TheShin Megami Tenseispin-off series is chockful of games for fans to play. But when it comes to canon, whatPersonagames count and what don’t?
Launching in 1996,Personahas become synonymous with providing fantastic entertainment, whether through its typical RPG gameplay or through different genres (dancing, anyone?). Each mainline game, with its subsequent spin-offs, feels like its own thing. Well, in actuality, they’re all connected to each other. While not in huge ways,allPersonagames are canon.
Warning: There will be story spoilers for the Persona games within this article.
Canon Fodder
In terms of certified lore, it’s safe to say all mainline games are canon.Revelations: Personastarts the canon and then moves on toPersona 2: Innocent SinandPersona 2: Eternal Punishment. As, unfortunately, no remakes or rereleases on those titles exist, those are the set entries. With that said,Persona 3 FES,Persona 4 Golden, andPersona 5 Royalare the canon versions of their respective stories.
The spinoffs do make things complicated, especially thePersona Qtitles. However, many involve memory-wiping to explain their absence in the main plots. The wiping is courtesy of the Velvet Room, which appears in everyPersonatitle. This also occurs inPersona 3: Dancing in MoonlightandPersona 5: Dancing in Starlight. Therefore, playing the spin-offs, while they can be fun, doesn’t contribute to the overall lore.
With the spin-offs, they usually happen during the game’s timeline. For example, the recent strategy spin-offPersona 5 Tacticahappens after Shido’s palace but before graduation. These canon choices occur so it doesn’t mess too much with the already-established context. There are games that are sequels to their respective titles and those impact the canon.
Persona 3andPersona 4come together inPersona 4 ArenaandPersona 4 Arena Ultimaxcanonically within the timeline. Characters like Akihiko and Aigis fromPersona 3return, though they are aged in relation to the fighter’s place on the timeline. After that,Persona 4got another sequel inPersona 4: Dancing All Night, though nothing fromUltimaxis brought up. ForPersona 5,Strikersacts as a sequel, as the game takes place half a year after the ending. The game isn’t a sequel toRoyal, as both games were in development simultaneously and, therefore, didn’t mesh. However, the timelines still make up, asStrikershappens after graduation whileRoyal‘s third semester occurs before then.Tacticaalso fits neatly within the establishedP5timeline.
Persona 3 FESmay be unseated as the canon choice oncePersona 3 Reloadcomes out onFebruary 2, 2024. Said to adapt the base game’s story, it’s safe to assume this will be Atlus’ definitive version of the 2006 cult classic ifour first impressionsare anything to go by.
