The COMPLETE History of Shin Megami Tensei: All 50+ Games!



From its beginnings as a novel adaptation to it’s multiple spin-offs, Shin Megami Tensei is a mammoth series that many in the west still don’t fully grasp. But Derrick is here to break down the entire franchise and cover every main release across MegaTen’s 35 year history. With over 50 games, ranging from massive hits to the obscure, there’s a LOT to break down. So let’s begin, shall we?

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction & Inspiration
0:59 – Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei – The Novel
1:52 – Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei – Telenet & Atlus
4:08 – Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
6:01 – Shin Megami Tensei
8:58 – Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible
10:26 – Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible II
11:19 – Majin Tensei
12:45 – Shin Megami Tensei II
14:32 – Shin Megami Tensei If…
16:39 – Majin Tensei II: Spiral Nemesis
17:54 – Last Bible III
18:53 – Another Bible
19:29 – Megami Tensei Gaiden: Last Bible Special
20:20 – Jack Bros.
22:43 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner
24:13 – Megami Ibunroku Persona
28:26 – Giten Megami Tensei: Tokyo Mokushiroku
30:07 – Ronde
31:30 – Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers
32:59 – Persona 2: Innocent Sin
37:09 – Maken X
39:09 – Persona 2: Eternal Punishment
40:57 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Black Book & Red Book
44:09 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children White Book
45:47 – Shin Megami Tensei Trading Card: Card Summoner
47:21 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Light & Dark Version
48:48 – Shin Megami Tensei: NINE
51:52 – Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
56:24 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Puzzle de Call!
57:18 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Fire & Ice Book
58:29 – Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga
1:01:26 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Children Messiah Riser
1:02:53 – Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
1:04:35 – Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. the Soulless Army
1:07:19 – Persona 3
1:12:56 – Shin Megami Tensei: IMAGINE
1:16:11 – Persona 4
1:20:08 – Devil Summoner 2: Raidou Kuzunoha vs. King Abaddon
1:21:46 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
1:26:23 – Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
1:29:09 – Catherine
1:32:22 – Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2
1:34:36 – Persona 4 Arena
1:37:27 – Shin Megami Tensei IV
1:41:21 – Persona 4 Arena Ultimax
1:43:56 – Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth
1:47:43 – Persona 4: Dancing All Night
1:49:54 – Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE
1:53:37 – Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse
1:55:10 – Persona 5
2:01:21 – Shin Megami Tensei: Synchronicity Prologue
2:02:56 – Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight & Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
2:04:36 – Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth
2:06:26 – Persona 5 Strikers
2:09:32 – Shin Megami Tensei V
2:12:24 – Soul Hackers 2 & Beyond
2:13:06 – A MegaTen Series Roadmap
2:15:09 – Conclusion & Outro

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45 thoughts on “The COMPLETE History of Shin Megami Tensei: All 50+ Games!”

  1. Over 100k views! That's incredible! I honestly had no idea how this project would be received but to see it just continually grow has been absolutely fulfilling. I've made it a point to read every comment and I truly appreciate all the kind words, the feedback, and places where I could improve in the future. Thank you! ~Derrick

    Reply
  2. My history with this series started like it did for many: with Persona 3. I'd heard about the game at a young age while browsing video game music online, and stumbled upon the final battle theme. I fell in love with the song, but had no means to try the game, so my love only extended as far as the music back then. About six years later when I'd graduated high school and started working, I purchased a PS3 and found that Persona 3 was available on PSN. Recognizing the title from the music I used to listen to as a kid, I decided to buy it, and since then, I've gotten my hands on every Megaten title I could. I fell in love immediately with the works of Atlus, and even did my best to play the first two Megami Tensei titles (namely, their SNES remakes.) I haven't beaten them yet, but I at least have access to them and love them all the same.

    This retrospective has increased my appreciation for this absolutely massive series so much, and it makes me want to properly complete the games in the series even more. As of now, the only games I've beaten in the series are Personas 1, 4, and 5, since I have a tendency to get intimidated by the difficulty of the older games or the more mainline SMT titles, but I eventually want to complete them all.

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  3. Devil Summoner 1&2
    P1-5 3FES 3PSP
    Digital Devil Saga 1&2
    Persona Q

    I wish I hadn't sold everything but Persona 🥲

    So I've played only 12.

    I was playing Persona 3 as a 12 year old. I got the special addition. I recorded Burn My Dread on my Trac phone as my ring tone and I was dogged on for liking the game. When I got older I obtained all SMT I could find.

    Now everyone LOVES the games. A lot more people came on at P4. Like with Pokémon IT became everyone's favorite like how Diamond and Pearl was everyone's introduction to Pokémon games.

    As a neglected and abused kid who got few things but had an uncle that would twice a year buy her games… Persona litterally changed my life, effected me, made me feel less lonely and probably shaped me quite a bit more than a game should. That and Pokémon. I spent a lot of time alone once mom stopped taking me on her drug binges. Idk how many hours I had in these games.

    Omfg once I was older and p3p came out I died. I could now be represented by a heroine. Date my fav guys (I would have liked to have dated the girls tooooo)
    And with my boyfriend got to save Chidori in FES in his bedroom.

    Amazing series.

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  4. I started back in the day with the digital devil saga. I was young and played and beat both of those games on my ps2 and thought that was literally everything that had to do with "Shin Megami Tensei" and years later figured out I was totally wrong lol. It just amazes me that I somehow found Digital Devil Saga and that I was actually into it and completed it. It wasn't until much later that I got 3 on my Switch and just loved it. I felt stupid because it was just better version of the two games I had played and loved before. I still have a ps2 and am working on securing a copy of Digital demon Saga part 2. But I have the first Digital demon saga, 3 on my switch, and SMT 5 on my Switch as well. This video makes me want to do some hunting for some of those good ps2 titles i missed out on.

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  5. At over 550K views now. Sweet! Thanks for the excellent info. I've never played any of these games. Happy to check them out. I'll watch it again and find my 'entry point'. Thank you!

    Reply
  6. This game series is so damn good, wonderful job putting this together! I literally just woke up after having this video on repeat, and I had a dream a friend of mine was explaining the series to me 😂

    Reply
  7. I was only familiar with the NDS games and some Persona games, loved everything I played but the series' long history and massive lore was daunting when thinking about trying new or even old SMT games. Thanks to Derek's impressive research and presentation, I am feeling bolder and very curious to try any SMT related titles I can get my hands on. Thanks, Derek!!

    Reply
  8. Turn based RPGs have always been my favorite style of game. How I never heard of these games until persona 5 is beyond me but damn, they've got me hooked! Played and beat 5 royal at the end of last year and since then I've got 4 golden, smtv and soul hackers 2 all going simultaneously now. I'd say I'm a bit obsessed with Atlas games. I'm really loving Soul Hackers 2 most.

    Reply
  9. Took me quite a while to get around to this, but this was a fantastic retrospective of the giant that is the Megami Tensei Franchise.

    Due to being deeply fascinated with this franchise, I had already known of all the entries, along with have played over half of them as of 2022-2023. Nonetheless, seeing the entries laid out in chronological release order is truly something to behold. Genuinely hope for a continued success and fruitful future for these absolutely amazing and masterful pieces of media.

    Reply
  10. Weird fact for all you into unused content…

    For whatever weird reason, Catherine contains several unused songs from other Atlus games, including "Omen" from Persona 4, "Assignment" and "Seraphita" from Digital Devil Saga, and "Palace of Pleasure" from Strange Journey.
    Weirdest of all, however, is their original arrangement of Pokemon Diamond and Pearl's wild battle theme. Yeah. It's a thing, apparently.

    Reply

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