Is Persona 3 and 4 connected? Is Persona 3 longer than 4?

If you are a fan of the Persona series, you might be wondering how Persona 3 and Persona 4 are connected. Are they set in the same world? Do they share any characters or events? Do you need to play one to understand the other?

Persona 3 and Persona 4 are both spin-offs of the Shin Megami Tensei (SMT) series, a long-running franchise of Japanese role-playing games that feature themes of mythology, occultism, and urban fantasy. The SMT games are known for their dark and mature stories, complex gameplay mechanics, and multiple endings.

The Persona games are more focused on social simulation, character development, and psychological exploration. They also have a lighter tone and a more modern setting than the main SMT games. The original Persona and Persona 2 stuck closer to the SMT games by including demon negotiation, but the mechanic got left behind in Persona 3 and Persona 4.

Instead, those latter two games introduced the concept of Personas, manifestations of one’s inner self that can be summoned in battles against Shadows, creatures that dwell in a parallel dimension called the Metaverse. The Metaverse is influenced by the collective unconscious of humanity and can take different forms depending on the game.

In Persona 3, it is the Dark Hour, a hidden hour between midnight and 1 AM where normal people turn into coffins and a giant tower called Tartarus appears. In Persona 4, it is the Midnight Channel, a mysterious TV program that shows the hidden desires of people who get kidnapped and thrown into a world inside the TV.

Persona 3 and Persona 4 are both set in Japan, but in different locations and time periods. Persona 3 takes place in 2009-2010 in a fictional city called Iwatodai, where a group of high school students called SEES (Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad) use their Personas to fight Shadows and prevent the end of the world.

Persona 4 takes place in 2011-2012 in a rural town called Inaba, where another group of high school students called the Investigation Team use their Personas to solve a series of murders related to the Midnight Channel. The two games have very few direct connections, but they do share some references and cameos.

For example, in Persona 4, you can visit Iwatodai as part of a school trip, where you can meet Chihiro Fushimi, a former student council member from Persona 3 who is now the student council president. You can also see some posters and flyers of Rise Kujikawa, a pop idol who is one of the main characters of Persona 4. In Persona 3, you can see some news reports about Maya Amano, a magazine editor who is one of the main characters of Persona 2.

The most significant connection between Persona 3 and Persona 4 is Persona 4 Arena, a fighting game spin-off that takes place two months after the events of Persona 4 and features characters from both games. In this game, the Investigation Team reunites to investigate a new phenomenon called the P-1 Grand Prix, a fighting tournament that is broadcasted on the Midnight Channel and involves their friends from SEES. The game reveals more about the nature of the Metaverse, the origin of Personas and Shadows, and the fate of some characters from Persona 3.