With Tales of Arise due to release in September 2021, it may possibly be one of the most hotly anticipated titles in the Tales of series. This is in part, thanks to several unavoidable delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, for fans of the series, the wait will be more than worth it and with its use of Unreal Engine 4 for the first time it may be the most attractive entry in the series yet.
Unfortunately, September 2021 is still a few months away and for those that are new to the series, there is still a lot of time to dive into Tales of Arise's healthy library of predecessors. There is quite a bit to choose from and each adventure is a long one so one can’t go wrong with any title on this list.
10 Tales Of Eternia
First released in 2001 as Tales of Destiny II, the game was released in Japan and Europe as Tales of Eternia. However, it wasn’t until it was released on the PSP in 2005 that European fans finally got their hands on the game under its real name.
The characters aren’t as memorable as those in its predecessor Tales of Destiny but the world is beautiful and well developed. The pre-rendered backgrounds remain some of the most colorful and attractive from the PS1 era and hold up very well on the PSP.
9 Tales Of Destiny
The second title in Namco’s Tales series, Tales of Destiny was released on the Ps1 in 1998 for American audiences. The game got a Japan-only remake for the PlayStation 2 called Tales of Destiny – Director’s Cut but it is yet to be released for Western audiences.
However, the original PS1 release holds up very nicely on its own merit. Tales of Destiny has great characters and a lead protagonist that develops as a character from a plucky adventurer to an accomplished swordsman and warrior. Visually, it loses a few points but Tales of Destiny has a fantastic score featuring around 90 tracks and excellent character designs.
8 Tales Of Xillia 2
Released Worldwide on the PlayStation 3 in 2014, Tales of Xillia 2 is one of the few direct sequels in the Tales franchise. It’s also the only mainline entry to feature a silent protagonist developed to immerse the player even more.
Tales of Xillia was a popular title with fans but there were a lot of loose ends that needed tying up. As a sequel, Xillia 2 did its job well but it was held back by its debt mechanic. It forced its players into completing its lengthy and mundane quests to pay off the protagonist’s debt and move the story forward. Despite this, Xillia 2 has a compelling story and serves as a great companion to the first game.
7 Tales Of Zesteria
Released in 2015, Tales of Zesteria is the fifteenth mothership title in the Tales series. It was the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 4 and was the most visually Tales game at the time.
As a more colorful and cheerful title, Tales of Zesteria doesn’t quite have the narrative impact as Tales of Symphonia. It does, however, hark back to classic titles like Tales of Phantasia and Tales of Destiny. That said, Zesteria’s take on Arthurian legend and myth is entertaining and the combat system is fantastic.
6 Tales Of Legendia
Released worldwide for the PlayStation 2 in 2006, Tales of Legendia is the seventh mothership title in the Tales series. It was created as part of a team-up between the Tales Studio and the studio behind the Tekken series. Yet, despite this, Tales of Legendia remains one of the most underappreciated titles in the series.
There are issues with the repetitiveness of the dungeons, and the lack of voice acting in Legendia’s second half. However, the game features some of the best individual character stories in the series. This is thanks to Legendia’s post-game Character Quests, a feature that gives all the characters a chance to shine.
5 Tales Of Xillia
Released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3, Tales of Xillia is the thirteenth mainline entry in the Tales series. The game offers the player two protagonists with Milla Maxwell and Jude Mathis. It was the first time the series featured a female protagonist with Milla.
Milla is arguably the most interesting protagonist but Xillia is worthwhile playing as both characters, thus adding to its longevity. Its world-building is among the best in the series and it did so without bombarding the player with jargon and information. In addition, the combat system is fun and flashy with distinct fighting styles between characters.
4 Tales Of The Abyss
Released in 2006 for the PS2 and the Nintendo 3DS in 2012, Tales of the Abyss remains a favorite among fans of the series. It’s a well-designed game with an appealing world that holds its own among the best in the series and features a great cast of supporting characters.
The lead protagonist Luke will seem annoying and obnoxious at first. However, his journey is one of development, growth, and a path of individuality. Tales of the Abyss builds up to a fantastic ending complete with stunning anime cutscenes.
3 Tales Of Berseria
As the sixteenth mainline entry, Tales of Berseria is the most recent title in the series until Tales of Arise is released in late 2021. It’s the most visually impressive Tales game so far and features the first solo female lead with Velvet.
Berseria is much darker in tone than its predecessors and with a lead protagonist hell-bent on vengeance her motivations put Velvet firmly in the anti-hero category. Velvet is supported by a cast of characters with dark motives of their own making it one of the most unique titles by comparison. Tales of Berseria is a prequel to Tales of Zesteria but the connections are minor enough that fans enjoy Berseria as a standalone title.
2 Tales Of Symphonia
When it first released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2004, Tales of Symphonia served as an introduction to the series for many fans in the West. Sometimes referred to as the Final Fantasy VII of the Tales of series, Symphonia is an amazing title that is as good today as it was 17 years ago.
The cell-shaded visuals still hold up nicely thanks to its anime art style and its cast of characters is timeless. However, it’s the story centered on racism and intolerance that is just as affecting as it is relevant in 2021. Tales of Symphonia was remastered and bundled with its direct sequel Dawn of a New World on the PS3.
1 Tales Of Vesperia
First released in 2009 on the Xbox 360 and again on its tenth anniversary in 2019 for the PS4, Switch, and Xbox One, Tales of Vesperia is easily one of the best titles in the series. When it comes to the best in the series it’s usually between Symphonia and Vesperia and for good reason.
Both are amazing entries in the series but thanks to the sheer accessibility and availability of Tales of Vesperia slightly edges it. Furthermore, Vesperia features the best protagonist in the series’ history with Yuri Lowell. Unlike the predecessors which usually featured naive and young leads, Yuri is an experienced warrior that’s quick to the sword and wise beyond his years. Thanks to its cell-shaded visuals, Vesperia looks amazing and clean even by today’s standards.