The Ultimate Ranking: Unveiling the Toughest Persona Games You Can't Miss!

In recent years, the Persona franchise has earned a reputation as one of the most expansive and captivating in the gaming world. Each installment weaves unique narratives around a shared premise, allowing players to explore vast, enthralling realms alongside captivating characters. Remarkably, every game within the series manages to steer clear of any major disappointments.

However, the Persona games do not shy away from presenting players with challenging hurdles. Throughout the different iterations of the main titles, a wide range of difficulty levels is offered. Past experiences have shown that players are not hesitant to voice their opinions when a game's difficulty has been adjusted either too high or too low.

6 Persona 5

While Persona 5 may not be considered one of the most challenging games in the Persona series, there are a few reasons why it lands on the list of difficult games. Firstly, it is notably more difficult than the simplified Persona 5 Royal. Additionally, there are certain aspects that make completing Persona 5's base game tougher compared to its counterparts.

One significant factor is the extensive gameplay time, averaging around 97 hours. This means that it may not be the ideal choice for casual gamers looking for a quick gaming experience. However, once players become familiar with the intricacies of combat, it becomes a more manageable and enjoyable experience. Supportive characters like Futaba greatly enhance combat effectiveness, and most enemies and bosses are relatively easier to handle compared to those in previous entries of the franchise.

5 Persona 4 Golden

Persona 4 Golden is an enhanced version of one of the franchise's most popular games. Surprisingly, despite improving on various aspects and adding content, Golden made the game easier instead of increasing the difficulty.

Golden brings numerous updates, including improved textures and platforms, while also making changes to almost every aspect of the original game. Additional story elements, such as a bad ending and new events throughout the school year, enhance the game's length. However, the actual combat in Golden is noticeably simpler compared to the original version.

4 Persona 3 Portable

There are multiple editions of the Persona games, particularly Persona 3, which is set to receive a remake in an upcoming release. Persona 3 was the first game in the franchise to incorporate a mix of social life and dungeon-crawler elements, a trademark feature of the Persona games.

The Portable version of Persona 3 provided a more accessible experience, as it introduced difficulty options to the series. This edition included several changes, including the ability for players to alter the protagonist's gender and more. While the difficulty level was largely comparable to other versions of Persona 3, there were some minor adjustments that made it noticeably easier.

3 Persona 4

The original Persona 4 was a huge success for the franchise, but the difficulty level was slightly higher compared to the remade version, Persona 4 Golden, which was released towards the end of the PlayStation 2 era. While Persona 4 didn't undergo major changes, the Golden remake introduced additional content in terms of characters and storylines. However, the original version had a higher difficulty due to less refined controls compared to the later remake.

2 Persona 3

Persona 3's initial release presented a significant challenge compared to other games in the series. While it followed the familiar Persona format of a main character embarking on dungeon adventures with a party, the mechanics regarding the player's companions were not fully developed at this stage.

As a result, players often found themselves facing constant difficulties in dungeons, as their party members would often abandon them while they attempted to progress. The high encounter rates, along with various challenges during the early stages of the game, made it particularly challenging for players to embrace the new format introduced in this installment of the franchise.

1 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment

Persona 2: Eternal Punishment, the follow-up game to Persona 2, was an early installment in the franchise. At the time, it hadn't yet established itself as separate from the rest of the franchise it originated from. However, it remains well-remembered among the Persona community, primarily due to its intense difficulty.

One of the major challenges players encountered was the ridiculously high encounter rate of enemies in dungeons, which was much higher compared to later games in the franchise. Additionally, negotiating with enemies was also considerably more difficult than in future games. Although Persona 2: Eternal Punishment provided an early glimpse into the combat and social aspects that later Persona games are known for, there is no denying that it was an exceptionally difficult and occasionally frustrating experience.