Shin Megami Tensei

Shin Megami Tensei is a series of Japanese role-playing games developed by Atlus. The series consists of 9 mainline games, and five numbered titles: I, II, If..., NINE, III: Nocturne, Strange Journey, IV, IV Apocalypse, and V.

There have also been a couple remakes and remasters of these games including the may ports of the first three in the series, as well is Nocturne: Maniax (which was remastered for modern consoles in 2020,) and Strange Journey Redux.

Summary
The series is a Japanese media franchise created by Aya Nishitani, Kouji "Cozy" Okada, Ginichiro Suzuki, and Kazunari Suzuki. Developed and published by Atlus, and currently owned by Atlus, the franchise consists of multiple subseries and covers multiple role-playing genres including tactical role-playing, and action role-playing.

The series was originally based on Digital Devil Story, a science fiction novel series by Aya Nishitani. The series takes its name from the first book's subtitle. Most Megami Tensei titles are stand-alone entries with their own stories and characters. Recurring elements include plot themes, a story shaped by the player's choices, and the ability to fight using and often recruit creatures (demons, Personas) to aid the player in battle. Elements of philosophy, religion, occultism, and science fiction have all been incorporated into the series at different times. The only games in the SMT series that are in the same timeline currently are I and II.

The Persona series is derivative of the Shin Megami Tensei games, initially being inspired by another spin-off titled Shin Megami Tensei: If...

Shin Megami Tensei (1992)
The story follows Kazuya who lives in near-future Tokyo. When a portal to the realm of demons is opened accidentally by a scientist named Steven and is seized by Gotou, a military commander who believes that he can control the demons, the United States government orders a nuclear attack on Tokyo. Transported with two other supporting characters thirty years into the future, the protagonist finds the Earth ruined by a demon invasion, which is now the stage for an escalating conflict between the Order of Messiah and the Ring of Gaia, conflicting cults who wish to bring about kingdoms for their respective patron deities (YHVH and Lucifer). The story is influenced by moral decisions the protagonist makes, aligning him either with the Messians, the Ring of Gaia, or setting him up as an independent agent.
 * -|SNES =

The story follows Kazuya who lives in near-future Tokyo. When a portal to the realm of demons is opened accidentally by a scientist named Steven and is seized by Gotou, a military commander who believes that he can control the demons, the United States government orders a nuclear attack on Tokyo. Transported with two other supporting characters thirty years into the future, the protagonist finds the Earth ruined by a demon invasion, which is now the stage for an escalating conflict between the Order of Messiah and the Ring of Gaia, conflicting cults who wish to bring about kingdoms for their respective patron deities (YHVH and Lucifer). The story is influenced by moral decisions the protagonist makes, aligning him either with the Messians, the Ring of Gaia, or setting him up as an independent agent.
 * Main Protagonist: Kazuya
 * Main Antagonists: YHVH & Lucifer
 * Final Bosses: Asura & Michael
 * Canon Ending: Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: Messians, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo
 * Released: 1992
 * System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
 * -|PS1 =

The story follows Kazuya who lives in near-future Tokyo. When a portal to the realm of demons is opened accidentally by a scientist named Steven and is seized by Gotou, a military commander who believes that he can control the demons, the United States government orders a nuclear attack on Tokyo. Transported with two other supporting characters thirty years into the future, the protagonist finds the Earth ruined by a demon invasion, which is now the stage for an escalating conflict between the Order of Messiah and the Ring of Gaia, conflicting cults who wish to bring about kingdoms for their respective patron deities (YHVH and Lucifer). The story is influenced by moral decisions the protagonist makes, aligning him either with the Messians, the Ring of Gaia, or setting him up as an independent agent.
 * Main Protagonist: Kazuya
 * Main Antagonists: YHVH & Lucifer
 * Final Bosses: Asura & Michael
 * Canon Ending: Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: Messians, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo
 * Released: 2001
 * System: PlayStation
 * -|GBA =


 * Main Protagonist: Kazuya
 * Main Antagonists: YHVH & Lucifer
 * Final Bosses: Asura & Michael
 * Canon Ending: Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: Messians, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo
 * Released: 2004
 * System: Game Boy Advance/ iOS

Shin Megami Tensei II (1994)
The story is set decades after the first Shin Megami Tensei, in the encapsulated city Tokyo Millennium, which is ruled by the religious Messians from a unit called the Center. The player takes the role of a gladiator who is told that he is the Messiah and is sent on missions around Tokyo Millennium to eradicate demons and prepare for the Thousand-Year Kingdom. The plot is influenced by choices the player makes throughout the game, determining their moral alignment. The story is set decades after the first Shin Megami Tensei, in the encapsulated city Tokyo Millennium, which is ruled by the religious Messians from a unit called the Center. The player takes the role of a gladiator who is told that he is the Messiah and is sent on missions around Tokyo Millennium to eradicate demons and prepare for the Thousand-Year Kingdom. The plot is influenced by choices the player makes throughout the game, determining their moral alignment. The story is set decades after the first Shin Megami Tensei, in the encapsulated city Tokyo Millennium, which is ruled by the religious Messians from a unit called the Center. The player takes the role of a gladiator who is told that he is the Messiah and is sent on missions around Tokyo Millennium to eradicate demons and prepare for the Thousand-Year Kingdom. The plot is influenced by choices the player makes throughout the game, determining their moral alignment.
 * -|SNES =
 * Main Protagonist: Aleph
 * Main Antagonist: The Center
 * Final Bosses: YHVH
 * Canon Ending: Law
 * Villainous Factions: Order Messiah, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo Millenium
 * Released: 1994
 * System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
 * -|PS1 =
 * Main Protagonist: Aleph
 * Main Antagonist: The Center
 * Final Bosses: YHVH
 * Canon Ending: Law
 * Villainous Factions: Order Messiah, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo Millenium
 * Released: 2002
 * System: PlayStation
 * -|GBA =
 * Main Protagonist: Aleph
 * Main Antagonist: The Center
 * Final Bosses: YHVH
 * Canon Ending: Law
 * Villainous Factions: Order Messiah, Ring of Gaia
 * Setting: Tokyo Millenium
 * Released: 2003
 * System: Game Boy Advance

Shin Megami Tensei If... (1994)
As the name suggests, it is a "what if" scenario where the events of Shin Megami Tensei didn't happen. This game served as the inspiration for the Persona series, laying the groundwork for the Persona system and featuring a high school setting.
 * -|SNES =

As the name suggests, it is a "what if" scenario where the events of Shin Megami Tensei didn't happen. This game served as the inspiration for the Persona series, laying the groundwork for the Persona system and featuring a high school setting.
 * Main Protagonist: Nobu Akiyama
 * Main Antagonist: Ideo Hazama
 * Final Boss: Demon Emperor Ideo Hazama
 * Villainous Factions: Seven Deadly Sins
 * School: Karukozaka High School
 * Released: 1994
 * System: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
 * -|PS1 =


 * Main Protagonist: Nobu Akiyama
 * Main Antagonist: Ideo Hazama
 * Final Boss: Demon Emperor Ideo Hazama
 * Villainous Factions: Seven Deadly Sins
 * School: Karukozaka High Schoo
 * Released: 2002
 * System: PlayStation

Shin Megami Tensei NINE (2002)
The game begins in 202X, after Ambassador Thorman had launched the nukes in 199X. Since then, the remainder of humanity lives in underground bunkers, occasionally passing the time with a virtual world known as Idea Space meant to replicate Tokyo before the war. While hair and clothing can be changed in Idea Space, changing one's name or face is illegal. Each person in Idea Space has a "Navi" that uses Magnetite to wander around with and explore areas for them as well as help navigate. However, bugs known as "Noise" begin to show up and attack people. Someone attacked in Idea Space is at risk of becoming a "doll" To combat the Noise, the Central Administration that runs Idea Space dispatches "Debuggers" who use multiple Navi in order to destroy or capture the Noise.


 * Main Protagonist: Kei Azuma
 * Main Antagonist: Creator of All Things
 * Final Boss: Yaldabaoth
 * Canon Ending: True Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: The Noise
 * Setting: Idea Space
 * Released: 2002
 * System: X-Box

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne (2003)
Nocturne follows a high school student in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, who is transformed into the demonic Demi-fiend after the world undergoes Conception, an apocalyptic event triggered by a sinister cult to enable the world's rebirth in a new form. With Tokyo transformed into a Vortex World filled with demons, the Demi-fiend becomes instrumental to the schemes of the Reasons, beings who seek to remake the world in their image, and Lucifer, the lord of demons. The gameplay uses a turn-based battle system based on exploiting weaknesses, and a Demon recruitment system allowing the player to recruit demons found in the Vortex World to fight alongside them. Nocturne follows a high school student in post-apocalyptic Tokyo, who is transformed into the demonic Demi-fiend after the world undergoes Conception, an apocalyptic event triggered by a sinister cult to enable the world's rebirth in a new form. With Tokyo transformed into a Vortex World filled with demons, the Demi-fiend becomes instrumental to the schemes of the Reasons, beings who seek to remake the world in their image, and Lucifer, the lord of demons. The gameplay uses a turn-based battle system based on exploiting weaknesses, and a Demon recruitment system allowing the player to recruit demons found in the Vortex World to fight alongside them.
 * -|PS2 =
 * Main Protagonist: Demi-fiend
 * Main Antagonist: Hikawa
 * Final Boss: Lucifer
 * Canon Ending: True Demon
 * Villainous Factions: Nihilo
 * Setting: Vortex World
 * Released: 2003
 * System: PlayStation 2
 * -|HD Remaster =
 * Main Protagonist: Demi-fiend
 * Main Antagonist: Hikawa
 * Final Boss: Lucifer
 * Canon Ending: True Demon
 * Villainous Factions: Nihilo
 * Setting: Vortex World
 * Released: 2020
 * System: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Steam

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey (2009)
The story follows a special task force sent by the United Nations to investigate the Schwarzwelt, a spatial distortion that appears in Antarctica and threatens to engulf the world. Players take control of an unnamed protagonist, navigating the environments of the Schwarzwelt in first-person. Combat involves the player and recruited demons fighting against various enemies, with the protagonist having the option of talking with and recruiting enemies. Depending on choices taken in the story, multiple endings are unlocked. Strange Journey Redux adds an additional character and story route.
 * -|DS =

The story follows a special task force sent by the United Nations to investigate the Schwarzwelt, a spatial distortion that appears in Antarctica and threatens to engulf the world. Players take control of an unnamed protagonist, navigating the environments of the Schwarzwelt in first-person. Combat involves the player and recruited demons fighting against various enemies, with the protagonist having the option of talking with and recruiting enemies. Depending on choices taken in the story, multiple endings are unlocked. Strange Journey Redux adds an additional character and story route.
 * Main Protagonist: Tadano Hitonari
 * Main Antagonist: Three Wise Men
 * Final Boss: Mem Aleph
 * Canon Ending: Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: Mem Aleph's Children
 * Setting: Schwarzwelt
 * Released: 2009
 * System: Nintendo DS
 * -|Redux =


 * Main Protagonist: Tadano Hitonari
 * Main Antagonist: Alex
 * Final Boss: Shekinah
 * Canon Ending: Neutral +
 * Villainous Factions: Mem Aleph's Children
 * Setting: Schwarzwelt
 * Released: 2018
 * System: Nintendo 3DS

Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
The story focuses on Flynn, a samurai who protects the medieval Kingdom of Mikado from attacks by hostile demons. When a mysterious Black Samurai begins transforming the population into demons, Flynn and three companions are sent to capture her. The pursuit of the Black Samurai drags Flynn and his comrades into a startling revelation and a power struggle between angelic and demonic forces. The story is set in an alternate timeline of Shin Megami Tensei IV, and focuses on the demon hunter Nanashi, a silent protagonist who dies and is resurrected by the demon Dagda. Development began shortly after the release of Shin Megami Tensei IV. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the game's feel and quality of life changes from Shin Megami Tensei IV. The game sold approximately half of the debut sales for Shin Megami Tensei IV during its first week, which was still considered successful for a non-numbered series entry.
 * -|IV =
 * Main Protagonist: Flynn
 * Main Antagonist: Black Samurai
 * Final Boss: TBA
 * Canon Ending: Neutral
 * Villainous Factions: Ring of Gaea, Ashura-Kai,
 * Setting: Mikado
 * Released: 2013
 * System: Nintendo 3DS
 * -|Apocalypse =
 * Main Protagonist: Nanashi
 * Main Antagonist: TBA
 * Final Boss: TBA
 * Canon Ending: TBA
 * Villainous Factions: TBA
 * Setting: TBA
 * Released: 2016
 * System: Nintendo 3DS

Shin Megami Tensei V (2021)
The Throne of Creation grants vast power to reshape the world to their liking to the one who assumes it. In a world of myriad gods, known as Nahobino, many have fallen in pursuit of the throne, but it would eventually belong to the God of Law, who robbed the Knowledge of his underlings to prevent anyone from being able to take it for themselves, reducing the "Nahobino" to demons. Their Fruit of Knowledge was secreted away by the Creator.
 * Main Protagonist: Nahobino
 * Main Antagonist: TBA
 * Final Boss: TBA
 * Canon Ending: TBA
 * Villainous Factions: TBA
 * Setting: TBA
 * Released: 2021
 * System: Nintendo Switch

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner (1995)
The protagonist is a player-named young man who is attacked by demons and saved by the timely appearance of a mysterious demon-hunter named Kyouji. Shortly thereafter, Kyouji is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The protagonist is then trapped inside a warehouse and murdered by Sid Davis, a deranged serial killer and self-made priest. Rather than crossing the river of Styx, the protagonist finds himself in the reanimated body of the slain Kyouji, and escapes from the hospital. With the help of Rei Reiho, Kyouji's assistant detective, the protagonist seeks to save the life of his girlfriend and to stop demons from wreaking havoc.
 * -|Sega Saturn =

The protagonist is a player-named young man who is attacked by demons and saved by the timely appearance of a mysterious demon-hunter named Kyouji. Shortly thereafter, Kyouji is found dead under suspicious circumstances. The protagonist is then trapped inside a warehouse and murdered by Sid Davis, a deranged serial killer and self-made priest. Rather than crossing the river of Styx, the protagonist finds himself in the reanimated body of the slain Kyouji, and escapes from the hospital. With the help of Rei Reiho, Kyouji's assistant detective, the protagonist seeks to save the life of his girlfriend and to stop demons from wreaking havoc.
 * Main Protagonist: Kyouji
 * Main Antagonist: Sid Davis
 * Final Boss: Inaruna
 * Villainous Factions: Yakuza
 * Setting: Yaraiginza
 * Released: 1995
 * System: Sega Saturn
 * -|PlayStation Portable =


 * Main Protagonist: Kyouji
 * Main Antagonist: Sid Davis
 * Final Boss: Inaruna
 * Villainous Factions: Yakuza
 * Setting: Yaraiginza
 * Released: 2005
 * System: PlayStation Portable

Shin Megami Tensei Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers (1997)
Soul Hackers takes place in Amami City, a city fully connected through a colossal electronic network. The protagonist is a young man that belongs to a group of amateur hackers called the Spookies. While using his skills to hack his way into getting a beta invite for the new virtual world Paradigm X, he makes contact with a mysterious being named Kinap. Through a series of vision quests, the protagonist learns the secrets behind Paradigm X and the actions of a group called the Phantom Society that are working to steal souls through it.
 * -|Sega Saturn =

Soul Hackers takes place in Amami City, a city fully connected through a colossal electronic network. The protagonist is a young man that belongs to a group of amateur hackers called the Spookies. While using his skills to hack his way into getting a beta invite for the new virtual world Paradigm X, he makes contact with a mysterious being named Kinap. Through a series of vision quests, the protagonist learns the secrets behind Paradigm X and the actions of a group called the Phantom Society that are working to steal souls through it.
 * Main Protagonist: Keiji Minegishi
 * Main Antagonist: Kadokura
 * Final Boss: Manitou
 * Villainous Factions: Algon Soft
 * Setting: Amami City
 * Released: 1997
 * System: Sega Saturn
 * -|PlayStation =

Soul Hackers takes place in Amami City, a city fully connected through a colossal electronic network. The protagonist is a young man that belongs to a group of amateur hackers called the Spookies. While using his skills to hack his way into getting a beta invite for the new virtual world Paradigm X, he makes contact with a mysterious being named Kinap. Through a series of vision quests, the protagonist learns the secrets behind Paradigm X and the actions of a group called the Phantom Society that are working to steal souls through it.
 * Main Protagonist: Keiji Minegishi
 * Main Antagonist: Kadokura
 * Final Boss: Manitou
 * Villainous Factions: Algon Soft
 * Setting: Amami City
 * Released: 1999
 * System: PlayStation
 * -|Nintendo 3DS =


 * Main Protagonist: Keiji Minegishi
 * Main Antagonist: Kadokura
 * Final Boss: Manitou
 * Villainous Factions: Algon Soft
 * Setting: Amami City
 * Released: 2012
 * System: Nintendo 3DS

Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. The Soulless Army (2006)
During a routine investigation by the Narumi Detective Agency, Shouhei Narumi and his teenage apprentice Raidou Kuzunoha respond to a call for help from a client. When the client reveals herself to be Kaya Daidouji, she requests them to kill her. The two are baffled, but before they can ask why, mysterious men wearing red armored suits and capes kidnap Kaya and attack Raidou to halt his pursuit.


 * Main Protagonist: Raidou Kuzunoha
 * Main Antagonist: TBA
 * Final Boss: TBA
 * Villainous Factions: TBA
 * Setting: TBA
 * Released: 2006
 * System: PlayStation 2



Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abbadon (2008)
The game chronologically occurs after its prequel, with Raidou Kuzunoha the 14th again being summoned by the Yatagarasu to protect the Capital of Japan. The Taishō period in Japanese history has been fictionally extended into its 20th year, placing the events of the game in the early 1930s (but with a setting influenced more so by the 1920s). Raidou and his mentor, the talking cat Gouto, are again called upon to protect the prosperity and peace of the Capital by simultaneously working undercover at the Narumi Detective Agency and battling demonic foes using the powers Raidou carries as a Summoner. The story begins when a young woman enters the detective agency and asks Narumi's and Raidou's help in locating a curious man named Dahn.


 * Main Protagonist: Raidou Kuzunoha
 * Main Antagonist: TBA
 * Final Boss: TBA
 * Villainous Factions: TBA
 * Setting: TBA
 * Released: 2008
 * System: PlayStation 2



Soul Hackers 2 (2022)
Soul Hackers 2 is set in the near-future where humans and demons coexist in secret, with some humans able to form pacts with demons to become Devil Summoners. The Devil Summoners are mostly split between two main factions, Yatagarasu and the Phantom Society, who hold clashing ideological views on humanity's progress.
 * Main Protagonist: Ringo
 * Main Antagonist: Iron Mask
 * Final Boss: Cyber Aion
 * Villainous Factions: Phantom Society
 * Setting: Central Line
 * Released: 2022
 * System: PlayStation 5