The ULTIMATE Shin Megami Tensei Beginner’s Guide

Not sure where to start with this storied franchise? We don’t blame you. Here’s our advice for handling the JRPG behemoth called Shin Megami Tensei. 


There are so many awesome games in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise it’s almost impossible to know where to begin. Well, we’ve played almost every game in the series, so we’ll be able to tell you exactly which SMT is right for you! 

First, a little bit of history. Shin Megami Tensei started as a novel series written by Aya Nishitani in the mid-80s. These novels have never been translated into English. Luckily, Atlus started developing games based on her novels not too long after. Persona started later. And the rest is history.

So what is Shin Megami Tensei? Let us spell it out for you: 

Shin Megami Tensei is Really Hard: There's no denying it, this series isn't for the faint of heart! Shin Megami Tensei features some of the most brutal

difficulty this side of RPG-dom, so you'll have to get your bearings quick to make it through the typical 120+ hour dungeon crawl. Prepare to use parts of your brain that likely haven't seen action in all your years of Final Fantasy tickle-fests as you fuse and buff your way through nearly 150+ hours of savage dungeons and bosses. Remember to pack your doggy bag, and don't say we didn't warn you!

Shin Megami Tensei is Teenagers: It's pretty

much impossible to imagine Shin Megami Tensei without the presence of the usual cast of colorful Japanese teenagers. Just about every game in the series will have you navigating the supernatural and high-school in equal measure - a combination you can't get anywhere else. You'll be laughing and crying in equally equal measure once you've had a taste of the drama this recipe entails! Shin Megami Tensei just wouldn't be Shin Megami Tensei without this winning formula, so it's only fitting that the series has never gone without it.

Shin Megami Tensei is Dark: As befits one of the

most gobstoppingly difficult RPGs around, Shin Megami Tensei doesn't shy away from equally savage and mature themes. You won't make it more than a few hours into your typical entry before being confronted by a catastrophic or apocalyptic event, and it only gets worse from there. Get ready to murder all your friends and have your psyche devastated by all sorts of hellish monsters and mature themes that other games wouldn't even dream of touching. Shin Megami Tensei is the thinking man's RPG, so be prepared to experience all the mature darkness social issues

Shin Megami Tensei is Pokemon Meets Satanic Ritual Blood Sacrifices: This is just about the

perfect summation of the franchise, so feel free to toss it around while spreading the word among friends and family. If you thought the end of the world was dark enough, then get ready for this: Shin Megami Tensei combines the addictive monster-collecting gameplay of Pokemon with the dark allure of demons straight out of hell, and once you're ready to graduate from the kiddy stuff, this series will be waiting to welcome you with a chance to commune with the Dark Lord himself. Just remember to hide these bad-boys from your mom and dad!

Shin Megami Tensei is Dante from Capcom’s

Devil May Cry: This is one of the funniest jokes in the fandom. Better get familiar with it because you’ll see it everywhere!

Now that you've got a taste for what Shin Megami Tensei is really all about, here's a selection of titles to help ease your transition into the fandom, hand-picked to suit gamers of every shape and size:

Best SMT Game for SMT Newbies: Devil Survivor 2

For those completely new to the franchise, Devil Survivor 2 is the perfect way to get the best of all Shin Megami Tensei worlds. The perfect mixture of teenagers saving the world, brutal boss battles, compelling character moments, and the right balance of dark story with light-hearted comedy, it's a recipe for a great game! Just be sure you grab Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker for 3DS since it's improved, with lots of great additional content!

Best SMT Game for Fans of Western RPGs

Western RPGs have taken over the RPG space that Japan used to dominate. With so much focus on moral choices and infinite ways to customize your characters and experiences, it's no wonder they have found mainstream success. So if you cut your RPG teeth on Western games like Fallout 4 and Witcher 3, look no further than Persona 3. Persona 3 will have similar dialogue trees and moral choices to ease you into the transition into its dark, mysterious world. We also recommend Persona 3: FES and Persona 3 Portable for the complete experience.

Best SMT Game That’s the Most Like Dark Souls

Dark Souls quickly catapulted to fame in 2011 thanks to its brutal difficulty and dark, but barely there, story. Atlus makes a similar series to Dark Souls called Etrian Odyssey that also combines high difficulty and light story elements, but since this is about Shin Megami Tensei, I can’t recommend those! Luckily, Atlus made an SMT spinoff of Etrian Odyssey called Persona Q that contains all the elements it’s known for, so it’s the ideal choice for Dark Souls fans.

Best SMT Game for Mommy Bloggers

Mommy bloggers love informing others what’s best for their kids, like for healthy eating or deciding the best school districts to transfer their tots to. But when it comes to games, they can be a lot more selective. But all moms agree that getting their kids to move and shake their bodies is a great thing, and the dancing game Persona: Dancing All Night is sure to scratch a similar itch to the already popular Just Dance series. Beware: Dance pad not included!

Best SMT Game for Funko Pop! Collectors

Funko Pop! vinyl figures have been lighting up the pop culture collecting environment, combining cuteness and quality into a small package. Simply put, they’ve made collecting your favorite characters from movies and TV into a fun and rewarding experience that’s attractive and expandable. The recommendation for this category is Card Summoner, a game allegedly about collecting SMT cards.

Best SMT Game for Millennials

Millennials are paving society’s way into the future with their uniform adoption of the latest tech, like smartphones, which have become almost like an extension of their bodies. I know I’m guilty of always using Twitter to communicate and stay informed. Millennials more than any other generation before them are particularly concerned with finding out the truths about our world, so the incredible experience that is Persona 4 is the perfect SMT game for them since one of its central themes is finding the ultimate truth, something that will be relatable for anyone of this age category. Though make sure you go for the expanded Persona 4: Golden version since it’s better in every way.

Best SMT Game for Netflix Binges

Netflix is a video subscription service that has become an integral entertainment venue for many. It is also part of the phenomenon known as “Netflix and Chill,” where relationships are sometimes formed after watching content on Netflix. Perfectly appropriate for these situations, should you ever find yourself in one, is Atlus’ greater SMT Multiverse game Catherine, about a guy named Vincent trying to keep his relationships in order. It gets a little dark, but it approaches love and dating in realistic and thought-provoking ways that will sure to keep both partners entertained well into the night…and forgetting all about Netflix!

Best SMT Game for 80s Nostalgia

There are few more satisfying things in your life than reliving those precious memories when you were happiest. Lots of people grew up in the 80s and 90s with retro 8-bit video game systems like the Nintendo and Genesis. For those who love that kind of pixel art and retro gameplay, it’s easy to recommend the incredible experience that is Persona 4 as the perfect SMT game for them since it has a dungeon that looks like an old pixel game that also has a boss that looks just like them. Though make sure you get Persona 4: Golden since it’s the best version of the game.

Best SMT Game for ColecoVision Version B.C. II: Grog’s Revenge Hobbyists

i’m not sure what to put here


what is ‘colecovision version bc’?


i’m just gonna say nocturne here even though i haven’t played it yet because charlie told me that it should be in there to bring in the older fans


[note to charlie: finish this entry for me, thanks :)  -Naomi-L] 

Best SMT Game for Former Members of the 15th Hussars Regiment

The Hussars were history's bad boys and they lived to duke it out on the battlefield. For those living a life of brutal combat, we have an easy recommendation for them: Persona 4 The Ultimax. It's a game where you favorite Shin Megami Tensei characters punch, kick, and suplex each other to gain the ultimate victory and change history, just like the Hussars did. But before you charge right in, make sure you pick up the enhanced version, Persona 4 The Ultimax Ultra Suplex Hold, because it's a significantly expanded and improved edition of the game.


If after this you're still left wondering where to start with Shin Megami Tensei or you just have some other general questions, please leave us a comment below!