Summary
Across five mainline games and multiple spin-offs, it’s safe to say that thePersonaseries has eclipsed the franchise that birthed it. Spawned from theShin Megami Tenseiseries,Personahas gone on to become one of the most ravenously popular franchises in the entire industry. And one ofPersona’sbest assets is its characters, some of the best of which have been its women.
Whether they are a bonafide lead character or a secondary character, the women ofPersonahave proven that this long-running JRPG series isn’t hurting for representation. All of these characters have left permanent marks on the series, becoming some of the absolute best fans can find in the entire genre.
Before the events ofPersona 4, Rise was a television star who decided to leave the entertainment business behind to return to Inaba. After being a part of that world for so long, Rise spends a lot of time inPersona 4trying to find her true self again.
ThroughoutPersona 4, Rise evolves into one of the most crucial members of the party as they attempt to solve themystery of the Midnight Channel. Her Persona, Himiko, is also useful in battle, and it helps to elevate Rise to the top tier ofPersonacharacters.
Driven to find out what was behind her mother’s death, Futaba Sakura spends the early part of her time inPersona 5as an isolated computer hacker with a troubled past. But as shegrows closer to Jokerand the rest of the Phantom Thieves, her motivation expands from someone seeking her own goals to one of the most valued members of the group.
Like mostPersonacharacters, Futaba’s off-screen past before the events of the game forms a lot of her character. It adds a great bit of context to the way she shyly interacts with the Phantom Thieves, as her abilities in battle become crucial, and she excels as one ofP5’s greatest heroines.
5Yukiko Amagi
Shy Girl Struggling To Stand On Her Own
One of the fewPersonacharacters to appear in more than one game, featuring in a briefPersona 3 Portablecameo, Yukiko is easily one of the franchise’s best heroines. Yukiko is a quiet girl whospends most ofPersona 4trying to shed the image that the people of Inaba have of her.
Yukiko’s journey takes her from from reserved and shy to one of the most important members of the party investigating the Midnight Channel. Buoyed by her friends and channeling something far greater, Yukiko is able to use that to become one ofPersona’s most endearing characters.
4Chie Satonaka
Quirky And Complicated Girl Who Protects Her Friends
While many ofPersona 4’sheroines begin the game as introverted or quiet, Chie is the complete opposite. This high-energy heroine isPersona 4’sbest, as her ongoing relationship with Yukiko is a highlight of the game. This strong, yet equally complex friendship is built on a lot of relatable issues, such as jealousy.
Chie spendsa lot ofPersona 4understanding her true role not only in the ongoing investigation of the Midnight Channel but her role outside that as well. She’s defined by her experiences with the party, a series of relationships that strengthen this already fascinating character into someone even more compelling.
In the years before her name was made canon by Atlus, Kotone was known simply as FeMC, a portmanteau of Female Main Character. While the male version of the main character fromPersona 3is very reserved, Kotone is the exact opposite, as she has a light-hearted energy that is quite endearing.
She is also one of the very few female leads in the series, as Maya fromPersona 2: Innocent SinandEternal Punishmentis the only other. Though she will sadly be absent from the upcoming remake ofPersona 3, Kotone is still one of thefranchise’s absolute best protagonists.
2Ann Takamaki
Brave Phantom Thieves Member Who Doesn’t Back Down
Though she is burdened by trauma at the beginning ofPersona 5due to the horrific actions of a teacher named Kamoshida, Ann Takamaki is able to break through all that. The Phantom Thief known as Panther is anything but a helpless victim, as she takes control of her life in one ofPersona 5’smost iconic awakening scenes and is easilyP5’sgreatest female character.
Ann showcases her selflessness throughout the game, as she doesn’t let the rumors about her and Kamoshida affect the course of her journey. She’s a strong, resilient leader who is not only one of the best members of the Phantom Thieves but one ofPersona’sgreatest all-time characters.
Personais a series that, despite the number of great female characters, is somewhat lacking in the female lead protagonist department. Even Kotone fromPersona 3is a non-canon, alternate-universe version of the male lead. So it helps that Maya fromPersona 2: Innocent Sinand its direct sequel,Eternal Punishment, is a phenomenal lead.
Maya has a positive, uplifting spirit that is challenged throughout both of the games she appears in. She’s a force of nature in a dark and oppressive world, something that is quite refreshing for a series that is as bleak asPersonacan be. Maya isn’t just one ofPersona’s best female heroes, she’s one of the best characters in the entire franchise.
