Summary
2024 is quickly shaping up to be a banner year for thePersonaseries. Between the remake ofPersona 3and the anticipated release ofPersona 6(not to mention other rumoredPersonaspin-offs in development), next year promises to provide fans of the excellent JRPG franchise with plenty to celebrate. Still, the gap between now and 2024 is far and wide, with plenty of intervening time between fans and the earliest of the upcomingPersonareleases. Fortunately, there are some excellent games that fans can get their hands on right now to help ease the wait for the next entry in the groundbreaking RPG/social sim hybrid.
Ask any fan of thePersonaseries what their favorite aspect of the franchise is and it’s likely to yield varying answers across the board. While some keep coming back to each entry in anticipation of its use of social systems and forming bonds with party members, others enjoy the monster-taming aspect of collecting and merging Personas. Still, others enjoy the aesthetic, particularly the visual template and incredible soundtrack of bothPersona 4andPersona 5. Whichever aspect of the series fans happen to enjoy most, multiple games bring one (or more) of these criteria to the table, makingthe wait for newPersonatitlesthat much more bearable.
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Affogato
Out of the games featured here, the recently releasedAffogatoabsolutely wears itsPersonainspirations on its sleeve the loudest. Thankfully though, those inspirations are more heartfelt homage than shameless imitation. Part coffee shop management sim and part reverse tower defense deck-builder,Affogatois an excellent merging of genres that also happens to feature menus, soundtrack, and presentation veryreminiscent ofPersona 5. Add to that the ability to deepen bonds with characters and increase stats through mundane activities like reading and visiting arcades, and thePersonasimilarities become even more apparent. Despite having just been released, the title holds a Very Positive aggregate score on Steam and is definitely resonating well with fans ofPersona.
Scarlet Nexus
Coming from some of the developers behind both theTalesseries and theGod Eatergames isBandai Namco’sScarlet Nexus. Despite featuring real-time combat that’s reminiscent ofDevil May Crywith a dash ofControl’s psychic abilities thrown in for good measure,Scarlet Nexusis a JRPG through and through. Further, the game places an emphasis on strengthening the bonds between one of the two playable main characters and their companions through conversation and gift-giving. With a great story, engaging combat, incredible visuals, and worthwhile and captivating social link systems,Scarlet Nexusis absolutely worth the time for anyPersonafan.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
After years of seeing the series' prominence continue to rise in the West,Fire Emblem: Three Housesgoes big for the franchise and sees its peak in terms of popularity and critical reception in the same way thatPersona 5did for its namesake. Taking the tried-and-true gameplay mechanics established in previousFire Emblemgames and adding in a schoolyard simulator,Three Housesshares as much withPersonaas it does with its own franchise. The end result is one ofthe bestFire Emblemgamesever made, where the social systems and classroom activities at the academy are just as entertaining and worthwhile as the on-field combat.
Persona 5 Tactica
Despite not being currently available, it’s just a short wait before fans will get their hands onthe nextPersona 5spin-offinPersona 5 Tactica. That it’s taken this long to get a turn-based tactics spin-off for thePersonafranchise is certainly a head-scratcher, but thankfully fans are finally getting one this November. The tactics subgenre is a perfect fit for thePersonaseries, and usingPersona 5’s incredible cast and aesthetic only speaks to the continued popularity of one of the best JRPGs in decades. It may not be a mainlinePersonatitle, but fans have plenty of reason to be excited aboutPersona 5Tactica’s release.
Persona 3 Reloadis set to release in early 2024 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
