet, so the first game ends up being relatively generic.
C-Tier: The Persona 2 Duology: Innocent Sin, Eternal Punishment
ThePersona 2duology,Persona 2: Innocent SinandPersona 2: Eternal Punishment, havethe exact same issues as the firstPersonagame. The duology only edges ahead of the first game for having more iconic character designs and was a slightly more ambitious departure fromSMT. Of course, ambition doesn’t necessarily lend to success either, as the narrative inPersona 2: Innocent Sinis off-putting. Playing throughPersona 2: Innocent Sin’s first chapter is like living through some kind of fever dream, where players fight a resurrected Hitler and Nazis, alongside cultists hellbent on shepherding in the end of the world.
It’s bombastic, but the game at least established how far aPersonagame’s plot was willing to dive into the supernatural.Eternal Punishmenthas a bit more grounded murder mystery as its plot, set in an alternate timeline fromInnocent Sin.Eternal Punishmentalso established some of the overarchingnarrative devices that would reoccur in everyPersonagame since, like the idea of a “metaverse” and the collective conscience of society.
B-Tier: Persona 3,FES, and Persona 3 Portable
After a fewShin Megami Tensei-adjacent JRPGs laid a very thin foundation,Persona 3was the first game that truly ushered in the separate franchise as it’s known today.Persona 3was the first game that introduced the social simulatoraspects like Social Links, and it also introduced the more streamlined battle system that’s closer to aFinal Fantasygame than the grid-style turn-based combat of the first twoPersonagames. The third entry also, arguably, struck the perfect balance betweenShin Megami Tenseiinfluence and the unique themes exclusive toPersona. The series would later shed itsShin Megami Tenseilabel because ofPersona 3’s innovations.
Persona 3was when the franchise really came into its own. Considering the third entry saw three different re-releases between 2006 and 2009, it’s clear why a lot of fans considerPersona 3their favorite entry in the series.Persona 4andPersona 5wouldn’t exist without the efforts made inPersona 3to define the series as it’s known today.Persona 3is only held back by some of its mechanical choices, which range from questionable to comparatively archaic. The biggest example is the game’s decision to strictly relegate party members' actions to AI-only, instead of player-controlled actions. The “tired” condition that prevents further exploration can also be an annoyance.
A-Tier: Persona 5 Royal
The latestPersonagame,Persona 5, has largely become the gold standard of thePersonaseries. Finally dropping theShin Megami Tenseinamesake altogether, this wasthe game that truly sawPersona’s popularity explode worldwide. Everything aboutPersona 5is mechanically superior to previous games: the combat system was significantly overhauled to be more engaging, shadow negotiation (a unique battle mechanic from the first twoPersonagames) returned, alongside the game’s now-iconic aesthetic and visual revamp. Where previous games had subtly establishedPersona’s foundation,Persona 5emphasized everything that madePersonaa unique JRPG.
Persona 5is not only the most approachable game in the series, but it’s also an impressive starting point to appreciate past entries in the series as well.Persona 5 Royalin particular (the definitive version of the fifth entry) isone of the best JRPGs ever made altogether, with a 95 Metacritic score to prove it. The only thing that weighs downPersona 5Royalcompared to the last game on this list is its pacing. An averagePersona 5 Royalplaythrough, with the final semester, is around 130+ hours. That adventure is certainly worth the time commitment, but is still absurdly long for any game. That’s the only detractor ofPersona 5Royalthat places it in second place.
S-Tier: Persona 4 Golden
As for what arguably is the best game in the series to date,Persona 4 Goldenis an incredible JRPG that truly is a must-play for fans of the genre.Everything that makesPersonaspecial is emphasized byPersona 4 Golden: An intriguing and compelling story, a diverse cast of supporting characters with incredible character development, tight dungeon crawling that never overstays its welcome, and a fantastic turn-based battle system.Persona 4Goldendeserves a playthrough, as it’s easily the quintessentialPersonagame in both form and function. Even for players who aren’t necessarily JRPG fans,Goldenis a truly remarkable game worth the try.
Persona 4 Goldenspent much of its lifespan stuck on the now-defunct PlayStation Vita handheld,but now thatGoldenis available on Steam, tons of new players were able to experience this game for the first time. Discovering the truth behind the mysterious Inaba murders is one of the best tales in JRPGs in general, easily rivaling examples likeChrono Trigger,Final Fantasy 6, orDragon Quest 8. WhilePersona 5has quickly become the most popularPersonagame of all time,Persona 4 Goldenjust barely edges the fifth entry as the bestPersonagame of all time (so far).
MORE:Why Persona 5 Fans Should Check Out SMT3 Remake and SMT 5
