The Ultimate Guide to Persona 3: Uncovering the Best Romance Options!

Highlights

Persona 3 offers players the opportunity to form romantic relationships with various characters, with solid writing that rewards investment in Social Links.

Yukari Takeba, Fuuka Yamagishi, and Yuko Nishiwaki are potential romantic interests, each with their distinct traits and storylines. Fans eagerly await the release of Persona 3 Reload, hoping for the game to maintain its reputation for exceptional character development and emotionally engaging love stories.

Everyone desires a chance at finding true love, don't they? And no one understands this better than the gamers who indulge in the Persona games. Shin Megami Tensei made an interesting decision in Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5 by allowing certain characters to be romanced, leaving the choice up to the player. Whether it's creating an in-game harem or a protagonist with a compassionate heart, it all rests in the hands of the player.

Now, the question arises – who is the ideal character to pursue a romantic relationship with in Persona 3? Depending on the protagonist's preferences, players are presented with various romance options. Regardless of the chosen path, the writing for each romance is remarkably well-crafted, and players will be rewarded with meaningful and memorable connections by investing their cherished free time into developing these Social Links.

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Protagonist	Character Name	Arcana
Male MC	Mitsuru Kirijo	Empress
	Yukari Takeba	Lovers
	Fuuka Yamagishi	Priestess
	Yuko Nishiwaki	Strength
	Chihiro Fushimi	Justice
	Aegis	Chariot (Original Release), Aeon (P3P & FES)
	Elizabeth	N/A
Female MC	Ryoji Mochizuki	Fortune
	Bebe	Temperance
	Akihiko Sanada	Emperor (Original Release & FES), Star (P3P)
	Shinjiro Aragaki	Hierophant (Original Release & FES), Moon (P3P)
	Ken Amada	Justice
	Theo	N/A

by Ritwik Mitra, fans eagerly anticipate the release of Persona 3 Reload, a remake of the game that set the standard for modern Persona titles. The original version was a groundbreaking success, allowing players to connect with a diverse cast of characters while embarking on thrilling dungeon exploration. Players fortunate enough to experience this masterpiece firsthand cherished the opportunity to build meaningful Social Links, and they hope that Persona 3 Reload maintains this level of brilliance. Furthermore, both the game's male and female main characters have the chance to establish relationships with numerous characters, many of which are incredibly heartwarming.

Yukari Takeba

Arcana: Lovers

Social Link Start: July 24th Onwards

Unlockable: Cybele (Level 68)

Cybele is characterized by her sweetness, innocence, and adorableness. As the first person encountered by the protagonist in Persona 3, she plays a significant role. Similar to Ann in Persona 5, Yukari represents the Lover's Arcana. She, along with Junpei, quickly becomes one of the player's initial friends and leaves a lasting impression until the conclusion of the game.

Fuuka Yamagishi

Similarly, the protagonist can choose to fully develop her Social Link, but achieving this requires players to enhance their Charm attribute. Naturally, these factors are closely linked since Yukari is not willing to pursue a romantic relationship with just anyone. Nevertheless, the efforts invested in improving Charm will be rewarded when players establish a strong bond with this remarkable character from Persona 3.

Arcana: Priestess

Social Link Start: June 15th (Portable), June 19th (FES)

Unlocks: Scathach (64)

Fuuka is a captivating character with a visually intriguing design. Her romance route brings a touch of humor to the game. To fully engage with Fuuka's storyline, players must max out their Courage stat, as the real challenge lies in eating her cooking. Ironically, this mirrors one method of maxing out 'Guts' in Persona 5 through the Big Bang Burger challenge. It seems these games have a recurring theme of needing courage to consume large amounts of food.

Despite this, the light-hearted nature of the romance makes it a worthwhile investment. Additionally, leveling up Fuuka's Social Link offers various bonuses. However, some players may not be keen on romancing her, finding other options in the game to be better-written and emotionally engaging.

Yuko Nishiwaki

Arcana: Strength

Social Link Start: Ask Her To Walk Home Twice After Joining A Sports Club

Unlocks: Siegfried (55)

Yuko is not only the top star athlete in the realm of sports, but also excels in strength. As the responsible character for the strength arcana, it is surprisingly effortless to maximize the relationship level with her. There are no prerequisites, making it uncomplicated for players to establish a strong bond with Yuko and potentially pursue a romantic connection. Nevertheless, fully developing her social link proves to be tremendously advantageous in the game.

Chihiro Fushimi

Yuko may not be the most intricate character in the game, but she effortlessly captivates players with her fiery temper and impassioned demeanor. Interacting with her is an absolute delight, as her relatable insecurities lend an air of authenticity to her struggles, ultimately allowing players to connect with her on a deeper level.

Arcana: Justice

Social Link Start: May 28th (Must Be Spoken To 3 Times Before)

Unlocks: Melchizedek (59)

Chihiro is undeniably adorable, but she tends to struggle with social interactions, especially when it comes to boys. Despite this, her Social Link, though not necessarily the most crucial, can be easily maximized. Given her role as the student council treasurer, it is logical that players must successfully answer a series of questions to fully unlock her Social Link.

Once three correct answers are provided, Chihiro becomes available for interaction throughout the entire game without any additional restrictions. Her special appearance in Persona 4 further emphasizes her popularity among fans, as her unexpected yet delightful presence in the game is cherished, no matter how brief it may be.

Elizabeth

Arcana: N/A

Social Link Start: Accept Velvet Room Requests

Kartikeya is unlocked at level 70. In Persona 3, Elizabeth plays a crucial role as the primary attendant in the Velvet Room. Additionally, she can be pursued as a romantic interest by the male main character. It is important to mention that she is not officially considered a Social Link. To progress in her storyline, players must fulfill various requests she presents. Each completion of a request grants the player a specific reward.

Aigis

Following the fulfillment of Elizabeth's last dating appeal, which is slated to be accessible on December 12th within the gaming domain, players are bestowed with the opportunity to merge Kartikeya. In addition, Elizabeth also assumes the role of a concealed adversary that gamers may engage with, albeit, it is imperative to remember that the protagonist must accompany them in this encounter. It is worth noting that this particular duel is exceedingly daunting, providing a significant challenge to participants.

Arcana: Chariot (Original Release), Aeon (P3P & FES)

Social Link Start: January 8th Onwards

Unlocks: Metatron (87)

Although Aigis is not officially considered to be part of the romance-focused aspect of the Persona series, her story does involve a romantic outcome. Her robotic nature allows her to remain unaffected by feelings of jealousy when the protagonist develops relationships with other characters. Similarly, some Social Link characters do not react to the protagonist's interactions with Aigis due to her robotic origins.

Despite this, it can be challenging to fully develop Aigis's Social Link as it becomes available relatively late in the game. However, the storyline does hint at potential romantic feelings towards her. Aigis holds significant importance in the series and even takes on the role of the protagonist in The Journey, an exclusive epilogue chapter found in the FES version. Through her cyborg existence, the game raises thought-provoking questions about the essence of life itself.

Mitsuru Kirijo

Arcana: Empress

Social Link Start: November 21st Onwards (Max Academics, Get the highest Score In An Exam)

Unlocks: Alilat (84)

Mitsuru is adored by everyone, primarily for her unruffled demeanor, composed nature, and graceful presence, even in the face of significant challenges. Whether it be her captivating persona in the main Persona game or her remarkable dance outfits in subsequent rhythm games, she has managed to captivate players effortlessly. As one of the protagonist's initial encounters with a major character, her role as a leader, her unwavering dedication, and the Empress Arcana qualities she embodies make her an obvious choice for romance.

Ryoji Mochizuki

Mitsuru is known for being one of the most sought-after Social Links in Persona 3 Reload, and for good reason. Despite the demanding workload needed to impress her, obtaining top-notch grades is a small sacrifice to make for the opportunity to connect with this captivating character. With her popularity skyrocketing, it won't be long before Mitsuru wins over the hearts of fans once again!

Arcana: Fortune

Social Link Start: November 9th Onwards

Unlocks: Norn (62)

In Persona 3 Portable, players had the opportunity to play as a female protagonist and explore a whole new realm. This included the chance to develop romantic relationships with male characters, such as Ryoji. Unfortunately, regardless of the player's chosen path, Ryoji's narrative concludes in a heartbreaking manner.

Nevertheless, Ryoji's storyline evokes strong emotions. Within a time span of approximately two in-game months, players must strive to maximize their Social Link with him. This may prove to be quite demanding, but the character's captivating origins make the endeavor highly worthwhile.

Bebe

Arcana: Temperance

Social Link Start: May 29th (Academics 2 or Higher)

Unlocks: Byakko at level 56 and Yurlunger at level 64.

Bebe's Social Link can be accessed by both male and female MCs. Although he is not considered a romantic option for either gender, in the female MC's route, the conclusion of his link reveals a fondness that is not as evident in the male MC's route.

Akihiko Sanada

After finishing Bebe's Social Link, the player returns to France because of family reasons. Upon completing the female MC's Social Link, she is surprised to receive a heartfelt letter from Bebe, expressing his romantic feelings for her. Consequently, although pursuing a romance with Bebe is not possible within the game, it is still incorporated into the connection between the characters.

Arcana: Emperor (Original Release & FES), Star (P3P)

Social Link Start: May 24th (Charm 4 or Higher)

Unlocks: Helel (88)

Akihiko poses a challenge due to the requirement of a higher Charm level and correct dialogues for his Social Link. Despite the potential annoyance, many players admire Akihiko's character enough to endure the initial hardships and unlock the possibility of a relationship. Given his representation of the Star Arcana, players may find it beneficial to maximize their level with him. However, deciding whether to pursue a romance with Akihiko is a different matter, as a minimum social rank of nine is necessary.

Shinjiro Aragaki

Arcana: Hierophant (Original Release & FES), Moon (P3P)

Social Link Start: September 7th Onwards

Unlocks: Sandalphon (74)

The female protagonist's storyline presents numerous hurdles, primarily in the form of incredibly tight deadlines. Though it is achievable to maximize Shinjiro's bond and pursue a romantic relationship, players must accomplish this within a mere three days, all within the span of approximately one month.

His arcana,

Ken Amada

, holds great significance and is demonstrated to be valuable. In fact, a similar level of importance can be attributed to the arcana associated with the male characters in Persona 3 Portable. Thus, effective time management becomes essential.

Arcana: Justice (P3P)

Social Link Start: September 1st (Max Courage)

Unlocks: Melchizedek (59)

Ken's role in the original Persona 3 is significant, but it becomes more extensive in Portable. In the female MC route, Ken is assigned a Social Link, taking on the Justice arcane link instead of Chihiro.

Similar to other male members of SEES, Ken can be pursued as a romantic partner in Portable. His Social Link offers valuable information about his past and sheds light on how it shaped his experiences in the game.

Theo

Arcana: N/A

Social Link Start: Accept Velvet Room Requests

Unlocks: Kartikeya (70)

Elizabeth serves as the counterpart to Theo in Persona 3, and there are romantic implications hinted towards her character as well. Like Elizabeth, Theo's Social Link in reality necessitates the completion of certain side quests to enhance the bond between him and the protagonist.

The protag's growing closeness to Theo will be achieved by fulfilling his requests. It's unusual though, as previous Persona games didn't facilitate as much independent interaction with the Velvet Room characters, especially not to such a personal extent. Persona 3

Platform(s) PS3, PS2, PSPReleased July 13, 2006Developer(s) AtlusGenre(s) JRPG See at Amazon