The Persona series is a spin-off series in the Megami Tensei family of games which began with the release of Megami Ibunroku Persona in 1996. There are currently six main titles in the Persona series. All the games take place in the same universe and share certain common elements. The series is inspired by Jungian psychology, from which it takes the name. Some of the themes and characters (like Philemon) are based on this. It is also the most commercially and critically successful branch of the Megami Tensei franchise.