Though the spin-off Persona series is undoubtedly more popular, the Shin Megami Tensei games served as the foundation before many players even discovered that the Persona games existed. A storied series with a good amount of games in its catalog along with a healthy amount of spin-offs, the SMT games are known for their engaging narratives and challenging level of difficulty.
Despite being overshadowed by the success of the aforementioned spin-off series Persona, there are still tons of dedicated SMT fans. Being a fairly old franchise, some titles are not only hard to get a hold of, but simply not available in English – as not everything can be localized. Still, there are ways around that. Ranking the Shin Megami Tensei games is an immense challenge since there are so many great entries, but this series has something for every hardcore JRPG fan out there.
Updated on May 8, 2022, by Nickolas "Saz" Davis: Shin Megami Tensei continues to be one of the longest-running video game series in JRPG history, with more entries than almost any other game series out there. Does each one reinvent the wheel? No. But newer entries like Shin Megami Tensei 5 seek to take the formula which has made the game so successful thus far and continue to make updates to it so the game feels fresh and accessible for players just getting into SMT through the success and acclaim of games like Persona 5.
11 Shin Megami Tensei NINE
Though far from being the best SMT game, SMT: NINE is notable for a couple of reasons. Aside from having never received an official English release, SMT NINE was released as an Xbox exclusive back in 2002.
The console never really took off in Japan, so seeing it get such a big name property to itself is a little weird. The game’s sales started out pretty lukewarm and only got worse from there. The reception was mixed and though its visuals were praised, the combat was confusing and made battling feel like more of a task than it should have.
10 Shin Megami Tensei 2
In some cases, the sequel does it better and in others, it just fails to hold a candle to the original. You can chalk Shin Megami Tensei 2 up as belonging to the latter category. Though it did do some things right, this title is lacking in almost every aspect.
While the original SMT was notable for its unforgiving level of difficulty, its successor toned those elements down. Too much in fact, as it just seemed like all the challenge had been taken out of it. It was just too similar to its predecessor while lacking in several key areas.
9 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey
One of the more modern mainline SMT games, Strange Journey may have very well sparked interest in the series here in the west once again. It’s a solid effort, but not the best the series has to offer.
The game’s battle mechanics are solid and well-balanced. It doesn’t overwhelm the player but also allows them to be challenged. However, the demon fusion doesn’t feel as in-depth as it has in previous entries. Despite this, it is one of the longer SMT games and some players do rank it as one of the best SMT games.
8 Shin Megami Tensei
The game that started it all, the original Shin Megami Tensei never actually got a release in the west. Unless you count the iOS version that was released back in 2014.
The game is a great introduction to the series, and though there may not be any official releases worth playing, there are ways around that. It has its faults and does look like a product of its time for the most part, but can still be a fun and challenging adventure.
7 Shin Megami Tensei: if...
Another title that was never brought over from Japan (and one many players don't know about), SMT fans have been begging for an official if… localization for a good long while. Though that’ll probably never happen, the game can still be played if you’re dedicated enough and is worth the effort.
The game is probably most notable for its high school setting, something Atlus would take notice of and apply to the very first Persona game. Though the series has changed considerably, all you Persona fans should check this title out.
6 Shin Megami Tensei 5
There's a lot to like about Shin Megami Tensei 5. The look and feel of the game are the most smooth and refined yet. This title truly brings the SMT series into the modern generation. Most fans are just happy to get a new mainline SMT at all after so many years between SMT 4 and this.
Though it does fall short in certain areas, and the story is far from the highs the better entries on this list manage to hit, and the gameplay requires way too much grinding at certain points, it is still an overall enjoyable title for fans of the series.
5 Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse
The SMT games have always gone for a higher stakes apocalyptic setting that’s generally gone over well with fans and really given the series its identity. Apocalypse gained favorable reviews from critics and fans alike and sold very well.
The game is one of the best JRPG experiences you can have on the 3DS, and it’s got a solid narrative and adds in a ton of great features and improvements to the base mechanics from SMT 4. It’s a game that you should play regardless of your interest in the SMT series.
4 Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 1 & 2
The Devil Survivor games were sleeper hits for the DS (and later remastered for the 3DS). Unlike other SMT games, they are strategy RPGs with traditional combat blended in. Despite the strategy RPG elements, players still get to enjoy a lot of the series' conventions. For instance, the game still revolves around a gang of young adults in Tokyo, and allying yourself with powerful demons is still a key component of the gameplay.
There are admittedly some brutal difficulty spikes, but the player has a lot of control over their party and what strategy they use. The story is tantalizingly dark, revolving around the characters having visible numbers over their heads that denote how many days they have left to live. Your decisions can affect which characters live and die. Both games are of a similar caliber, and both games are worth any SMT fan's time.
3 Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux
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Atlus has really taken a liking to launching enhanced versions of their games, usually not all too long after their initial release. It happens a lot with Persona and it seems as though they took that formula and applied it to SMT as well.
Released nearly a decade after the original, Redux proved to be a wonderful improvement over its predecessor with some quality content added in. The new content only bolsters what made the original so great, and is as accessible to newcomers as it is to veterans of the series.
2 Shin Megami Tensei 4
Another 3DS title, SMT 4 proved that the series was still alive and kicking, and while overshadowed by the ever-popular Persona spin-offs, it could hold its own and even do some things better. The game received rave reviews upon its release.
The battle system, in particular, was praised, and though there are times when the game’s difficulty spikes, it’s still challenging without being too unbearably hard. It’s a must-play for any 3DS owner and might very well be the best Shin Megami Tensei game.
1 Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
The one game that most people think of when talking about Shin Megami Tensei is Nocturne. The game received universal praise upon its release and has come to be one of the most iconic games in Atlus’ catalog. Everything in this game is outstanding.
The music is great, the atmosphere is fitting, and the narrative engaging while the battle system is one of the most enjoyable in the series that also proves to be just enough of a challenge. A large number of endings add tons of replay value to an already-long adventure that truly deserves the top spot as the best SMT game.