Favourite (mainline) Shin Megami Tensei game?

[Mauricio_Magus]

Nocturne > SJ > 4A > 2 > V > 1

I really hope that the new version of V elevates the game because I do think it can happen.

Also Apocalypse is super underrated, I know that the story has some stupid as fuck moments but the QOL/combat changes are soooooooo good.

 

[werezompire]

Nocturne is my favorite, but I should give IV Apocalypse another try (only played a couple hours and it seemed decent). Really didn't like the gameplay in IV, but it seemed like Apocalypse fixed a lot of gameplay issues. V had a lot of strengths but also a lot of weaknesses, so I'm curious if the enhanced version will push it into the lead.

 

[kamineko]

I should add that I liked IV: A a lot. If the final dungeon hadn't annoyed me as much as it did, I would have rated it higher. But I think all of them are worth playing, so long as you can meet them where they are. I doubt I'll ever turn on my 3DS again, but if the 3DS duology ever made it to another system, I'd buy both games again.

 

[AmethusD]

SMT 4 is my favorite despite balance issues. Besides Digital Devil Saga it was the first SMT game I played exactly when it released. The atmosphere and music are amazing and I still remember how amazing visiting Tokyo and the 'reactor' for the first time was.

I went on a tear of the franchise around November of last year and I only think my least favorites were MT1 and SMT1 but more due to how grating they can get. I was still able to enjoy the vibes. Everyone's kind of brought up how good Strange Journey is rad, Nocturne is amazing etc. and I totally agree. The franchise is so cool and I'm really looking forward to Vengeance because it was super fun.

 

[Marmoka]

My favorite is SMT IV followed by V.

SMT IV has a great story and gameplay. Of course the story has its issues if you take the neutral route, but great overall. Meanwhile V has a horrible story, but the gameplay is the very best in the series.

Then we would have Nocturne, which has a great story and worldbuilding, but the game is starting to show its age. SMT IV:A improves the gameplay of the predecesor, but I don't like the story at all. And Strange Journey is very hard and frustrating and tedious to play.

I have not played SMT II, and I started playing SMT I but I had to stop because it became boring.