However, there are not many similar indie games to Persona, and those that are similar tend to focus on specific gameplay elements from Persona rather than juggle them all at once. Indie games can be defined in multiple ways. They can be created by a small development team, created with a small budget, created by an individual, created by an independent publisher, created by a studio with no publisher influence, or is built with indie logic that strays away from the AAA game standards. Many of these definitions are used by the following titles.

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CrossCode

Originally released on Windows in 2018 and most recently on the PS5 in 2021, CrossCode is an action RPG that takes place in a fictional MMORPG with a protagonist player that has amnesia and cannot speak. It was created by Radical Fish Games and was actually crowdfunded. The game has been compared to Chrono Trigger and Secret of Mana.

The combat is more fast-paced than Persona and its genre is sci-fi. What it has in common with the Persona series is its many enemy types, narrative-driven nature, and interesting characters. Steam reviews claim the characters are easy to get emotionally attached to and that the dense is dense like Persona. In other words, it also juggles a lot with various tasks to do and places to explore.

To The Moon

Made by Freebird Games and designed by Kan Gao using RPG Maker XP, this psychological drama is about two doctors that try to make the wish of a dying man come true. The way they do it is actually very Persona-like, as they try to accomplish this by giving him artificial memories.

Like the characters of Persona, To The Moon has its characters explore the inner heart of someone, and it does so via “mementos.” Story-wise, it has a clear similarity, but other than that the game is pretty different from Persona, as there is no combat or school life.

Legrand Legacy

Developed by Semisoft and published by Another Indie, Legrand Legacy is an JRPG available on the Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC. It is basically a nostalgic love letter to JRPGs, and like Persona, it has turn-based battles. NPCs can be recruited, which offer benefits much like Persona’s social aspects.

The story is about Finn, who is the leader of a group of a travelers. Like CrossCode, the protagonist also have amnesia. Unlike Persona, this JRPG takes place during a civil war in a fantasy setting. Legrand Legacy took inspiration from games like Final Fantasy and The Legend of Dragoon.

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is among the most famous of indie games, and while it can seem incredibly different from Persona on the surface, it has similar elements that Persona fans may enjoy. Like the Persona games, the game is built around a day-by-day calendar year mechanic with different days offering different things to do.

There is also a social aspect to the game. The player can give gifts to the many NPCs to increase their relationship stat and be awarded with cutscenes and more information about the characters. The game is definitely worth checking out for those that loved Persona’s day-to-day runs in Tokyo more than the combat areas (though Stardew Valley also has combat in the mines).

Genshin Impact

Genshin Impact is another famous game, and known by most gamers. What a lot of people don’t know, though, it that Genshin Impact is technically an indie game. Genshin Impact is a game made with no publisher influence by an indie studio called miHoYo. As a result, the studio has a lot of creative freedom.

While the game is unlike Persona in its fantasy open world, it still has commonalities. Players get to have a party with interchangeable characters, the game has an anime art style, and there is great emphasis on character introductions. Genshin Impact also has hangout quests that are similar to how Persona’s strengthens its character relationships.

Persona 6 will release at a currently unscheduled date.

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