The Persona series has many mainline games along with multiple spinoffs for the more modern games. Thanks to the real-world calendar in many of the mainline games, it’s clear to see when the games take place.
All of the Persona games do take place in the same universe, with the spinoff games being clearly tied to their respective games. With many spinoffs affecting the timeline and canon, it can be difficult to understand how each game connects to one another.
***** This Article Contains Spoilers For The Persona Spinoff Games *****
Persona Mainline Timeline
The mainline Persona games all take place during the calendar year in which they were released. The earlier games may not be as clear since they don’t follow the later game’s calendar format, but there is a clear timeline for all the mainline games. While many of these games have later updated re-releases, the timeline for the game stays the same.
|
Mainline Game |
When It Takes Place |
|---|---|
|
Revelations Persona |
1996 |
|
Persona 2 Innocent Sin/Eternal Punishment |
1999 |
|
Persona 3/The Answer |
2009-2010 |
|
Persona 4 |
2011-2012 |
|
Persona 5 |
2016-2017 |
Persona Spinoff Timeline
The Spinoff games can be a bit less clear about when they take place, as a lot of them involve magic from the velvet room, bringing different groups together despite them existing in different times, such as the Q games or dancing games. By existing in a different dimension outside regular time, these characters are able to interact during the main events of their respective games despite happening many years apart.
|
Spinoff Game |
When It Takes Place |
|---|---|
|
Persona 3 Dancing/Persona 5 Dancing |
One night in a dream world during the later events of both Persona 3 and Persona 5 |
|
Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth |
During the later events of Persona 3 and Persona 4. |
|
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth |
During the later events of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5. |
|
Persona 4: Arena Ultimax |
In May of 2012, a few months after the main events of Persona 4. |
|
Persona 4: Dancing All Night |
A few months after the events of Persona 4: Arena Ultimax, still in 2012 but during an unspecified month. |
|
Persona 5 Strikers |
Summer of 2017, only a few months after the events of Persona 5. |
Which Games Are Canon
While all the mainline games are clearly canon and don’t interact beyond a few easter eggs, the spinoff games can be a bit messier, with many characters interacting despite their games happening years apart. Some games are much clearer, with Persona 4 Arena Ultimax being a clear sequel to both Persona 4 and Persona 3, showing SEES now operating as the Shadow Operatives. Persona 4 Dancing All Night takes place after Arena Ultimax but doesn’t mention the events of Arena Ultimax despite them both being canon.
Persona 5 Strikers is a clear sequel to Persona 5, without any mention of other games beyond Persona 5. Both the Q games and Persona 3 & 5 Dancing are all considered canon, but the character’s memories are wiped at the end of each of these games, keeping them canon while not affecting the timeline. All of these games take place during the main events of their respective games and use Velvet Room magic to connect the different groups and have them meet. While they are canon, the memory wiping makes these games effectively unnecessary to understand the greater timeline of the series.