When RPGs were established as a genre in video games, they took their board and tabletop game counterparts’ quirks with them. With some notable exceptions, such as thePokemonseries, RPG video games tend to take a long time to beat. This happens regardless of the gameplay being turn-based or real-time, and the game being made in Japan or in the west. ThePersonaseries, now one of the biggest JRPG franchises in the industry, is no exception.
Since its first game came out in 1996, thePersonaseries has always struggled with length, which is likely why it was originally a cult classic at best. However, this changed whenPersona 3established the series’ modern formula and identity, slowly separating it fromShin Megami Tensei. Despite the modernity,Persona 5is just as long as its predecessors, if not longer. With ports of updated rereleases such asPersona 3 PortableandPersona 5 Royalhaving been announced, fans should be interested in each games' length to know what fits their time best.
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Persona 3 Portable’s Length Compared to Persona 5 Royal
Persona 3 Portableis not short by any means, but it might be easier for newcomers to digest than otherPersonagames likePersona 5 Royal.Portableis actually not the first updated re-release ofPersona 3, as it followed upPersona 3 FES. According to HowLongToBeat,FESis actually longer thanPortable, with the average playthrough lasting around 80 hours rather than 65. While this might seem confusing due toFEShaving less content, it makes sense when acknowledging the limits of the PSP and how Atlus played around them when developingPortable.
Portablehas more social linksdue to the newfound availability of the male party members. It also has additional scenes that can alter certain story events. At first, it being shorter thanFESseems weird, but the game got rid of the 3D environments outside of Tartarus, so the “real” world is a visual novel in practice. Due to the lack of temptation to explore Tatsumi Port Island, there is no incentive to mess around inPortabledespite the extra features. This is unlikePersona 5 Royal, which did not retool the format to accommodate new additions, but simply prolonged the original with extra content.
Although the game was lauded for polishing both the traditional series mechanics and some of the original game’s mistakes, one thingPersona 5 Royaldid not fix is its length. The direction it took is the exactopposite ofPersona 3 Portable’s decision. WhilePortablemade the experience shorter despite the extra content,Royalused its new additions as a justification for being even longer than its original counterpart.
Similar toPortable,Royaladded new Confidants, which were important because the postgame is inaccessible without these Confidants’ storylines. Even without a third semester,Persona 5 Royalis around 105 hours long - 40 hours longer than an average playthrough ofPersona 3 Portable. The extra content, including the postgame, adds 20 more hours.
Overall, it seems likePersona 3 Portableplaythroughswill be on average between the 60-to-80 hour range, whereas a typicalPersona 5 Royalplaythrough will last around 105 to 120. WhileRoyalarguably has the best quality of life improvements in the series,Portable’s shorter length makes it just as accessible. If a newcomer to the series were to pick between the two, it would depend on whether they have loads of free time, or if they want more modernized mechanics out of theirPersonaexperience.
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