There are so many wonderful characters across the Persona series. From dogs to struggling idols, the Persona games explore a multitude of character types and personalities. You’ll really get to know each and every one of them due to the games’ typically impeccable and nuanced writing.

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Persona 4’s roster of playable characters is no exception to this rule, as it offers perhaps some of the very best characters in the entire series. However, they’re not all made equal, and while the majority of them are intriguing, there are a handful of bad apples in the mix.

7 Teddie

a shot of Teddie from Persona 4 Golden talking to the player with his character portrait and dialogue overlaid on top

Every persona game needs that mascot character. Whether it’s the adorable Shiba Inu Koromaru from Persona 3 or the incredibly irritating Morgana from Persona 5, these mascot characters help to add a little bit of flair to the whole monster-fighting business. Unfortunately, while Persona 4’s Teddie is adorably designed, he is far too annoying to be truly iconic.

His overly flirtatious attitude - which is, unfortunately, a common trope in these games - is a little tedious and gets old very quickly. His jokes aren’t particularly funny, and there are only so many bear puns we can take before we have to shut it down. Teddie isn’t the worst JRPG protagonist out there, but he’s definitely the worst in Persona 4.

6 Rise Kujikawa

a shot of Rise Kujikawa from Persona 4 Dancing All Night with headphones on against a purple background

You’re going to see a trend amongst the majority of these characters. They all have, in some shape or form, an interesting story. Rise Kujikawa is no exception to this rule, as her backstory and internal struggle that she experiences across the game’s runtime are phenomenal.

The contrast between her idol life and normal life manages to convey themes of ambition and pushing oneself too far, which will likely be relatable to many. Her narrative also offers a fascinating insight into the idol culture within Japan, which while common in certain JRPGs, is still nevertheless intriguing. However, much like Teddie, Rise Kujikawa is overly flirtatious to an often obnoxious degree. If you’re not all that into it, it can really distract from her overall narrative, which is a great shame.

5 Chie Satonaka

an animated shot of Chie Satonaka from Persona 4 Golden sat at her desk writing

Chie Satonaka is a fun, bouncy character with a lot more going on inside than her extrovert behaviour would suggest. Chie is the kind of character that the Persona games tend to do the best, offering the player a pleasingly positive attitude on the outside and a far deeper and intriguing storyline hidden within.

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Chie is beloved for being particularly friendly, loving everyone on the team as much as she can, and supporting the investigation in any way she knows how. Her relationship with Yukiko is also a lot of fun to explore. Despite their two personalities clashing considerably, she manages to help with her introverted nature and break her out of her shell.

4 Yukiko Amagi

character art for Yukiko Amagi from Persona 4 Golden against a black and yellow background

Yukiko Amagi’s overall narrative, like many of the characters in Persona 4, explores some really interesting themes. Her relationship with her family and the pressure she feels to be forced into a certain role within that family is actually incredibly moving. It is explored more through her Social Link, making her one of the more memorable Social Links in the game.

Yukiko Amagi suffers from a lot of insecurities and is yet another of the Persona series’ nuanced explorations into the complex world of mental health. It is not hard to imagine that a lot of people likely related to her internal struggle and the difficulties she faced with her family obligations.

3 Yosuke Hanamura

Yosuke Hanamura in a crowd in the Persona 4 Golden anime

Yosuke Hanamura is Persona 4’s best friend character. He’s the one that you’ll bond with the most, at least initially. He is very supportive of you, being by your and the rest of the investigation team’s side constantly. When people think of the best friendships in RPGs, they think of you and Yosuke. Being voiced by Spider-Man himself probably helped a tad in making him feel a lot more approachable and friendly.

However, and you know what we’re going to say here, there’s a lot more to Yosuke Hanamura under the surface. Despite being bubbly and supportive, Yosuke is filled with jealousy and often struggles to figure out who he truly is. It’s once again quite a relatable story and a perfect exploration of the societal pressures that are put on teenagers.

2 Naoto Shirogane

character art for Naoto Shirogane showing her holding a pistol up to the viewer in distress

Despite being introduced quite late into the game and having the insurmountable task of becoming interesting, Naoto Shirogane still manages to be one of the most memorable characters in the entire game. It is a testament to the game’s impeccable writing that Naoto manages to shine regardless of how little time they have.

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From the outset, Naoto intrigues you with their detective skills. She is likely the most qualified person to be helping out with your investigation, making her an indispensable team member. Of course, she comes with their own baggage, as she struggles to make a mark for herself due to a lack of respect from the police and her family. This desire to be respected is admirable, and over the course of the game, you absolutely will grow to respect her courage, abilities, and intellect.

1 Kanji Tatsumi

Persona 4 Golden Kanji Tatsumi

Kanji Tatsumi is by far the best party member in Persona 4. He acts as an interesting exploration of masculinity and teenage repression, something not commonly explored in JRPGs. He hides all of his interests that aren’t inherently masculine beneath a tough guy persona and pushes anyone away who gets too close.

When you first meet Kanji, he is an intimidating figure. You literally have to fight the guy before he joins you, which while an enjoyable fight, goes to show just how far he’ll go to push those who want to help him away. However, once you get to know him he becomes infinitely more nuanced and a truly brilliant character worth getting to know.

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