5 reasons to play Persona 4 Golden in 2025

Persona 4 Golden remains a beloved entry in the Persona franchise, which has been a favorite among JRPG fans since its release. Introduced as a spin-off of the Megami Tensei games, the series grew in popularity over time. Although Persona 5 is its latest entry, its predecessor, Persona 4 Golden, remains enjoyable for current-generation players.

This article lists five reasons you should still play the game in 2025.

Note: This article is subjective and solely reflects the writer's opinions

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Why you should play Persona 4 Golden in 2025

1) A good entry point into the Persona franchise

Golden can be a great introduction to the Persona IP (Image via SEGA)

Persona 4 Golden is a good entry point into the Persona franchise, serving as a bridge between the series' past and future. The game offers a standalone campaign that doesn't directly connect to other Persona titles, aside from a few passing mentions.

Golden's well-crafted story introduces players to the central themes of the series. It is also a great starting point to witness the technical advancements in recent Persona games. Players can follow it up with Persona 5 Royal and the recently released remake, Persona 3 Reload.

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2) An intriguing and compelling narrative

The game tells an amazing story about confronting your fears (Image via SEGA)

Persona 4 Golden follows a group of high school students who discover a mysterious TV channel linked to heinous murders in the rural town of Inaba. During their investigation, they awaken their Personas, tangible manifestations of their personalities, which they can use to apprehend the criminal.

One of Golden's best aspects is the development of its characters and their interpersonal dynamics. The social simulation encourages players to interact with their allies, building deep bonds that help them survive through the hardships they encounter in the game.

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3) A good balance between dungeon crawling and social simulation elements

Golden is a great turn-based JRPG experience (Image via SEGA)

Persona 4 Golden excels in balancing different gameplay elements. The game skillfully alternates between slice-of-life and dungeon-crawling experiences. Its dungeons host most of the combat, where players must defeat monsters to progress.

However, these dungeon-crawling segments are interspersed with social simulation elements, requiring players to follow a daily calendar to complete various time-specific events while interacting with friends to strengthen their bonds. This balance between action-packed sections and intimate character-building moments creates an engaging gameplay experience.

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4) The definitive version of Persona 4

Golden is the definitive way to play this beloved title (Image via SEGA)

Persona 4 Golden is an expanded re-release of Persona 4, packed with additional content that brings the base game up to date. It is available on major console platforms, including PlayStation 4, 5, and Vita, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Microsoft Windows.

Golden adds an extra in-game month, expanding the story by a good amount, and introduces multiple new events. Additionally, players can level up two new social links, Tohru Adachi and Marie. The gameplay improvements also include Tag Team attacks, Skill cards, and new Tier Three Personas.

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5) An incredible soundtrack

The game features an incredible soundtrack (Image via SEGA)

Persona 4 Golden has an outstanding soundtrack. Composed by Shoji Meguro and Atsushi Kitajoh, the OST features a blend of Shibuya-Kei, Japanese rock, and Japanese pop, which blends beautifully with the vivid world of Persona 4.

Persona 4 Golden is a great pick for players who want to enjoy a steadily-paced narrative, with a mix of combat, aided by a great soundtrack.