The Persona series has stood the test of time to become perhaps the most popular and relevant modern JRPG series in the world. There was a time when this series was nothing more than another run-of-the-mill Shin Megami Tensei spin-off, but this dynamic changed with the monumental release of Persona 3. A game that was your standard JRPG with high schoolers turned into a role-playing masterpiece that integrated life simulation mechanics in a cohesive manner.
Of course, a big part of this life simulation mechanic was the Social Link system, which allowed the player to form bonds with the characters in the game and power up their Persona fusions. These Social Links also have romantic elements integrated into them, which can prove to be quite fun and heartwarming to access. This is made even better if you pursue a romantic relationship with the following individuals in the series since they're considered by many to be some of the best characters in any video game — female or otherwise. So, without further ado, here are the top 10 waifus of the whole Persona series.
10 Tae Takemi (Persona 5)
Let's get the elephant out of the room first — the major reason why most people chose to pursue Tae Takemi as a romantic option is that everyone wants a goth girlfriend in their life at some point or the other.
That being said, Tae is more than just her character design. Interacting with her reveals how she was wronged in the hospital she used to work in, and clearing her name is quite satisfying indeed.
9 Rise Kujikawa (Persona 4)
Rise's first impression is not all that great. An idol who constantly flirts with the protagonist seems like easy pickings... but it's through multiple interactions with this fascinating character that you realize what she's all about.
The conflict she feels when it comes to her identity of Risette is incredibly well-written and shows that people who have shot up to superstardom face an identity crisis more often than not.
8 Sadayo Kawakami (Persona 5)
The ethics of a teacher dating their student is incredibly questionable, and this should've led to a complete rejection of Kawakami from this list. However, her Confidant progression is simply way too interesting for one to ignore.
The fact that she somehow transforms from this teacher-cum-maid into a truly lovable character over the course of her Social Link is a testament to her brilliantly written character.
7 Ann Takamaki (Persona 5)
At first glance, Ann seems like your typical pretty girl who serves as the token love interest of the protagonist. However, her character is way more complex than this.
From survivor's guilt to imposter syndrome — Ann exhibits a number of complex emotions that truly turn her into one of the most interesting romances in the entire series.
6 Aigis (Persona 3)
The last thing anyone would expect would be for an android to be a great love interest, but Aigis manages to accomplish exactly that with the greatest of ease.
Her character deals with the meaning of life, what it means to be human, and how to process emotions — all of which are rather hard-hitting topics. Convincing her that she's more than just an android and embarking on a romantic journey with her is easily one of the highlights of Persona 3.
5 Chie Satonaka (Persona 4)
Before the release of Persona 4 Golden, Chie was considered to be nothing more than a throwaway romance option that would bide the player over until he chose the person whom he really liked.
However, the redubbed lines of Persona 4 Golden add a ton more character and charm to Chie's character, turning her from a forgettable meat-obsessed romantic option into one of the most endearing Social Links in the entire game.
4 Futaba Sakura (Persona 5)
Social anxiety is a touchy topic to deal with, and the manner in which it has been portrayed through Futuba in Persona 5 is quite impressive.
Slowly taking Futaba out of her shell and helping her experience the world with a new perspective is truly a brilliant feeling. While the angle of Futaba being perhaps a bit too young certainly applies here, the quality of her Social Link more than makes up for it.
3 Mitsuru Kirijo (Persona 3)
Even after the release of two more games, fans can't get over Mitsuru as one of the best romances in the entire series. She's the perfect combination of brains and beauty, and she honestly could've been perfectly fine as that kind of a character... but Persona 3 went one step further by giving her an engrossing Social Link as well.
This turns Mitsuru's romance into one of the highlights of the game that fans should definitely experience for some excellent writing.
2 Makoto Niijima (Persona 5)
Makoto's ascension from being a villain into one of the main characters is quite a brilliant tale in itself. However, what makes this even better is the fact that her Social Link is just as good, if not better!
She's easily one of the deepest and most engrossing Confidants in the game, to the point where players can't help but fall in love with the President of the Student Council.
1 Naoto Shirogane (Persona 4)
Adding a tomboy to the mix of romanceable female characters could've backfired horribly, but Naoto managed to transcend these boundaries and become one of the best characters in the entire series, and definitely the best romantic option bar none.
Gender dysphoria has become an incredibly touchy topic in modern times, and the fact that a game in 2008 managed to treat this topic with more love and respect than anything in 2020 speaks volumes when it comes to just how brilliant this entire Social Link is.