Persona/shin games

From my experience (I haven't played any of the Shin games, aside from Megami Tensei 2 on the Famicom), the Persona games are basically their own games away from the Shin Megami Tensei series, and any of them are a fantastic start. Each have their own self contained story with a new cast of characters each time, and the beginning always goes over how everything works. Personally, I started with Persona 3, but I'd even say the fifth entry is a fine starting point.

I've mostly played the persona series but if you have some good megaten recommendations I'd love to get more in the series

Definitely pick up the original IV game if you have a 3DS. It's a solid game and seems to be a lot of people's gateway into the main games. If you have a PS3 (or PS2 emulator) pick up Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne. If you've played Persona 5, you'll feel a bit more at home with the 3D designs of demons here in this game. Or if you have a regular DS, you can pick up Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. Funny enough there's remake of that coming out later for the 3DS with a different art style. But still a solid game.

Yay my favorite game series. :D I'd say the best games to start with are: -Persona 3 -Digital Devil Saga -Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne -Devil Survivor 1 My personal favorites are: -The Persona Series (particularly 2, 3, & 4) -The Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha games -Shin Megami Tensei III, Strange Journey, and IV. -And the Digital Devil Saga Dualogy Almost every game in the MegaTen series or by Atlus is pretty damn good so you can't really go wrong with any game you decide to play.

It feels like you're missing smt 4 A Much better than the original, imo Also can't wait for the strange journey remake. To awnser the original question, you can basically play any game, most don't have a bearing to one another. Those there are some. You'll mostly miss some minor refrences.

In terms of story, you shouldn't play IV A before the original IV. Plus I felt it was weaker than the original. Especially near the end. Somehow I forgot to mention Digital Devil Saga.