Summary
Launched in Japan in 2016,Persona 5earned itself a place as one of the best JRPGs of the last decade, and for many gamers, it is one of the greatest in the genre. ThePersonaseries is a spin-off from the mothershipShin Megami Tenseiseries. While it maintains many of the same themes from the mainline series, thePersonagames implement visual novel and dating sim mechanics.
Despite being a spin-off series, thePersonaseries has become the best-selling JRPG series for Atlus. TheSMTseries is often associated with its difficulty, which can be off-putting for many gamers. Though thePersonagames are still challenging in their own right, they are far more accessible.Persona 5’s successled to the release of an expanded remaster,Persona 5 Royal.The new version is an extended cut with extra story content and gameplay mechanics. However, as great as the game is, all good things must end, but there are plenty of othergreat games likePersona 5 Royalfor gamers to try out.
Updated by Michael Llewellyn on August 04, 2025:The Persona series provides a unique experience that stands out in genre and even from its parent series, Shin Megami Tensei. Fans love the social links and character interactions, which differentiate Persona from other RPGs and adventure games. This updated list includes a must-play game that Persona enthusiasts will enjoy, as well as added galleries for each entry.
Ar Tonelico: Melody of Elemiais a science fiction and fantasy JRPG that implements dating mechanics thatPersona 5fans should enjoy. Players take on the role of a young knight named Lyner who escapes an attack on his city in the upper world from a virus that manifests into dangerous monsters. Lyner’s ship crash lands in the lower world, and he must retrieve an artifact called the Hymm Crystal to save his people.
Lyner soon meets up with two female artificial lifeforms called Reyvtails. The protagonist must form a bond with them by diving into their subconscious and making them stronger in battle. There’s an element of suggestive innuendo and humor with the diving mechanics, but fans of visual novels and creating social bonds will enjoyAr Tonelico.
Growlanser Generationsis a compilation of twochallenging tactical JRPGSby Career Soft. The set combinesGrowlanser 2: Sense of JusticeandGrowlanser 3: Dual Darknessfor up to 100 hours of gameplay in a single package. In addition to being tactical JRPGs, theGrowlanserseries implements relationship and dating sim mechanics that impact the story’s multiple endings.Growlanser 2focuses on Wein, an up-and-coming knight with a mysterious past embroiled in a war between Rolandia and Burnstein. There are turns, betrayals, friendships that develop, and a branching story.
Growlanser 3builds on the first game’s mechanics and applies more freedom and exploration options. The protagonist, Slayn, is an amnesiac with a large two-handed sword. While the amnesiac hero with a mysterious past is a tried and tested trope of the JRPG genre, it gives Slayn’s character room to develop based on the player’s dialogue choices.
Eternightsis an indie-developedhack-and-slash RPGwith solid character development and an intriguing take on a post-apocalyptic setting. Despite its low budget compared to thePersonaseries, the art design and colors make it stand out in a busy crowd. The dating sim elements will entertain fans ofPersona 5’s social sim and romance options.
Players get to create a character as they build a profile for a dating app in the game’s opening. Events take a dark turn, but the character still finds time to build relationships through the dungeon-crawling action. Moreover, the story is dark and mysterious without being predictable, and it’s an enjoyable ride that fans ofPersonawill have fun putting the pieces together.
Star Ocean: The Second Story Ris a faithful remake of the classic JRPG from tri-Ace. It features two protagonists with unique story paths and relationship-building that build towardthe game’s 99 endings. The characters react to the protagonist’s behavior and dialogue choices.
Thanks to its stunning presentation and quality-of-life features,Star Ocean: The Second Story Ris the definitive version of the series' second title. The item creation, endings, and relationship building allow gamers somewhat unique experiences with every playthrough.Star Ocean: Second Story Rfeatures abeautiful HD 2D stylethat feels modern but faithful to the classic PS1 title.
Blue Reflectionand its sequel,Blue Reflection: Second Light,are JRPGs with school-based social sim elements that will appeal to fans ofPersona 5.Instead of dark demonic transformations, the female-led cast transforms into magical sorceresses (AKA magical girls) in combat.
They are coming-of-age dramas set in a Japanese high school with surprisingly moving stories. Both games feature a different protagonist. So fans can jump in with either title, butBlue Reflection: Second Lightis generally better received by critics, although fans loved them both. TheBlue Reflectiongames are a refreshingly colorful change of pace to the recent JRPGs that can be dark, gloomy, and depressing.
Suikoden 5is the final entry in thecritically acclaimedSuikodenseries. However, it is a prequel set before the first game, so fans can jump in with this entry without missing too much beyond some younger versions of characters that appeared in its predecessors. There isn’t a social sim element toSuikoden 5,but the importance of character development and the choices made during interactions will affect how the protagonist’s comrades react to him.
The protagonist can recruit the 108 Stars of Destiny to help him in combat or contribute to his community with the Ceras Lake Castle. Players must collect all the Stars to unlock the true ending, but there is a new game-plus feature that players can utilize. The story takes its time in the opening hours, but the character development, relationships, and tone will please fans ofPersona 5’s character development and narrative.
Sakura Warsis a visual novel and action RPG hybrid set in a steampunk alternate universe of 1940s Tokyo. The combat uses aDynasty Warriors-style combat that breaks up the narrative nicely. However, the social simulation mechanics will appeal to fans ofPersona 5the most. Players get to interact with members of a theater group who are also part of Tokyo’s defense team.
There are some fan service elements inSakura Wars,most notably with its bath scenes, but that doesn’t detract from what is an excellent game. If players can put that aside, they’ll find a lot to enjoy in the story and character interactions.
Hogwarts Legacyis an action RPG from the same studio that created theDisney Infinitygames. The team already had experience creating worlds based on a massive license, butHogwarts Legacyis on another level. It’s a dream come true for fans ofHarry Potterand the Wizarding World.
Persona 5fans will enjoy interacting with students, building friendships, or making enemies with buddingwitches and wizardsat the school. As a prequel,Hogwarts Legacyis set in the 1800s, and players will get to interact with the ancestors of well-known characters, including Matilda Weasley and Phineas Black.
Soul Hackers 2is a stylish anime-inspired RPG from Atlus, and even though the dungeon design seems a little dated, the characters, story, and world will be a big hit for fans of thePersona 5 Royal.As aShin Megami Tenseigame, it features many of the same themes of demons and their recruitment as the characters form pacts with them.
Another theme thatSoul Hackersshares with otherSMTtitles is that the game opens with an apocalyptic event. The protagonist is sent by a higher artificial intelligence to try and prevent the catastrophe from occurring and save the human race.
Developed and created by a team that worked on theTalesseries andGod Eatergames,Scarlet Nexusis, unsurprisingly, a spectacular action RPG with a beautiful anime style and a compelling story. The combat isn’t turn-based likePersona 5,but it is stylish, fast, and creative with itsDevil May Cry-like action and psychokinetic superpowers.
There is a relationship mechanic thatPersona 5fans will appreciate, allowing the lead characters to increase their bond levels with the other party members. While there isno dating inScarlet Nexus,increasing these bonds will grant the characters more powers to use in battles. The game features two protagonists with different intertwining stories, making a second playthrough worthwhile and entertaining.
