Persona is a video game franchise. It was previously known as Shin Megami Tensei: Persona outside of Japan. The games are mainly developed by Atlus and owned by Sega. The series focuses on Japanese role-playing video games. It is a spin-off from Atlus' Megami Tensei franchise. The first game, Revelations: Persona, was released in 1996 for the PlayStation. More games have been released since, with the most recent main entry being 2024's Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the 2006 game Persona 3.

Persona began as a spin-off inspired by the popular high school setting of Shin Megami Tensei If… (1994). The games feature a group of students as main characters. The protagonist is silent, like in the main Megami Tensei games. Players use Personas in combat. Starting with Persona 3 in 2006, the series added Social Links, which connect to how Personas develop. Character designs are by Kazuma Kaneko (Persona and Persona 2) and Shigenori Soejima (Persona 3 and later games). The series explores themes about the human mind and characters discovering their true selves. It uses ideas from Jungian psychology, psychological personas, tarot cards, and themes from religion, mythology, and literature.

Revelations: Persona was the first Megami Tensei role-playing game released outside Japan. Beginning with Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, English versions became more accurate to the Japanese originals, as requested by Atlus. The series is very popular worldwide. It is the best-known Megami Tensei spin-off and helped Atlus and the Megami Tensei franchise gain recognition in North America. After Persona 3 and 4 were released, the series gained a strong following in Europe. The series has sold over 27 million copies globally, more than its parent franchise. It has many adaptations, including anime, films, novels, manga, stage plays, radio dramas, art books, and concerts.

Games

• Persona is the first game in the series. It was released in Japan and North America for the PlayStation in 1996. A version for Windows was released in Japan in 1999. Later, it was released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP) in 2009 in Japan and North America as physical and digital copies, and in 2010 in Europe as a digital copy. The game takes place in the town of Mikage-cho and follows high school students from St. Hermelin High who must deal with demons in their hometown.

• Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the second game in the series. It was released in Japan for the PlayStation in 1999. After the success of the PSP version of Persona, a version of Innocent Sin was also made for the PSP. This version included changes to make it play more like its sequel, added features, and a new story. It was released in 2011 for all regions. The game is set in the coastal city of Sumaru and follows Tatsuya Suou, a student at Seven Sisters High, as he deals with strange events caused by rumors that change reality.

• Persona 2: Eternal Punishment is the third main game in the series. It was released in Japan and North America for the PlayStation in 2000. Like Innocent Sin, it was remade for the PSP in 2012 in Japan but not in other regions. The original version was later released worldwide on PlayStation Network (PSN) in 2013. The game takes place shortly after the ending of Innocent Sin and follows Maya Amano, a character from the previous game, as she faces a similar threat with Tatsuya.

• Persona 3 is the fourth main game in the series. It was developed for PlayStation 2 and released in Japan in 2006, North America in 2007, and Europe in 2008. A version called Persona 3 FES, which includes new content and an ending, was released in Japan in 2007 and other regions in 2008. A portable version of FES, called Persona 3 Portable, was released for the PSP in Japan in 2009, North America in 2010, and Europe in 2011. This version included a female playable character, changes to battle mechanics, and some content removed to fit the portable platform. Later, Persona 3 Portable was released on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on January 19, 2023. The story takes place in Tatsumi Port Island and follows a group of students called "S.E.E.S." who fight monsters that appear during a time called the Dark Hour. A remake of Persona 3, called Persona 3 Reload, was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on February 2, 2024, and for Nintendo Switch 2 in October 2025. Reload uses Unreal Engine 4 for improved graphics and includes gameplay updates to match later games in the series. It also features a new English voice cast, new story scenarios, and interactions between characters not in earlier versions.

• Persona 4 is the fifth main game in the series. It was released for PlayStation 2 in Japan and North America in 2008 and in Europe in 2009. A portable version called Persona 4 Golden was inspired by the success of Persona 3 Portable. Because the PSP could not handle all the content, the game was developed for PlayStation Vita, which allowed new features and content. A version for Windows was released in 2020, and versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S were released on January 19, 2023. The story takes place in the rural town of Inaba, where students investigate killings linked to a realm called the Midnight Channel. A remake of Persona 4, called Persona 4 Revival, is planned for release on PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S in 2025.

• Persona 5 is the sixth main game in the series. It was released for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. The game is set in Tokyo and follows students who dress as thieves to fight city corruption and escape societal pressures. It was released in Japan in September 2016 and in North America and Europe in April 2017. A version called Persona 5 Royal, which includes new content, was released for PlayStation 4 in Japan in 2019 and worldwide in 2020. Versions for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S were released in October 2022.

Persona 3 received a Japan-exclusive spin-off called Persona 3: The Night Before. It follows a similar pattern of daytime activities and nighttime battles as the original game, with one player chosen as the leader each night. After its release in 2008, a free-to-play browser game called Persona Ain Soph was released that year. The game focused on players fusing Personas to fight a threat called the Qliphoth. It was exclusive to Japan and closed in June 2010.

A fighting game sequel to Persona 4, called Persona 4 Arena, was released in Japanese arcades in 2012. Console versions were released in Japan and North America in 2012 and in Europe in 2013. A sequel, Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, was released in Japanese arcades in 2013 and on consoles in all regions in 2014.

A standalone spin-off for the Nintendo 3DS called Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth was released worldwide in 2014. It features characters from Persona 3 and 4 and is considered an official part of the series. A sequel, Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, added characters from Persona 5 and was released in Japan in 2018 and worldwide in 2019.

A rhythm game called Persona 4: Dancing All Night, set after the events of Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, was released worldwide in 2015. Two follow-ups, Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight and Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight, were released together in 2018.

A Dynasty Warriors-style action role-playing game called Persona 5 Strikers was released in Japan in 2020 and worldwide in 2021.

A tactics spin-off of Persona 5 called Persona 5 Tactica was released in November 2023.

Several mobile games based on the Persona series were developed in partnership with Japanese companies like BBMF. The first was Megami Ibunroku Persona: Ikū no Tō-hen, a 3D dungeon crawler set during the events of the first Persona game, released in 2006. Later, mobile games

Common elements

The gameplay of the Persona series involves fighting different types of enemies, including demons, shadows, and personae. Most battles happen during dungeon exploration in various locations. How battles start depends on the game: some use random encounters (Persona, Persona 2), while others involve encountering enemy groups represented by models (Persona 3 and later). Battles follow a turn-based system, where players and enemies take turns attacking each other. During battles, players can use physical attacks, magic, items, guarding, or escape under certain conditions. Hitting an enemy's weakness causes more damage. Starting with Persona 3, landing a critical hit gives a character an extra turn. If all enemies are knocked down by critical hits, the party can perform an "All Out Attack," where all members attack at once for heavy damage. In most games, players control all party members, except in Persona 3, where other characters are controlled by an AI system. The general gameplay has stayed the same across all Persona games.

Each Persona game includes unique features. In Persona, battles take place on a grid, with movement based on positions. This changed in Persona 2, where the party moves freely and can change moves during battles. In Persona and Persona 3, the moon's phases affect gameplay, time, and the story. Persona 4 uses a weather system instead, where weather changes influence enemy behavior. Persona 5 adds platforming and stealth elements to exploration. The "All Out Attack" can be used during a "Hold-Up" session when enemies are knocked down.

A key part of the series is the use of "Personas," which are representations of a person's thoughts and subconscious used in battle. Up to Persona 3, main Personas were inspired by Greco-Roman mythology. Persona 4's Personas were based on Japanese deities, while Persona 5's were inspired by fictional and historical outlaws. Summoning Personas varies: early games used a ritual after a parlor game, Persona 3 required firing a device called an Evoker, Persona 4 involved destroying Tarot cards, and Persona 5 used mask removal.

Personas are used for attacks, healing, and status effects. All characters start with an initial Persona, which can evolve through story events and battles. In some games, two or more Personas can be summoned together for a Fusion Spell. In Persona 3, 4, and 5, only the main character can switch between Personas; others use one. Players gain new Personas through Skill Cards, which are Major Arcana Tarot cards. These cards represent Persona families with unique abilities. Personas can be fused to create new ones with improved skills, from two in Persona 2 to twelve in Persona 4. Starting with Persona 3, the main character has a "Wild Card" ability to summon multiple Personas represented by the Fool Arcana.

"Social Links," introduced in Persona 3, is a system where the main character interacts with others to grow their Personas. These interactions are tied to specific Persona families or Arcana. As the relationship with a Social Link improves, stronger Personas can be summoned and fused. Attributes like academic skills and social abilities can also enhance Persona powers. A more advanced version, "Confidants," appears in Persona 5.

In Persona, Persona 2, and Persona 5, there is a "Negotiation" system from the Megami Tensei series, where players can talk to enemies and influence their actions. Some choices yield Skill Cards. This system was removed in Persona 3 and 4 but was considered a hidden version in the Social Link and fusion systems. In Persona 5, Negotiation can occur during "Hold Up" sessions, allowing Shadows to join the party as new Personas if conditions are met.

The Persona series is set in modern-day Japan, usually involving high school students, except for Eternal Punishment, which focuses on adults. The setting is described as urban fantasy, with supernatural events in normal locations. Most games are standalone but share continuity, with elements from earlier games appearing later. Persona and Persona 2 share story elements resolved in Eternal Punishment, while Persona 3 starts with a new setting. Persona is set in 1996, followed by Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment in 1999. Persona 3 takes place from 2009 to 2010, and Persona 4 from 2011 to 2012. Persona 4 Arena and Dancing All Night occur after Persona 4. Persona 5 is set in a non-specific year called "20XX," and Strikers follows Persona 5. The Persona Q series takes place in a separate world where characters from Persona 3, 4, and 5 are drawn into from their time periods. Dialogue in Q2 suggests Persona 5 occurs only a few years after Persona 4.

A central idea in the series is the collective unconscious, a place created by humanity's hearts where Personas are born. According to the official Persona Club P3 book, the collective unconscious was formed by early life on Earth to contain the spiritual essence of Nyx, a space-born being whose presence would destroy all life. Nyx's damaged body became the moon, while her psyche was locked in the collective unconscious. Fragments of Nyx's psyche, called "Shadows," are both a threat and essential to human existence.

Development

The Persona series began after the release of Shin Megami Tensei If… for the Super Famicom. Because the high school setting in If… was well received, Atlus decided to create a separate part of the series focused on the inner struggles of young adults. The choice to focus on high school life was also influenced by the experiences of the series' creators, Kouji Okada and Kazuma Kaneko. They believed that high school life was something most people could relate to, as it is a time of learning and personal freedom. This approach helped players connect with the series' themes and ideas. Kaneko, in particular, tried to recreate his own experiences from when he was a student. The first Persona game was designed to be more accessible to new and casual players than the main Megami Tensei series. This decision was also influenced by the many casual games available on the PlayStation. The game's original title, Megami Ibunroku, showed it was a direct spin-off from the series. Later, the title was changed to better define Persona as its own series. After the success of Persona, development of Innocent Sin began, with many of the original team members returning. During the writing of Innocent Sin, it was decided that Persona 2 needed a different perspective than the current protagonist. This decision led to the creation of Eternal Punishment. Following this, the Persona series paused while Atlus focused on other projects, including Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.

The idea for Persona 3 was submitted to Atlus in 2003 by Katsura Hashino, who had worked on several Megami Tensei games and directed Nocturne. Atlus approved the concept, and development began the same year after completing Nocturne and the Digital Devil Saga duology. Persona 3 was part of Atlus' effort to grow its player base outside Japan. Ideas for Persona 4 were discussed, but official development started only after Persona 3 was released. Preparation for Persona 5 began in 2010. The team decided to explore more challenging story themes, saying the change would be more significant than with Persona 3. Persona 4 Arena and its sequel were the first non-RPG projects in the series. Their success inspired the creation of Persona Q and Dancing All Night.

The first three Persona games were made by Atlus' internal R&D1 studio, which also created the main Megami Tensei games. Starting with Persona 3, a dedicated team, originally called the 2nd Creative Production Department, took over development. This team was later renamed P-Studio in 2012. Hashino led the studio until the Japanese release of Persona 5 in 2016, when he moved to create a new department, Studio Zero, for non-Persona projects. Other developers also contributed to the series. For example, during the early stages of Persona 4 Arena, Hashino asked Arc System Works to help after being impressed by their work on the BlazBlue series. For Dancing All Night, development initially started with Dingo, but Atlus took over due to quality concerns, with Dingo remaining as a supporting developer.

The two main character artists for the Persona series are Kazuma Kaneko and Shigenori Soejima. Kaneko, a key artist in the main Megami Tensei series, designed characters for the first three Persona games. Soejima worked alongside Kaneko and became the main character designer starting with Persona 3. When designing characters for Persona, Kaneko was inspired by celebrities, fictional characters, and Atlus staff. In Persona and Innocent Sin, the main characters wore the same school uniforms, so Kaneko used accessories to make them distinct. For Eternal Punishment, the main characters were adults, so Kaneko had to rethink his design process. He focused on creating designs that looked like ordinary adults but stood out in the game.

Soejima's first major role was designing side characters for Persona 2 with Kaneko. After Persona 2, Kaneko gave Soejima responsibility for the series' art direction, wanting Soejima to gain experience and avoid making the series look too similar to Kaneko's style. Soejima felt pressure because the series had many fans during Kaneko's time. In an interview, Soejima said he respected Kaneko but did not copy his work. Instead, he aimed to create new designs that pleased fans. Soejima uses real people he has met or seen as inspiration for his characters, focusing on how their appearance reflects their personality. If his designs look too similar to real people, he makes rough sketches while keeping the character's personality in mind. For Persona Q, his first work with a deformed Chibi style (used in the Etrian Odyssey series), Soejima considered what fans liked about the characters. He focused on making characters recognizable even after redesigning them.

Starting with Persona 3, each Persona game has a unique aesthetic and key color. This was one of the first decisions the team made. Persona 3 has a dark, serious tone, so the main color was blue to match the urban setting. In contrast, Persona 4 has a lighter tone and a murder-mystery plot, so the color yellow was chosen to represent both the lighter mood and a "warning" signal. Soejima said blue was the "color of adolescence" and yellow was the "color of happiness." For Persona 5, the color red was chosen to show a harsh feeling and connect with the game's story. Its art style was described as a natural next step from Persona 4.

The music for the Persona series has been created by multiple composers. The most well-known is Shoji Meguro, who joined Atlus in 1995 and worked on the series. His first composition was "Aria of the Soul," the theme for the Velvet Room, which became a recurring track. Early in his work, Meguro faced limits on storage space for music on the PlayStation, but with better hardware for Persona 3, he could fully express his style. He was concerned about how singers pronounced English lyrics in Persona 3 and 4. He did not work on Persona 2 because he was busy with other projects, like Maken X. Meguro was the lead composer for Persona 5, using elements of acid jazz, inspired by the British band Jamiroquai and the game's themes. The music for Innocent Sin and Eternal Punishment was created by Toshiko Tasaki, Kenichi Tsuchiya, and Masaki Kurokawa. Tsuchiya had done minor work on Persona before and found composing for the games challenging. Spin-offs like Persona Q and Dancing All Night are usually handled by other Atlus composers, such as Atsushi Kitajoh.

Release

The series includes twenty games, not counting re-releases or mobile versions. Persona was the first role-playing game in the Megami Tensei franchise to be released outside Japan. Earlier games were not allowed to be sold in other countries because they had content that could cause debate. However, Persona had less controversial content, so the restrictions did not apply. Atlus said that Persona and its sequel were used to test how players in other countries would react to the Megami Tensei series. Most Persona games were first released on or only available for PlayStation platforms. This changed in 2014 with the release of Persona Q for the 3DS. All Persona games in Japan and North America have been published by Atlus. An exception in Japan was the Windows version of Persona, which was published by ASCII Corporation. After 2016, Atlus USA joined with Sega of America, so Sega began handling publishing in North America. The Atlus brand remained the same. Since then, Atlus has released versions of the main Persona games for platforms other than PlayStation, starting with Persona 4 Golden on Windows in 2020. This was the first numbered Persona game released for PC worldwide. Sega helped Atlus release Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Portable on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2022 and 2023. Persona 3 Reload, a remake of Persona 3 (2006), was released in 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This was the first main Persona game to be released worldwide at the same time and available on non-PlayStation platforms from the start. In a November 2023 report, SEGA Sammy president Haruki Atami said future Persona games would follow a similar release schedule to meet sales goals of at least 5 million units in a new game's first year.

Because Atlus does not have a European office, it has usually hired other companies to publish Persona games in Europe. This often causes delays between North American and European release dates, sometimes lasting months or even years. For Persona 3, Atlus worked with Koei. For Persona 4, Square Enix handled European publishing. Persona 4 Arena was first published in Europe by Zen United after a long delay, but Atlus later took back the digital rights, removing the game from PSN. Atlus then re-released the PlayStation version in Europe. They had previously published the PSP version of Persona in Europe and Australia. Arena Ultimax was published in Europe by Sega, which had recently bought Atlus’ parent company. This led to speculation that the gap between North American and European releases might shrink. A regular partner was Ghostlight, which worked with Atlus on the European release of Nocturne. A more recent partner was NIS America, which published Persona 4 Golden, Persona Q, and Dancing All Night. Atlus and NIS America stopped working together in 2016, with NIS America citing challenges after Atlus was acquired by Sega. NIS America said Atlus had become "very picky" about choosing European partners who could guarantee high sales. Later, Atlus partnered with Deep Silver, a European publisher, to release Persona 5 and other games in the region.

The translations for Persona games are usually handled by Yu Namba of Atlus USA, who also translates other Megami Tensei games. Another key team member was Nich Maragos, who worked with Namba on multiple Persona games until joining Nintendo of America before 2015. The Persona translation team faced pressure to adapt the game for Western audiences, making changes like altering names, adjusting character designs, and removing cultural references. An alternate main story was also removed. After Persona, future games were made to stay as close as possible to their original versions. Namba’s first Persona project was Eternal Punishment. For Innocent Sin, there was debate about releasing it because it included content that might be controversial, such as references to Nazism. Due to staff and resource limits, Innocent Sin was not localized, and Eternal Punishment was chosen instead. Later, when the company released PSP ports, they made Persona and Innocent Sin available overseas so fans of Persona 3 and 4 could catch up with the series. The Persona translation was completely revised, restoring all previously removed content. The Eternal Punishment port was not localized due to "unusual circumstances," so the original version was released on PSN.

For Persona 3 and 4, translators tried to keep as much original content as possible, such as using Japanese honorifics and keeping the currency as yen. They included cultural elements unless they would confuse players, like changing certain jokes. Some changes were still needed. For example, Mitsuru Kirijo, who was originally an English speaker, had her second language changed to French in the localized version because of her appearance. School tests were adjusted for language reasons. The "Social Links" feature was renamed from "Community" because "Community" had a specific meaning in English. The new name was inspired by Igor’s references to "society" and "bonds." In-game Easter eggs were also changed, such as references to the Megami Tensei series in Persona 3 being updated to reference earlier Persona games, and a fictional detective in Persona 4 being linked to the Kuzunoha family from Eternal Punishment and the Devil Summoner series. Character names, like Rise Kujikawa’s stage name, and how characters referred to each other were adjusted to appeal more to Western audiences. Persona 5 was localized in the same way.

The English names of the games were also changed. The original title Megami Ibunroku for Persona was renamed Revelations because the team thought it sounded "cool." The Revelations name was not used for Innocent Sin or Eternal Punishment. After the success of Nocturne, the title Shin Megami Tensei was added to the series name to help with marketing in the West. However, not all games used this title. For example, Persona 4 Arena’s original title, Persona 4: The Ultimate in Mayonaka Arena, was shortened because it sounded "awkward," and the Shin Megami Tensei

Reception

The first Persona game was called a sleeper hit, meaning it became successful unexpectedly. Its success, along with Eternal Punishment, helped Atlus and the Megami Tensei franchise gain popularity in North America. In Europe, the series became well-known only after the release of Persona 3 and 4, which were very successful in that region. Atlus CEO Naoto Hiraoka said the major turning point for the franchise was the release of Persona 3, which sold well and introduced the series to a larger audience. Persona 4 was even more popular. The success of the Persona series helped Atlus build a strong fan base outside Japan, which also helped other games like Catherine succeed.

The Persona series is considered the most popular part of the Megami Tensei franchise. It gained fame on its own. James Whitbrook of Io9 noted that while Western urban fantasy stories often focus on young adult themes, Persona stands out by blending the everyday lives of its characters with supernatural elements from a Japanese perspective. Nintendo Power described Persona as an example of the Megami Tensei series, highlighting its "modern-day horror stories" and "teams of Japanese high-school kids." In 1999, GameSpot's Andrew Vestal called Persona a game worth attention, pointing to its use of demonology, negotiation, and psychology as key factors in its popularity. The game is considered a cult classic. In 2009, RPGamer named Persona 3 the greatest RPG of the past decade. In 2011, RPGFan listed Persona 3 and 4 in second and fourth place, respectively, in a similar ranking. Gamasutra included Persona 3 in its list of 20 essential RPGs, and Famitsu named Persona 4 one of the greatest games of all time in 2010.

The series has also faced controversy in the West. The original Persona's localized title raised concerns because of its religious implications. In 2006, Kurt Katala of 1UP.com discussed the Megami Tensei franchise's content, including references to homosexuality, school violence, and Nazism in Innocent Sin, which may have limited its release outside Japan. In 2007, Persona 3 won the "Most controversial game that created no controversy" award from 1UP.com, as it included scenes involving suicide and student-teacher relationships. Persona 4 has been criticized for how it portrays character sexuality and gender identity.

The three main games developed by Katsura Hashino—Persona 3, 4, and 5—have faced criticism for their depictions of homosexuality. In Persona 3, a female-presenting character with facial hair is portrayed in a way that suggests they are transgender, which some players found uncomfortable. In Persona 5, two gay male characters are involved in non-optional comedic scenes that were later changed in the Western version, Persona 5 Royal. However, the original scenes remained, and some issues were not fully resolved. In Persona 4, Kanji Tatsumi, a character who may be bisexual or gay, is the target of homophobic jokes by another main character, Yosuke Hanamura. Additionally, Naoto Shirogane's storyline involves her journey to accept her female identity after previously identifying as male due to concerns about being treated unfairly in the police force.

By November 2024, the Persona series had sold over 23 million copies worldwide.

Related media

The first anime adaptation of the Persona series, a television show based on Persona 3 called Persona: Trinity Soul, was released in 2008. This show takes place in a different world ten years after the events of Persona 3, so it is not considered part of the main story. It was created by A-1 Pictures, directed by Jun Matsumoto, written by a team that included Yasuyuki Muto, Shogo Yasukawa, and Shinsuke Onishi, and composed by Taku Iwasaki. The characters were designed by Soejima and Yuriko Ishii, while the Persona designs were done by Nobuhiko Genma. The show was shared with international audiences by NIS America.

An anime adaptation of Persona 4, titled Persona 4: The Animation, aired in 2011. This 25-episode series was made by AIC ASTA and directed by Seiji Kishi. In 2014, a new series based on Persona 4 Golden, called Persona 4: The Golden Animation, was produced by A-1 Pictures. This series uses the same voice actors as the original adaptation and includes new story elements from Persona 4 Golden, such as the character Marie.

A standalone prequel anime called Persona 5 The Animation: The Day Breakers, created by A-1 Pictures, was released in September 2016 before the game Persona 5 came out in Japan. A full anime series based on Persona 5, titled Persona 5: The Animation, began airing in 2018.

The original Persona 4 anime was adapted into a shorter film version called Persona 4: The Animation – The Factor of Hope, which was shown in Japanese theaters in 2012. Persona 3 was also turned into a series of anime films made by AIC ASTA, with staff from Persona 4: The Animation. These films were released in Japan between 2013 and 2016 and are titled #1 Spring of Birth, #2 Midsummer Knight's Dream, #3 Falling Down, and #4 Winter of Rebirth. They were licensed for overseas release by Aniplex. For both Persona 4: The Animation and the Persona 3 films, a major challenge was showing the lead characters in a way that matched the choices players make in the games.

The Persona series was also adapted into an eight-issue manga called Megami Ibunroku Persona, which was first published in 1996 and reprinted in 2009. A second manga, Persona: Tsumi to Batsu, was released to match the launch of the Persona 2 games. This story takes place in the same world as Persona 2 but follows a different plot. A 2011 reprint added new material that connected the manga to the events of Innocent Sin. Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 each have their own manga adaptations. A manga based on Persona Q was also created, with two storylines called Side:P3 and Side:P4 that match the game’s two plots. Novels based on Persona 3 and Persona 4 have also been published.

Six stage plays based on Persona 3 were made under the title Persona 3: The Weird Masquerade. These plays had limited performances and included separate shows for the male and female versions of the game’s main character. Persona 4 was adapted into two stage plays, Visualive and Visualive the Evolution, both produced by Marvelous AQL and shown in 2012. A play based on Persona 4 Arena was performed in December 2014, and another based on Persona 4 Arena Ultimax ran in July 2016. From 2019, four stage plays based on Persona 5 were made, titled Persona 5 The Stage. These plays were released on DVD and later on Crunchyroll. A stage play for Persona 3 Reload, called Persona 3 Lunation The Act, is currently being produced. The first part of this play will run from July 6 to July 13, 2025, at the Theatre G-Rosso. This play will only include the male version of the main character, played by Mizuki Umetsu, and will be directed by Makoto Kimura. A DVD of the play has already been released, but it is not yet known if it will be translated into other languages.

Atlus has created or supported media related to the Persona series. A magazine dedicated to the series was published for ten issues between 2011 and 2012 and has been released again in limited ways since then. An official talk show called Persona Stalker Club was launched in February 2014 on the official Persona website and Niconico. Hosted by freelance writer Mafia Kajita and actress Tomomi Isomura, the show aimed to connect Atlus with fans of the series. Concerts featuring music from Persona have also been held, and some have been released on home media in Japan. Action figures and clothing based on the series have also been made.

The Persona series was included in the 2018 game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. In April 2019, Joker, the main character of Persona 5, was added as a downloadable content (DLC) character. Along with him, a Persona-themed stage, eleven songs from the series, and Mii costumes of Morgana, Teddie, and the main characters from Persona 3 and Persona 4 were also added.

In June 2022, as part of the Persona series’ 25th anniversary, Sega shared plans with IGN to expand the Persona series and other Atlus games into live-action films and television, similar to how they adapted Sonic the Hedgehog into a movie. Toru Nakahara, Sega’s lead producer for the Sonic the Hedgehog films and the Sonic Prime Netflix series, said that stories from the Persona series deeply connect with fans and could be expanded in new ways. Joker from Persona 5 appears in Sega’s theatrical production logo, which was shown in the Sonic the Hedgehog movie.

In 2023, actors Jun Shison and Haruna Kawaguchi were named official ambassadors for the Persona series. They will appear in commercials and other promotional materials for the series.