The Ultimate Persona Party Game Spin-Off: A Brilliant Move Ahead of Persona 6!
Rumors suggest a potential Persona party game release before Persona 6, sparking excitement among fans Although unconfirmed, the idea of a Persona party game holds promising potential for an exhilarating and unique gaming experience
Highlights
Persona spin-offs continue to explore new genres, showcasing creativity from Atlus and paving the way for Persona 6.
A potential party game based on Persona would cater to the franchise's social aspect and emphasis on building relationships. By releasing this game prior to Persona 6, it could not only attract a wider fanbase, but also act as a bridge, introducing newcomers to the Persona world and generating enthusiasm for the mainline games.
Persona spin-offs have recently been exploring new directions, showcasing Atlus' creativity leading up to Persona 6. While Persona 5 had a dancing game spin-off like Persona 4 and Persona 3, it has also ventured into the musou genre and will soon try strategy gaming with Persona 5 Tactica. Rumor has it that a party game will also be added to the Persona series. While Atlus has yet to confirm this, it would fit with their pattern of experimenting with genres, and would be a logical expansion of the Persona franchise as a whole.
Although Persona 6 has not been officially announced, ongoing franchise projects suggest that its reveal is not imminent, but it is reportedly in development. In the meantime, the Persona 5 era of games continues to flourish, with various Persona revivals such as Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden ports, as well as a Persona 3 remake. Atlus has a rich history of releasing multiple spin-offs to keep fans engaged between Persona generations, and this era appears to be no different. A Persona party game seems like the ideal way to conclude this era before the arrival of Persona 6.
How a Persona Party Game Could Work
The social element of party games is at the heart of why they are a surprisingly good fit for Persona. Games like Mario Party are designed to be enjoyable, accessible experiences with a simple learning curve that bring people together for a good time. This aligns with a fundamental aspect of Persona; while they may be JRPGs, they also serve as social simulations where players must strengthen their relationships through work, study, and leisure activities. Persona revolves around connections and quality time, which is precisely what party games excel at cultivating.
Considering the speculated release of Persona 6 in 2025, it would also be logical to have one last spin-off before the next generation. Although 2023 is nearing its end, it could take another two full years depending on Atlus's desired release window in 2025 for Persona 6. In that scenario, launching one more Persona spin-off in late 2024 or early 2025 would serve as a perfect buffer. Releasing a party game during that timeframe could even attract a wider audience before Persona 6. Since party games are typically easy to pick up and play, it could be an ideal way to introduce potential new fans to the world, themes, and characters of Persona, piquing their interest in the mainline games.
If Persona indeed has a party game in the works, the franchise possesses an abundance of material to draw inspiration from. Including party members from the last three generations alone, a Persona party game would feature approximately two dozen playable characters, with the possibility of adding important NPCs such as Igor, Marie, or Lavenza. The minigames could encompass a range of activities, from small combat trials to dialogue trees inspired by Social Links/Confidants, to challenges based on Persona's array of part-time jobs. Should the game incorporate boards similar to those in Mario Party, they could be designed around Persona's expansive overworld maps and its diverse themed dungeons.
Whether or not the Persona party game is, indeed, real remains to be seen. Even if it does exist, fans likely won't receive any official updates until well into 2024. Currently, the developer's attention is primarily focused on Persona 3 Reload and Persona 5 Tactica, so announcing another spin-off in the near future could lead to a cluttered marketing strategy. Nevertheless, if Atlus were to unveil a Persona party game sometime in early 2024 following the release of Persona 3 Reload, it would be a highly anticipated and welcome addition to the franchise. It is hoped that there is indeed another exciting genre experiment on the horizon.
Persona 6 is in development.
