Summary
- Makoto Yuki/Minato Arisato (Persona 3) is an emotional and tragic protagonist who established the current formula of the series. His relevance to the future of the series is evident with the upcoming Persona 3 Reload remake.
- Joker/Ren Amamiya (Persona 5) is the most recognizable face of the franchise, known for his impeccable style and flair as the leader of the Phantom Thieves. He has consistently ranked high in popularity polls and has been a major representative of the series.
- Maya Amano (Persona 2: Eternal Punishment) is the first female protagonist and an adult character, making her unique in the series. Her presence as an optimistic force in a tragic narrative has made her a favorite among dedicated fans.
Persona has become the biggest series under Atlus’ belt, selling millions and leaving fans awaiting the upcoming next entry. A character-driven JRPG in a modern setting featuring magical elements based in psychological and mythological inspiration, Persona has carved out its own unique niche in the industry over the course of over 20 years. Beginning as a spin-off of the studio’s core Shin Megami Tensei series, Persona was once something much closer to SMT than the familiar modern offering of Persona 5. Throughout such a long history, there have been several iconic protagonists that players have stepped into the shoes of along the way.
Known for its social life sim mechanics as much as tactical turn-based combat, the Persona franchise has always featured silent main characters that could act as blank slates for players to be immersed into. Despite this, each protagonist has had a distinct sense of personality and style that came to define their respective game. All the player characters featured throughout Persona have amassed their own fanbases, a testament to the lasting legacy of every one of their individual games. Between cultural context and current relevance, however, some have proved more influential than the rest.
S Tier
Makoto Yuki/Minato Arisato (Persona 3) - Generally seen as the most emotional and tragic of the protagonists, the player character of Persona 3 was there to establish the current formula of the series that fans are still familiar with today. A darker character befitting his game’s themes of death, his situation as an orphan that finds friends to fight alongside is a compelling story with a definitive conclusion. As Persona 3 Reload is now officially set to be coming early next year after a slew of smaller spin-off appearances, Makoto has never been more relevant to the future of the series.
Joker/Ren Amamiya (Persona 5) - The most recognizable face of the entire franchise, Joker's story of facing adversity is one of the most gripping in all of Persona. Edgier and snarkier than past protagonists, he has cemented himself within the mainstream of gaming through an impeccable sense of style and flair as the leader of the Phantom Thieves. Motivated by a genuine sense of justice that subverts his darker aesthetic, Joker has consistently been one of the highest rated characters in popularity polls. Persona 3's upcoming remake is sure to move the series forward into a new era, but Joker has been the face of the most lucrative title in Atlus history.
A Tier
Yu Narukami (Persona 4) - Essentially the face of the franchise prior to the fifth entry, Persona 4’s Yu has become fleshed out over time across multiple forms of media. Typically feeling like one of the blanker slates compared to the other Persona player characters, he is known for his subtle, stoic nature and association with the game’s romance plots. Yu may not be a cool criminal or edgy loner, but his continued appearances in spin-offs like Persona 4 Arena have made him a major series representative. Only overshadowed by the even greater successes of the other Persona titles, this year's release of new ports for Persona 4 Golden serves as an example of this character's unending presence.
Maya Amano (Persona 2: Eternal Punishment) - The first female protagonist of the series and only to be an adult, Maya’s struggles through the Persona 2 duology easily make her the most unique player character when compared to her peers. Benefiting from development across the story of two games, her continued presence as an optimistic force in the tragic narrative surrounding her makes her a favorite of some dedicated fans. A journalist in her twenties, a hero like Maya could represent a welcome change of pace in Persona 6 if Atlus decides to step out of the high school setting.
B Tier
Tatsuya Suou (Persona 2: Innocent Sin) - Featuring one of the more pre-established personalities of the series, Tatsuya is an underrated protagonist who develops significantly over the course of his two appearances. Beginning as more of an aloof, motorcycle-riding loner, his bond with his friends pushes him to make sacrifices that change him forever. Able to pursue romances with party members of both sexes, Tatsuya is also an impressive example of subtle bisexual representation during an early point in gaming. He has been forgotten to most alongside Maya throughout the rest of the franchise, but hopes for a Persona 2 remake have begun to build in recent years.
Kotone Shiomi (Persona 3 Portable) - Added in the Persona 3 Portable edition that followed years after the original release, the alternate female protagonist offers a different dynamic from the typical gloominess of the original player character. Much more cheerful and outgoing, she provides a new perspective on many different social interactions through her differing options. Able to achieve different endings for key characters and define her own narrative, the omission of the option to play as Kotone in Persona 3 Reload has been a point of contention for many fans.
C Tier
Boy with Earring/Naoya Toudou (Megami Ibunroku Persona) - The original protagonist of what would come to simply be known as Persona, Naoya Toudou would start the trend of receiving both his name and primary characterization from the game’s manga adaptation. He differed slightly between the controversially localized Revelations: Persona, original release and PSP edition, but the first hero of the series is still likely the blankest slate of all.
Despite lacking a true canon name and any proper characterization for the most part, he is still beloved by some fans who have come to impress their own personality upon him through the choices provided by the game. The other protagonists only exist now because of the foundation established by him in the first Persona game.