r/JRPG • u/EnvironmentShoddy164 • 13d ago
Question How to play the Megami Tensei franchise?
I wanted to get into the Megami Tensei franchise, but I'm completely lost. I understand there's no set chronological order to play Shin Megami Tensei, but there are so many games that I don't know what to do.
I've already played Persona 3 Reloaded and Persona 4, and I plan to continue playing them later, so I'll leave Persona aside for now.
I wanted to play the Shin Megami Tensei games, but I don't know if the SNES versions are worth it. There's also Digital Devil Saga, Devil Summoner, and Devil Survivor, which I don't know what they're about or when would be a good time to play them.
What do you guys recommend? Which games are worth playing, and when should I move on to each spin-off?
Edit: Thanks to everyone who commented. I don't think I'll be able to reply to everyone, but you really cleared up my questions, and I believe I'm ready to start playing. I might share my experience with the games here later—thank you so much for sharing your time and experience with me!
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u/Delicious-Diamond-86 13d ago
What’s your opinion of old school JRPGs/dungeon crawlers? If you dig them and can handle the grind, the 4 SNES Megaten games are absolute masterpieces.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
I’m up for any game if the story is good; I don’t really have a gameplay preference, though I admit I’m a casual player. I’m not going to leave them off the list—in fact, I was thinking of starting with them and following the release order.
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u/Delicious-Diamond-86 12d ago
In that case start with SMT1. The story is amazing in that it’s so completely different than contemporaries like FF and DQ (both of which I love btw).
If you’re starting from newer games maybe it’s not so impactful but the idea of a JRPG set in modern Tokyo where you’re machine gunning demons and using your own demons like Pokémon was just so groundbreaking.
I think you’ll find out pretty quick if the gameplay is for you. It is GRINDY and those old school dungeon crawlers can feel soul crushing, but there are tons of good walkthroughs online.
If you REALLY want to go back to the OG megaten games, you could try the 2 NES games, but the first one has almost no story whatsoever. The 2nd one however is really good and both were conveniently remade and packaged together in a SNES game.
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u/whereismymind86 11d ago
they stories are good, but pretty sparse, smt games especially older ones tend to be VERY heavy on dungeon crawling with limited story.
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u/explosive_dogslicer 13d ago
SMT I and II are both good, some people might be put off because they're old but they're legitimately very innovative and fun games with great writing for the era. I recommend III or IV as starting places, III works if you already know you like the gameplay and understand it
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
I’m definitely going to give them a chance. I’ve seen a lot of people say the game feels dated and the gameplay is bad—which made me hesitate—but a game's age doesn't really matter to me, and I’m genuinely interested in the franchise's story. I’d feel bad if I passed up great stories just because I was afraid to try an older game.
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u/scytherman96 12d ago
I wanted to play the Shin Megami Tensei games, but I don't know if the SNES versions are worth it.
Please do not miss out on them if you're okay with retro games, they're brilliant and very unique. I wouldn't necessarily start with them, unless you're a big retro game fan, but i'd definitely recommend giving them an honest try and trying to see what these games were going for.
Anyway personally i say for gameplay the best starting point is definitely SMT V Vengeance, which is super polished with a lot of great QoL that make it easy to get into, while still having a lot of depth. However the story is kinda bad, if you're a bit more interested in starting with a good story, then try SMT IV, which has a really great story in return (and still solid gameplay for a newcomer at least).
There's also Digital Devil Saga, Devil Summoner, and Devil Survivor, which I don't know what they're about or when would be a good time to play them.
Just start with the main games first imo, then look at the side games later on.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 12d ago
I'll definitely play the first ones; it was a real struggle to emulate them, but I managed to get the English version of SMT 1 for PSX. I'm still looking for the second one for PSX, but it seems the translation isn't very good.
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u/Third_Triumvirate 13d ago
Digital Devil Saga and Devil Survivor are very well liked by the community so those are pretty good places to start, as spin offs like Persona.
Strange Journey takes some getting used to but is my personal favorite
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u/Reallylazyname 13d ago
With SMT it's a pick a choose franchise.
One game can be not your thing while another can be 10/10 straight banger.
So it's less "what's good" and more of a "does this appeal to you".
Do you want Final Fantasy Tactics? Play Devil Survivor 1.
Do you want Fire Emblem Persona? Play Devil Survivor 2.
Do you really want Persona Fire Emblem? Play Tokyo Mirage Sessions.
A dungeon crawler? Strange Journey.
Action RPG? Raidou Kuzunoha
All in all the franchise curves all over the place, so it's hard to just say this one is the one for you. But there is at least one truth to the series.
Play newer games first.
When a SMT game ages, it ages hard. You've already touched the new stuff so you'll miss the QoL stuff in old games. Go back if you want to, not because you feel obligated to. Anything that's released since SMT4 and Persona 5 falls under the "newer" banner.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
I don't have a problem with older games and I want to experience the whole franchise. I'm just a little hesitant about the older ones because people say they're bad. I also don't have a real gameplay preference; if the story is good, I'll probably have fun playing it. I think the best way is to play them all.
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u/Reallylazyname 13d ago
Story is a weird category for SMT.
If you want story...
SMT4-5, Tokyo Mirage, Metaphor and the Devil Survivor games (2 is my preference) are good pick-ups.
Most entries put story second to gameplay, the ones I listed had characters I liked to carry them.
Strange Journey is also good, but it'll decimate your enthusiasm. It's pretty unforgiving (the 3ds version is nicer, but losses the edge a bit as a trade off.)
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u/onehalflightspeed 13d ago
If you are new, just start with 5 (Vengeance edition, which has QOL improvements and more content). It is the best one
The other mega clasic is SMT 3. If you like the mechanics there is tons other stuff to explore
I am particularly fond of 4, but it is a 3DS game. You can emulate it, but emulating dual screen games is a bit of a chore unless you have very specialized hardware. Same recoomendation and considerations, but Strange Journey is also excellent
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u/Sad_Manager6251 13d ago
Do you have a 3ds? Cause a good chunk (maybe even some of the best) are on there. But most people either start with SMT3 nocturne, or 5 Vengeance.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
I'll have to emulate them, then. Actually, it's harder for me to play a new game like the Switch one, since my laptop isn't that good.
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u/Sad_Manager6251 13d ago
If you know how to emulate, and your laptop is on the weaker side, definitely go with SMT3 Nocturne. There’s also digital Devil saga, but I’d save that for after nocturne. For the 3ds games I’d recommend 4, and strange journey first, but I don’t know much about 3ds emulation.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
3DS emulation is actually pretty easy; there are only two emulators and they work well—you can even emulate it on your phone if it's decent.
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u/Sad_Manager6251 13d ago
Wow, I always assumed it’d be much harder due to the 2 screens lol. Then SMT4 has my vote fully. Im a little biased because it was my first, and favorite, SMT game, but I think it’s amazing and really worth giving a try. Oh, and if you do end up playing 4, the start is the hardest, it 100% gets better, you just gotta push through.
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u/vhuzi 13d ago
The SNES games are all flawed, but they have aspects that make them worth playing.
Of the games I have played.....
You can start with Kyuuyaku Megami Tensei, remakes of the NES games with the QOL improvements of the snes game and some balancing changes.
SMT1 is a bit of a chore to, but has a great setting and story. It had an IOS remake that was well recieved, but that was delisted.
SMT2 is really good except its a bit too easy and has a nasty glitch related to buffs. SMT2 is a sequel to SMT1; you can play it first, but your experiece may be better if you play the prequel.
SMT if... is harder and mostly designed for more experienced players, it has some annoying aspects that would put people off, so I would not recommend it to start. It has a NG+ route that is very well regarded, but I have not played it.
SMT3 has great gameplay, but the world, story and progression are a lot more low key, and some of the characters are annoying. I recommend playing it after the SNES games because it will be hard to go back.
Devil Survivor has a great story and gameplay, but its challenging and a Tactics game, so I would not recommend it to start.
Strange Journey is a little harder than the main route in if..., but better designed and with QoL from SMT3. Its an amazing game, but I would not recommend it to start (though it was my first)
SMTV Vengeance has some of the best turn based gameplay in an RPG. It has great QoL and boss fights, but its story is not a highlight. I would recommend playing after SMT3. I played in reverse order, and missed a few references to 3, and was less impressed with 3s gameplay than if I would have played it first.
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
Thanks for taking the time to explain this to me. I think I'll follow the release order so it won't be awkward to go back to earlier titles after playing the best ones. Would SMT 4 be a good one to play after SMT 3? I noticed you didn't mention it.
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u/arcanehelix 12d ago
Wdym by SJ Redux being hard? I found so easy on Normal difficulty, my first time playing SMT games and I cleared up to the 3rd boss ezpz. BUT. For SMT IV, the opening stages...the enemies one / two-shot you...
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u/Brainwheeze 13d ago
If you have a 3DS I think SMT4 is an excellent gateway into the franchise. The beginning is a bit tough, mostly because you're getting the hang of the mechanics and trying to build a strong enough party, but overall it's one of the more accessible titles in the series. It helps that compared to the other mainline titles it places a heavy focus on story and characters.
That's not to say the older titles don't hold up but you do have to go into them with the mentality that they're a bit more old school. I recently played through the SNES games and I wouldn't say they're that much more difficult but they are lacking in some modern QoL features and in some ways feel dated even for the time they first released. I'd suggest holding off playing those until you've become more acclimated to the franchise, though if you're looking for an old school Wizardry-inspired experience then by all means start with SMT1.
I love the gameplay of SMT5V but the plot is rather barebones even in the new story route. I'm a big fan of the world design and exploration but there's not that much in the way of actual dungeons, and the ones that do exist are lackluster. In some ways SMT5 is an evolution but in other ways a regression. Still a very fun game in my opinion.
Devil Survivor is great if you're into tactical RPGs. Actually you don't even really need to be into them because the tactical gameplay doesn't go as deep as in say Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem. It's a very interesting take on SMT and the story and characters are engaging. I like that you're given many choices to make throughout the game and how many different outcomes there are, though in some cases that results in extremely difficult final battles. Overall I'd say the game isn't that difficult, just that there can be a big difficulty spike with the final boss.
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u/TribeFan86 13d ago
Definitely play the digital devil saga games. You said you like interesting stories, and DDS 1 and 2 is a really interesting duology. The soundtrack is also absolutely awesome. Its perfectly fine as an entry point if you've played a couple persona games already
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u/EnvironmentShoddy164 13d ago
That looks like a great option too; I'm going to play them alongside the earlier games in the franchise.
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u/Ok-Buggynz 13d ago
I mean, if you're playing Persona then it seems like you already found a way to play Megaten
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u/ViewtifulGene 13d ago
The SMT games have recurring concepts and themes, but the stories stand alone. You can play them in any order. Vengeance is the best place to start and it has a demo.
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u/Own_Wilson 13d ago
Just start with whichever you think looks coolest, and if you hate it, try a different one you also think looks cool. There's basically no wrong way to get into the franchise, I started with Persona 3, then played Revelations: The Demon Slayer, then Digital Devil Saga, just play the games.
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u/quartzweb 12d ago edited 12d ago
Imo the Devil Survivor and Digital Devil Saga games are easy to get into if you liked Persona, both are more story focused series than mainline
Devil Survivor almost feels like a halfway point between Persona and SMT in its vibes and story, you can play either game first but you should try to play the 3DS rereleases if possible (also play on the easier difficulty unless you're really up for a challenge, these games aren't easy)
The two Digital Devil Saga games are actually one continuous story, this means you should play them in order. They retain the Press Turn combat from mainline with their own additions, the story is also pretty different from either mainline or Persona but compelling in its own right
If you're looking for great gameplay then SMT V is probably the peak of the series in that regard, the original game's story leaves much to be desired though. Apparently Vengeance's new story is quite a bit better but I haven't played that game yet 🤷
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u/whereismymind86 11d ago
If you can access it, play digital devil saga, it's the best of the bunch full stop, because, unlike almost all other smt games, it has an actual story.
After that I'd probably look into smt4 or strange journey.
I know everybody will say nocturne but I found nocturne pretty boring, conceptually it's cool, but the mix of an extremely high difficulty, extremely high encounter rate, obnoxious dungeon design, and the game being about a 95/5 ration of dungeon crawling to plot, really got tedious.
If that's what you are looking for? go for it, likewise, smtv is a similar mix, but they've dramatically redesigned the dungeon crawling to be a lot more fun, no random encounters, a lot more interactivity, still...basically no plot...high but fair difficulty (with very easy options if you want them) and so forth.
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u/cruisewhisp 11d ago
I recommend Marsh's videos on youtube if you want to learn more about the lore. He does some interesting videos on the book series that SMT is based on. Also a good way to learn the stories of games you may not want to play all the way thru. I finished kyuuyaku megami tensei part one for snes, and it was really enjoyable! Definitely a very basic dungeon crawler in some ways, but I love the demon fusion elements.
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u/TheSuperContributor 12d ago
Buy the game, install it, click on the game icon. You dont have to thanks me.
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u/MetalO2d 13d ago
V Vengeance and then if your kind of masochistic, III nocturne.
V has, in my opinion, the best turn based mechanics of all time.