The Story Timeline Order of Megami Tensei Games
Megami Tensei is a franchise of role-playing games (RPGs). The Megami Tensei franchise includes multiple series of games, among which many are world-famous, such as Shin Megami Tensei and Persona.
Shin Megami Tensei and Persona video games are often praised and well-regarded by RPG fans as classics of the role-playing game genre, as well as some of the best RPGs of the games industry. Considering that, in general, many Shin Megami Tensei video games are set in post-apocalyptic environments, these games are praised for their refreshing RPG experience, and Persona video games are also praised for their overall high quality as RPGs.
What Is the Difference Between Megami Tensei and Shin Megami Tensei?
Megami Tensei is a franchise of RPGs. The Megami Tensei franchise of games includes some game series, among which Shin Megami Tensei is one of these game series. In other words, Shin Megami Tensei is a game series that belongs to the Megami Tensei franchise. Sometimes it is also said that the Shin Megami Tensei games are set in the Megami Tensei universe. The Megami Tensei franchise also includes the Persona video games, among other games.
What Does Megami Tensei Mean?
Megami Tensei, as well as Shin Megami Tensei, are a combination of words that form a particular meaning. Megami Tensei, and Shin Megami Tensei, are words of the Japanese language and can be analyzed in order to conclude the meaning of this name.
In Japanese, "megami" means "goddess". "Tensei" means "reincarnation". Thus, "megami tensei" could be translated to "reincarnation of the goddess". This name is related to the story of the first Megami Tensei video game, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei.
In the case of Shin Megami Tensei, "shin" means "true" or "new". Thus, "shin megami tensei" could be translated to either "reincarnation of the true goddess", "true reincarnation of the goddess", "reincarnation of the new goddess" and "new reincarnation of the goddess".
What Are Megami Tensei Games Like?
In general, Megami Tensei video games are RPGs which feature dungeon-crawling elements, and are often set in post-apocalyptic environments, although this is not always the case. In general, Shin Megami Tensei video games are set in post-apocalyptic environments, whereas Persona video games usually feature modern-day environments.
In most cases, Megami Tensei video games are turn-based RPGs in which the player character adventures through dungeons and progresses through the storyline. Megami Tensei video games are notorious for featuring different endings, depending on the gameplay choice of the player.
In general, Shin Megami Tensei video games are notorious for being challenging games, and these games feature classic dungeon-crawling gameplay elements.
What Is the Timeline of Megami Tensei Video Games?
Considering that many Megami Tensei video games take place in different continuities, and that there are multiple game series in the Megami Tensei franchise, it is reasonable to organize the Megami Tensei video games in multiple continuities, rather than organizing them in a single continuity. This is one of the reasons why the Megami Tensei games universe if often described as a multiverse of video games.
To keep things as simple as possible, and to keep things organized, I decided to organize the Megami Tensei video games according to their game series, even though in some cases some game series overlap. For example, I wrote a chronological story order list for Shin Megami Tensei games, and another chronological story order list for Persona video games, and so forth.
The Continuity of Megami Tensei Games, Shin Megami Tensei Games and Persona Games
It is important to note that, since in many cases there is no clear, unquestionable evidence of direct story connection or continuity between Megami Tensei video games, many of these connections are conjectured and hypothesized based on certain continuity aspects and secondary elements. In other words, the chronological story order lists in this article, as well as the story timeline lists in this article, should not be considered absolute, but instead should be considered a well-informed conjecture.
The continuity of Megami Tensei video games is quite debatable. For example, Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2 features continuity elements regarding both Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II and Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. Considering that there are many possibilities and few clear evidences, much of the lists in this article is conjecture, not certainty.
What Is the Order to Play the Megami Tensei Games?
The order to play the Megami Tensei video games can be quite complex. Some players suggest to play the Megami Tensei video games in any order, since many of the stories of these games are self-contained. While the Megami Tensei video games can certainly be played and enjoyed in any order, for players looking to have the most comprehensive story experience possible, it is suggested to play these games in chronological story order, which is presented in this article.
The Chronological Story Order of Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei Games
The original Megami Tensei video games, or, in other words, the Digital Devil Story video games, were the first video games published in the Megami Tensei franchise of games. While these original games may not be directly related to other Megami Tensei games, story-wise, they feature many of the distinctive characteristics that would be seen in most subsequent games of the franchise.
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
The Chronological Story Order of Shin Megami Tensei Games
In the case of the Shin Megami Tensei video games, not all of these games are clearly connected, story-wise, and not all of the them are clearly set in the same world, or in the same continuity. However, these games often feature common lore elements that can be seen across multiple games, and sometimes there are hints that some games may be set after other certain games.
Some of the Shin Megami Tensei video games are not clearly related to other games in this game series, and for this reason, they could be considered to be set in different continuities. Since in many cases these games which belong to supposedly different continuities also feature common lore elements, it could be disputed how different the universes of these games are, if they are different at all. In any case, Shin Megami Tensei games which feature a more distinct difference in relation to other other titles in this game series were separated with a blank space, which represents a (possible) continuity break, although this is not certain.
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei: Nine
Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine
Shin Megami Tensei II
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
(Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga | Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner)
(Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2)
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
Shin Megami Tensei V
The Chronological Story Order of Persona Games
The Persona video games, a spin-off to the Megami Tensei video games, are world-famous video games and favorites among many RPG players. The Persona video games are often thought to be the main entries in the Megami Tensei franchise, when in reality they are a spin-off game series, although a quite famous one.
It is interesting to note that the Persona video games started with the spin-off, Shin Megami Tensei If..., and eventually evolved into their own game series, with Revelations: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin and subsequent video games.
Shin Megami Tensei If...
Revelations: Persona | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Persona 3 | Persona 3 FES | Persona 3 Portable
Persona 4 | Persona 4 Golden
(Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth)
Persona 4 Arena | Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Persona 4: Dancing All Night
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
Persona 5 | Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
(Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth)
Persona 5 Strikers
Some Persona video games, particularly Persona Q: Shadodw of the Labyrinth and Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, seem to take place in an alternate continuity. Considering that these games do not seem to directly belong to the same continuity as the other Persona video games, although they could be considered branching versions of this same universe, I decided to include them in this chronological story order of Persona games list with a parenthesis in order to emphasize their discontinuity regarding the other Persona video games.
The Chronological Story Order of Devil Summoner Games
As is explained more in depth in the "The Story Timeline of Devil Summoner Games" section of this article, the Devil Summoner video games are set in very distinct time periods, although they belong to the same continuity, in general.
Devil Summoner: Raidou vs. the Souless Army
Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Soul Hackers 2
The Chronological Story Order of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Games
It seems that the two Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor video games are not clearly set in the same continuity as other Shin Megami Tensei video games, or even other Megami Tensei video games. For this reason, as far as I am aware, these games are set in their own continuity.
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 | Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
The Expanded Chronological Story Order of Persona and Devil Summoner Games
Many elements point to the hypothesis that Persona video games and Devil Summoner video games could be set in the same continuity. For this reason, many playthrough orders, regarding story and continuity, suggest to play these games considering that they belong to the same continuity. In this case, I wrote a chronological story order that combines, or includes, both Persona video games and Devil Summoner video games.
Devil Summoner: Raidou vs. the Souless Army
Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
Shin Megami Tensei If...
Revelations: Persona | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Persona 3 | Persona 3 FES | Persona 3 Portable
Persona 4 | Persona 4 Golden
(Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth)
Persona 4 Arena | Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
Persona 4: Dancing All Night
Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
Persona 5 | Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
(Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth)
Persona 5 Strikers
The Story Timeline Order of Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei Games
The original Megami Tensei video games, Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei and Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II take place in different time periods that are separated by some decades.
19?? Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei
20?? Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
The Story Timeline Order of Shin Megami Tensei Games
Shin Megami Tensei video games are known for being set in post-apocalyptic environments, as well as time periods that generally take place in the near-future. Consequently, most of these games either take place at some point of the 21st century or beyond.
199? Shin Megami Tensei
202? Shin Megami Tensei: Nine
202? Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine
20?? Shin Megami Tensei II
2??? Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
???? (Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga | Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner)
???? (Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2)
20?? Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
2??? Shin Megami Tensei IV
2??? Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
???? Shin Megami Tensei V
The Story Timeline Order of Persona Games
Most of the Persona video games take place in modern-day. For this reason, unlike other game series in the Megami Tensei franchise, Persona games aren't separated by decades or centuries, but rather by a few months or a few years. In general, most Persona games are set either in the late 20st century or in the early 21st century.
1995 Shin Megami Tensei If...
1996 Revelations: Persona | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
1999 Persona 2: Innocent Sin
1999 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
2009 Persona 3 | Persona 3 FES | Persona 3 Portable
2011 Persona 4 | Persona 4 Golden
???? (Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth)
2012 Persona 4 Arena | Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
2012 Persona 4: Dancing All Night
20?? Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
2016 Persona 5 | Persona 5 Royal
20?? Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
???? (Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth)
2017 Persona 5 Strikers
The Story Timeline Order of Devil Summoner Games
Unlike most of the other Megami Tensei video games, the Devil Summoner games are in some cases separated by many decades. The Devil Summoner games are also known for featuring story and continuity bridges to the Persona video games of the Megami Tensei franchise.
1932 Devil Summoner: Raidou vs. the Souless Army
1932 Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
1996 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
1999 Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
2??? Soul Hackers 2
The Story Timeline Order of Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Games
Considering that the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor games are apparently set in their own continuity, there are not other Shin Megami Tensei games or Megami Tensei games to compared to these games, chronologically, in order to find further evidence of their time period. Nevertheless, considering that these games are set in their own continuity, the order in which the Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor video games are played would not interfere with the story experience of playing other Megami Tensei video games, since there are no clear common elements across these different continuities.
???? Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor | Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
2011 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 | Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker
The Story Timeline Order of Persona and Devil Summoner Games (Expanded Continuity)
Considering that there is often an hypthosesis regarding the continuity connection between Persona video games Devil Summoner video games, which in this article I called an "expanded continuity", and since I decided to mention this subject in my article, I decided to also write a story timeline that includes, or combines, the Persona video games as well as the Devil Summoner video games, in a single story timeline of this "expanded continuity".
1932 Devil Summoner: Raidou vs. the Souless Army
1932 Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
1995 Shin Megami Tensei If...
1996 Revelations: Persona | Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
1996 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
1999 Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
1999 Persona 2: Innocent Sin
1999 Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
2009 Persona 3 | Persona 3 FES | Persona 3 Portable
2011 Persona 4 | Persona 4 Golden
???? (Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth)
2012 Persona 4 Arena | Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
2012 Persona 4: Dancing All Night
20?? Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight
2016 Persona 5 | Persona 5 Royal
20?? Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
???? (Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth)
2017 Persona 5 Strikers
What Is The Connection Between Persona and Devil Summoner Games?
In the Megami Tensei franchise of games, it seems that there is a continuity between Persona video games and Devil Summoner video games. For this reason, many playthrough orders for players looking for a continuous story experience in the same universe suggest playing Persona games and Devil Summoner games in a certain order that includes games of both game series.
Is Persona a Spin-Off of Shin Megami Tensei?
In the Megami Tensei franchise, Persona is one of the most well-known game series. Persona video games are well-regarded as some of the best RPGs of the games industry, and frequently were the first games to be played by players who did not know the Megami Tensei franchise of games before. For this reason, Persona games are often thought to be the main games of the Megami Tensei franchise. In reality, Persona games started as a spin-off to Shin Megami Tensei video games. Regarding the Megami Tensei franchise, in general, the main games are considered to be the Shin Megami Tensei video games, as well as the original Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei video games.
If you are interested in the story timeline order of RPG video games, you may also be interested in checking out the story timeline orders of Dungeons & Dragons, Final Fantasy, The Elder Scrolls and The Witcher.
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