The Best Retro Atlus JRPGs

Atlus is practically a household name in the JRPG genre these days thanks to games like Shin Megami Tensei V, Persona 5, and Metaphor: ReFantazio, but it has been doing its thing for decades. Whether you’re a longtime fan looking to revisit old favorites or a new one who wants to see the origins of the publisher, we’ve got some of the best retro Atlus JRPGs for you to check out.

Shin Megami Tensei

While this isn’t the first game in Atlus’s Megami Tensei franchise, it’s one of the most important ones. Initially released on the Super Famicom, Shin Megami Tensei was later ported to many platforms including PlayStation, Game Boy Advance, and even mobile phones. The only official English release was on iOS and is no longer available. It’s an interesting game, as you can see the foundation of many of today’s Atlus hits.

Revelations: Persona

If you love Persona, this is definitely one of the best retro Atlus JRPGs to play. The Persona series got a massive overhaul with Persona 3, rocketing the series to its current stardom. These earlier games in the series might not be as stylish, but they deliver just as powerful a punch. Persona first released on the PlayStation and is included in the PlayStation Classic mini-console. Atlus also remade it for the PlayStation Portable.

Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers

The second game in the Devil Summoner series, Soul Hackers is a fantastic slice of 1990s cyberpunk. You play as a member of a hacker group called the Spookies, who must battle against a demonic invasion that threatens the city. The gameplay is similar to the first few games in the Shin Megami Tensei series, with first-person exploration and turn-based battles. What makes Soul Hackers one of the beset retro Atlus JRPGs is in its style, story, and excellent world design. Originally released on the SEGA Saturn, it was eventually ported to the PlayStation and the Nintendo 3DS.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children – Black Book & Red Book

In the wake of Pokémon‘s massive success, almost every publisher rolled up its own Pokémon-style game. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children was Atlus’ take, starting on Game Boy Color with this pair of titles. Atlus released a PlayStation remake, and the series would continue on to the Game Boy Advance. Both versions tell slightly different stories, but either way you’re searching for a family member in the world of demons. You’ll have to assemble a team of demons to fight on your behalf, naturally.

Revelations: The Demon Slayer

One of the earliest in the Shin Megami Tensei series to get localized, Revelations: The Demon Slayer is also one of the most straightforward. This Game Boy Color JRPG differs from others in the franchise, using a fantasy setting. In series tradition, you’ll have to recruit demons and fuse them to create stronger ones. As usual, you can count on a lengthy, challenging adventure. Atlus doesn’t often dip into the realm of traditional fantasy, so you might want to check out one of its first attempts.

Let us know what your favorite retro ATLUS JRPG is below!

---