P5 used to be firmly in 2nd place but the Royal content really narrowed the gap. I was very impressed with how well it was integrated into the early story and I really enjoyed the new character and ending (I was kinda meh on the original ending). P5 also has an all-time great game soundtrack.
I haven't tried P3 Reload yet; it went way down the wishlist once it became clear Kotone wasn't going to be in the game. I bounced off of P1 and P5T, so not sure on those.
Persona 5 has one of the worst UIs I've ever seen ever on anything. I have no idea how they managed to get away with something so incredibly headache inducing. P5R fixed it somewhat but definitely didn't do nearly enough.
Also the whole "it's bad when a man teacher goes after children sexually but its epic when a woman teacher does it" bit is fucked
Rate them if you want, but how do you compare a jrpg with a rythm game (dancing). They just completly different genres. I played Persona 4 arena a bit, i think it was decent, but hadn't people to play it with. Strikers was nothing for me, but i have a big dynasty warriors, samurai warrior and warrior orochi past, i think this type of gameplay is just nothing for me anymore, because i have seen everything. And alos i anyways prefer jrpg's as games most of the time. So if i have to do a ranking i would put the striker and fighting ones below all of the mainline tittle i have played. Just tactics has a chance to convice me, bought it already and play it in 2-3 month maybe.
I can't really judge that because Persona 4 golden is still on my pile of shame. And since everyone tells me 1&2 are not worth playing i don't consider to play them. So i have played Persona 5 (Royal) and Persona 3 Reload. I would rank Persona 5 (Royal) above Persona 3 Reload since all the characters have their special arc and get a proper introduction. Some Persona 3 characters have very minimal story.
I'd say to anyone that enjoys a good story and can handle old-school dungeon design that Persona 2: Innocent Sin is absolutely worth playing. It's a clever concept, uncomfortably relevant today, and likely still one of a kind. It's still one of my top stories in the genre. I was less impressed with Eternal Punishment, but it does continue the story.