Persona Series
Persona is basically the OG when it comes to school-based JRPGs, and there’s no series out there that does it quite as well. Although the first game and Persona 2 have school settings, it wasn’t until Persona 3 that the simulation elements would really find their way into the series.
From Persona 3 on you’ll need to attend classes and go through daily school life, sometimes answering questions during class. This is juxtaposed against the more fantastical elements of the games, that involve your characters fighting deadly enemies called Shadows with the power of Persona.
The simulation elements really are what make Persona games what they are, and there’s a fascinating balancing act that you constantly need to do. Which friends are you going to hang out with? Do you want to play a game at the arcade, or study to boost your intelligence? Do you explore the dungeon or choose to do other activities?
On top of all these engaging features, each Persona game tells a gripping story that plays around with some incredibly complex themes and characters. All of the games are themed around adolescence and dealing with inner turmoil. The series has some of the best-written characters in all of gaming, and if the school setting is something you enjoy, then Persona is the game to play.
