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ThePersona serieshas 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.
Related:Every Mainline Persona Game, Ranked
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 alltake 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, thetimeline for the game stays the same.
Mainline Game
When It Takes Place
Revelations Persona
Persona 2 Innocent Sin/Eternal Punishment
Persona 3/The Answer
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 areable to interact during the main events of their respective games despite happening many years apart.
Related:Every Persona Spinoff Game, Ranked
Spinoff Game
Persona 3 Dancing/Persona 5 Dancing
One night in a dream worldduring the later events of both Persona 3 and Persona 5
Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth
During thelater events of Persona 3 and Persona 4.
Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
During thelater events of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5.
Persona 4: Arena Ultimax
InMay of 2012,afew months after the main events of Persona 4.
Persona 4: Dancing All Night
Afew months after the events of Persona 4: Arena Ultimax, still in 2012but during an unspecified month.
Persona 5 Strikers
Summer of 2017, only afew 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, withPersona 4 Arena Ultimax being a clear sequel to both Persona 4 and Persona 3,showingSEES now operating as the Shadow Operatives. Persona 4 Dancing All Night takes place after Arena Ultimax butdoesn’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 thecharacter’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 anduseVelvet Roommagic to connect the different groups and have them meet.While they are canon, the memory wipingmakes these games effectively unnecessary to understand the greater timeline of the series.
Next:Persona: What Is The Blue Butterfly
