It is no secret that Atlus continues to use silent heroes in the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, as per the traditional standard. The main characters of Persona, however, have displayed much of their nature through their actions and dialogue responses, propelling them to the status of more than just player-inserts. They have become well-established characters in their own right.
Whether the protagonists tend to be extroverted, introverted, rebellious, or even nameless at their core, this list focuses on their various virtues. It will showcase how much of their personality is displayed and developed through the use of their actions and feats in their respective games.
8/8 Boy With Earring – Persona
Boy with Earring is the protagonist from the original Persona title. Designed in appearance to be the most basic of self-inserts, Boy with Earring is consequently devoid of any personality of his own; thus, it is little wonder that he is placed low on the list.
We can gauge Boy with Earring’s disposition solely on his actions towards his allies and NPCs. These acts are far too infrequent throughout the game to give insight into what kind of person he is, without players having to use their imagination to fill in the blanks.
7/8 Tatsuya Suou – Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Tatsuya shows his cold exterior in Persona 2: Innocent Sin, which serves as the first act in the game’s overarching plot. Possessing an aloof nature and the reputation of a troublemaker who’d rather tinker with his motorcycle than attend class, these traits alone make Tatsuya a somewhat more interesting protagonist than his predecessor.
Tatsuya ranks at number seven for being the first protagonist in Persona with a fleshed-out backstory, made even more apparent in the game’s direct sequel due to his ability to speak. He is also the first of many protagonists in the franchise to have a determined love interest among his companions (Maya, Lisa, and Jun). Interesting romance mechanics such as these would later become a staple for other main characters in future installments.
6/8 Maya Amano – Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
Initially introduced in Persona 2: Innocent Sin, Maya functions as the silent protagonist of its direct sequel. Despite no longer maintaining her speaking role, the previous entry establishes her character as the “big sister” of Tatsuya’s group of friends, while simultaneously being responsible for bringing them together during the plot’s events.
Maya’s positive attitude, combined with her being the tie that binds the heroes together from beginning to end, brings her to number six. She becomes the spark that guides all her friends, including Tatsuya, into saving Sumaru City from certain destruction. Sadly, however, she’s rather an unknown, as many fans missed out on Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Therefore, Maya fails to rank higher on our list.
5/8 Aigis – Persona 3 FES
Similarly to Maya, Aigis is a party member turned protagonist in Persona 3 FES’s exclusive secondary arc, The Answer. Unlike Maya, however, Aigis maintains her speaking role. Because her character is already well established from the main story, you cannot dictate her actions and dialogue as you usually would in a Shin Megami Tensei game.
Be that as it may, these traits catapult Aigis to number five, due to her development from a character with zero emotions to a protagonist with human-like sensibilities. When Aigis becomes playable, she inherits the same Wild Card abilities as Male and Female MC from Persona 3, though lacking the skill to perform Persona Fusion Attacks.
4/8 Yu Narukami – Persona 4
Being arguably the protagonist who placed Persona on the map due to Person 4 Golden’s huge success on the PS VITA, Yu Narukami sits squarely at number four. Thrust into a murder mystery, Yu and his friends play the role of detectives. The former is unanimously chosen as the leader due to his firm and composed nature, to pursue and unravel the culprit’s true identity.
Yu’s unshaken calmness and robust commitment to utilize the bonds of friendship to strengthen his Personas make him unique enough to stand out among the other main characters (and the game’s dastardly villain). Although, compared to Persona heroes who came before and after him, his small town heroic feats don’t quite cut it enough to make him ascend higher on our list.
3/8 Female MC – Persona 3 Portable
Female MC stands out for being the playable female version of Male MC in Persona 3 Portable. Despite being an alternate choice, she is, by no means, a pure copy and paste of her male equivalent. Female MC’s aesthetics and personality are polar opposites of Male MC, which is apparent in her Persona Q2 appearance, making her into a well-developed and original protagonist.
Despite achieving the exact same accomplishments as Male MC, what places Female MC at number three is her lack of ability to wield multiple weapons like her counterpart. In addition, there is no content similar to The Answer at the end of her story.
2/8 Ren Amamiya – Persona 5
Better known by his code name, Joker, Ren is perhaps the best-known series protagonist. By leading a group of friends known as the Phantom Thieves in the fantastic Persona 5, Ren uses his unwavering sense of justice to go against the corrupt adults of society that plague Tokyo. His foes range from cruel school gym teachers to power-hungry authorities.
Continuing the tradition of being the silent protagonist, Ren illustrates through his quick-witted actions that he’s observant and intelligent, staying one step ahead of his foes no matter how much the odds are stacked against him. His boost in popularity and fans led to his appearance as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, and only one series protagonist ranks above him.
1/8 Male MC – Persona 3
Male MC shows his indifference at number one. Being the combat leader of a Shadow-eliminating club known as SEES, Male MC shows his willingness to overcome his apathetic outlook on life by facing off against death itself to protect his friends and Iwatodai City.
What makes Male MC deserving of first place is his apathy towards numerous situations, and his neutral attitude when it comes to threats on his own life. With his ability to wield almost any weapon, as well as his being the only main character in the franchise able to summon two Personas simultaneously for Fusion Attacks, Male MC ranks nas the best protagonist. He is also, significantly, one of the strongest Persona users in the series.
