Summary
- Persona game covers showcase vibrant characters against stylish backdrops to create visually stunning designs.
- Each cover reflects the game's themes and tone, enticing players with intriguing details and expressive characters.
- From flashy and vibrant to sleek and simple, Persona covers provide a unique and eye-catching introduction to each game.
Alongside their long and compelling stories and lovable casts of vibrant characters, the Persona games are also well known for their style. The RPG genre may be seen as more traditional considering how long it's been around, but Atlus always know exactly how to insert some modern flair into the presentation of their games, and it all starts with the front cover.
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This is the image players are going to see before they even dive into the game, providing a first impression of the world, characters and overall aesthetic of the adventure. As fans of the series will already know, Persona has produced some of the most eye-catching and iconic covers in the industry, but how do they stack up when paired against one another? It's time to reflect on the Persona series to see which cover stands as the most visually stunning of them all.
8 Persona 5 Royal
Atlus Went All-Out With The Definitive Version Of Persona 5, Creating Fun And Stunning Cover
Persona 5 Royal
- Released
- October 31, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- P Studio, Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows
Personal 5 Royal's cover features the Phantom Thieves, plus brand-new character Kasumi, all striking flashy poses in front of a bright red stylish background. It's remarkable that the designers at Atlus managed to pack in every key character onto a single frame, but it makes for a fantastic cover, and one which contains a nice medley of contrasting colors to really make it stand out.
Admittedly, there's a lot going on in this cover, and it can sometimes be a little harder to know where to even look at first. Over the years, though, it's a cover many fans have warmed up to, and it's clear a lot of work went into making even the smallest of details of the characters noticeable.
7 Persona 3 Portable
Persona 3's PSP Port Sports A Sleek And Simple Front Cover
Persona 3 Portable
- Released
- July 6, 2010
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PSP, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Considering a notable addition to the portable version of Persona 3 was the introduction of a female protagonist, it makes sense that Kotone and Makoto would be the stars of the show for this simple but eye-catching cover. Though Mitsuru, Junpei, and the rest of the party are also included, this cover is clearly trying to focus more on the main protagonists, but the creepy looking Thanatos lurking in the background adds enough weirdness to remind players that this is still Persona at the end of the day.
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This is one of the rare occasions where Atlus decided not to go all-out by splashing the game's primary color all over the background, instead opting for a clear white backdrop, which helps to give it a unique aesthetic compared to the other game covers.
6 Persona 2 Eternal Punishment
Maya And Her Persona Feature On The Classic Front Cover To Eternal Punishment
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
- Released
- November 30, 2000
- ESRB
- t // Animated Blood, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes
The cover of Persona 2 Eternal Punishment may not be quite as flashy or over the top as many others, but it's clearly going for a very different style. While the protagonist, Maya, can be seen staring directly at the player on the front of the cover, to the side is a very eye-catching image of Maya being embraced by her own Persona, making for a rather creepy image.
This cover doesn't give anything away but still provides just enough intrigue to get players invested. Atlus also went for a slightly more subdued color palette for this cover, and while that may not be to everyone's tastes, it still gives the cover a quirky design that many fans have come to love.
5 Revelations: Persona
Fans Are Given An Oddball But Fascinating Introduction To The Series
Revelations: Persona
- Released
- December 14, 1996
- ESRB
- Everyone // Mild Animated Violence, Comic Mischief
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Social Simulation
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PlayStation Portable, PC
For some longtime fans, the cover to Revelations Persona acted as their invitation to the weird and wonderful world of this Shin Megami Tensei spin-off. With an imposing beast lurking in the background and the main party looking off into the distance, it's a basic yet striking cover which is full of mystery and intrigue; encouraging players to wonder who this ragtag group of misfits are, and what their ultimate goal is.
As the very first Persona cover, it's clear Atlus was still figuring out the general design style they wanted to go with for the series. As a result, the cover feels like a canvas which they were able to experiment with, resulting in a simple but also memorable cover which acts as a great introduction.
4 Persona 3
A Moody And Eye-Catching Introduction To The SEES Crew
Persona 3
- Released
- July 13, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
While all the Persona games explore very mature and serious themes, the third mainline entry is often considered to be especially dark in its story, and the front cover does a pretty good job at setting the tone. Though Yukari is strangely missing, the other four key members of SEES make an appearance on this cover, standing in front of a dim backdrop where Tartarus can be seen emanating in the distance. There's a real creepy vibe to this cover, especially with the tarot cards lingering in the background, which give an early indication of how the Social Links will work in-game.
There are also some great character portraits here which are incredibly detailed and clearly made with a lot of love for the cast. Out of all the Persona 3 covers out there, the European version definitely deserves a spot on this list for its style, tone and aesthetic.
3 Persona 4
A Flashy Glimpse Into Persona 4's Characters And Themes
Persona 4
- Released
- July 10, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS Vita
The quirky cast of Persona 4 is one of the most beloved parties in the RPG genre, so it's great to see a full portrait of each member sharing the spotlight on the front cover of the vanilla game. While Yu takes center stage with the game's signature bright yellow beaming down on him, every other member can be seen bursting out from the side of the game case.
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There are also some very neat references to important pieces of iconography directly related to Persona 4's story and themes, such as the static television with Teddie staring through the screen. Persona 4 has had better covers, but there's no denying the classic is still a real feast for the eyes.
2 Persona 5
The Phantom Thieves Steal The Show In This Dazzling Cover
Persona 5
- Released
- September 15, 2016
- ESRB
- m
The Persona 5 cover is one that every RPG fan will be familiar with considering how iconic it has become. As the game that many people agree turned Persona into the juggernaut series it is today, this was the image that welcomed many new players to the series, featuring every member of the Phantom Thieves striking a stylish pose with joker being at the forefront.
What really makes the cover stand out is how much attention went into making each character as expressive as possible. Whether it's the keen and eager Ryuji or the endlessly curious Futaba, everybody feels relevant and involved in this classic cover. Of course, the red glow that covers the background is another nice feature which helps to make the cover feel unique and something of its own.
1 Persona 4 Golden
Full Of Color And Packed Full Of Small Details, The Persona 4 Golden Cover Is A Feast For The Eyes
Persona 4 Golden
- Released
- December 9, 2008
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Alcohol Reference, Animated Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS Vita, PS4, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Bright, flashy and packed full of detail, this is a cover which is hard to look away from. While the original cover to Persona 4 is already one which many fans look back on fondly, it's clear that the designers at Atlus went all out for the Golden Edition; filling the illustration full of vibrancy and energy thanks to the popping colors and animated characters.
While it's a fun way to re-introduce the main cast of newcomers to fans of the original, they will also be able to look out for a few hidden details in the background, such as Marie cruising along in a blue cab. It's also nice to see Izanagi getting a spotlight on this cover too, providing fans with a glimpse at the types of beasts and monsters they can expect to see in the definitive version of Persona 4.
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