PERSONA
Persona is a critically acclaimed Japanese role-playing game and multimedia franchise developed and published by Atlus. Originating in 1996 as a spin-off of the Megami Tensei series, it blends dungeon-crawling RPG mechanics, high school life simulation, and Jungian psychology across mainline games, animated television series, feature films, and extensive manga adaptations.
Cronologia
Overview
Created and published by Atlus (a subsidiary of Sega), the Persona series began in 1996 with the release of Megami Ibunroku Persona on the Sony PlayStation.
Originally marketed outside Japan under the Shin Megami Tensei moniker, Persona has evolved into the most critically and commercially successful branch of the Megami Tensei family.
Across six mainline titles, enhanced rereleases, tactical and fighting spin-offs, seven anime series and films, and dozens of manga and light novel adaptations, Persona is globally celebrated for its unique fusion of turn-based RPG combat, urban fantasy, and daily calendar social simulation.
Origins
Persona was conceived as a spin-off from Atlus's Megami Tensei franchise.
The initial title, Megami Ibunroku Persona (1996), retained the first-person dungeon exploration and urban fantasy elements of its parent series while establishing a distinct identity focused on high school students summoning Personas—manifestations of their psychological psyches—rather than recruiting demons directly.
Subsequent entries, Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999) and Eternal Punishment (2000), introduced third-person dungeon design and urban rumor mechanics. The franchise underwent a massive revolution under director and composer Shoji Meguro with Persona 3 (2006), which introduced the iconic Social Link calendar system that seamlessly merged day-to-day high school life with supernatural dungeon crawling.
Characters
I PEZZI DI PERSONA
Collecting
The market for Persona physical media and collectibles represents one of the most vibrant spaces in modern gaming culture. Enthusiasts actively seek out complete physical releases of earlier handheld and console titles, such as the PSP physical editions of Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment, alongside limited console hardware bundles.
High-end collector editions—such as the Persona 5 Royal Straight Flush Edition—and official original soundtrack releases, including the multi-disc Persona 20th Anniversary All Time Best Album, command strong secondary market demand. Limited physical steelbooks and soundtrack box sets remain foundational grails for dedicated franchise collectors.
Trivia
• Unlike most games in the Megami Tensei franchise, players in Persona summon magic through Personas rather than recruiting demon party members. • The lunar phases were an important gameplay mechanic in early Persona titles before being removed starting in Persona 3.
• Persona 2: Innocent Sin featured a unique rumor system where urban legends spread by players around Sumaru City became actual in-game reality. • Persona 3 Portable was the first game in the series to introduce an alternate playable female protagonist with distinct social links. • While main Shin Megami Tensei games use macca as currency, the Persona series utilizes real-world yen.
Films
• Persona 3 The Movie: #1 Spring of Birth (2013): The first theatrical anime film adaptation covering the arrival of the protagonist and SEES. • Persona 3 The Movie: #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream (2014): The second installment in the theatrical anime film quadrology.
• Persona 3 The Movie: #3 Falling Down (2015): The third anime feature film continuing the SEES conflict. • Persona 3 The Movie: #4 Winter of Rebirth (2016): The final chapter concluding the Persona 3 theatrical film series. • Persona 4 The Animation -The Factor of Hope- (2012): A theatrical summary film recap of Persona 4 The Animation.
TV Series
• Persona -trinity soul- (2008): An original anime spin-off television series set ten years after Persona 3. • Persona 4 The Animation (2011): A 26-episode television anime adaptation produced by AIC ASTA covering Persona 4.
• Persona 4 The Golden Animation (2014): A television anime adaptation incorporating the expanded story arcs of Persona 4 Golden. • Persona 5 The Animation The Day Breakers (2016): A prequel television anime special leading into the release of Persona 5. • Persona 5 The Animation (2018): A 26-episode television anime adaptation produced by CloverWorks following the Phantom Thieves.
Video Games
• Megami Ibunroku Persona / Revelations: Persona (1996): PlayStation / Windows / PSP — The debut title establishing the series. • Persona 2: Innocent Sin (1999): PlayStation / PSP — The second main entry focusing on rumors becoming reality. • Persona 2: Eternal Punishment (2000): PlayStation / PSP — The direct sequel and narrative counterpart to Innocent Sin. • Persona 3 (2006): PlayStation 2 — Introduced the modern Social Link calendar system and SEES. • Persona 3 FES (2007): PlayStation 2 — Expanded edition featuring 'The Answer' epilogue chapter. • Persona 4 (2008): PlayStation 2 — Set in the rural town of Inaba investigating TV-world murder mysteries. • Persona 3 Portable (2009): PSP / Multiplatform — Handheld version introducing a playable female protagonist. • Persona 4 Golden (2012): PS Vita / Multiplatform — Enhanced definitive edition of Persona 4 with new story content. • Persona 4 Arena (2012): Arcade / PS3 / Xbox 360 — Canonical 2D fighting game co-developed with Arc System Works. • Persona 4 Arena Ultimax (2013): Arcade / PS3 / Xbox 360 / Multiplatform — Fighting game direct sequel to Arena.
• Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014): Nintendo 3DS — Chibi-style crossover dungeon crawler. • Persona 4: Dancing All Night (2015): PS Vita — Story-driven rhythm game spin-off featuring the P4 cast. • Persona 5 (2016): PS3 / PS4 — Global breakout hit following the Phantom Thieves of Hearts in Tokyo. • Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight (2018): PS4 / PS Vita — Companion rhythm game featuring the SEES cast. • Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight (2018): PS4 / PS Vita — Companion rhythm game featuring the Phantom Thieves. • Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2018): Nintendo 3DS — Crossover dungeon crawler featuring P3, P4, and P5 casts. • Persona 5 Royal (2019): PS4 / Multiplatform — Expanded definitive release of Persona 5 with a third semester. • Persona 5 Strikers (2020): PS4 / Nintendo Switch / PC — Action-RPG Musou sequel to Persona 5. • Persona 5 Tactica (2023): Multiplatform — Turn-based tactical role-playing spin-off. • Persona 3 Reload (2024): Multiplatform — Ground-up full Unreal Engine remake of Persona 3. • Persona 5: The Phantom X (2025): Mobile / PC — Free-to-play spin-off game featuring a new Phantom Thieves cast.
Books & Comics
• Megami Ibunroku Persona (Manga): Official manga adaptation of the debut PlayStation title. • Persona: Tsumi to Batsu (Manga): Manga side story set within the Persona 2 universe. • Megami Ibunroku Persona: Shadow Maze (Novel): Official light novel adaptation expanding on the first game. • Persona 2: Innocent Sin Novel: Official prose novelization of Innocent Sin. • Persona 2: Eternal Punishment Novel: Official prose novelization of Eternal Punishment. • Persona 3 (Manga): Multi-volume serial manga adaptation of Persona 3. • Persona 3: Shadow Cry (Novel): Light novel exploring the backstories of SEES members.
• Persona 3 Portable: Velvet Blue (Novel): Light novel expanding on Velvet Room lore. • Persona 4 (Manga): Official serial manga adaptation of the Persona 4 storyline. • Persona 4: Kiri no Amnesia (Novel): Light novel side story set during the events of Persona 4. • Persona x Detective Naoto (Manga/Novel): Media spin-off focusing on detective Naoto Shirogane. • Persona 5 (Manga): Official manga adaptation of Persona 5 by Rokuro Saito. • Persona 5: Mementos Mission (Manga): Spin-off manga series following the Phantom Thieves solving requests. • Persona 3 Reload: Beginnings (Manga): Prequel comic tie-in for the Persona 3 Reload release.
