With each new game in the JRPG genre, there are certain expectations that come with the territory, as spiky-haired protagonists, world-altering plots, and big, eccentric swords are essential items on the JRPG menu. Though the series had been quiet since 2016, the arrival of Tales of Arise in Q3 of 2021 satisfied each of these prerequisites, unsurprisingly resulting in no small amount of critical praise.
Each new entry in the 'Tales' series is - with a few exceptions - entirely self-contained, and as such the games are always accessible to new fans. Tales of Arise is no different, and experiencing Alphen and Shionne's quest to end the overbearing rule of the Renans on the humble world of Dahna is immensely enjoyable to veterans and newcomers alike. However, while the stories and characters that inhabit each and every game in the series are decidedly different, there are similarities between each one, including the amount of time it takes to see each game's credits roll.
The 40-Hour Journey of Tales of Arise
Being the seventeenth entry in the veteran JRPG series, there's a significant amount of content that precedes Tales of Arise. From the blastia-dotted Terca Lumireis in Tales of Vesperia to the moon-drenched world of Oraganica in 2008's Tales of Hearts, each journey that the player embarks upon often takes far more than a mere weekend to finish.
While many would expect every JRPG to clock in around the 40-hour mark, it wasn't until 2003's Tales of Symphonia that the series exceeded that, demanding around 47 hours to see the story's conclusion. Tales of Arise is a little more reasonable with its expectation of 40 hours, which mirrors the length of both Tales of Rebirth and the series' only Wii outing, Tales of Graces.
Taking the total length of all seventeen entries in the series and deducing the average length per game would equate to 38.5 hours each, which is a mere 90 minutes shy of Arise's story length. This is, however, including the shortest in the series, 2007's Tales of Innocence at 29.5 hours, and longest, the 48.5-hour behemoth Tales of the Abyss. Thankfully, the stories that take place in the Tales series are often stellar, so it's rare that they fail to justify their often hefty runtime. Even a game like Tales of Symphonia was able to overcome its somewhat overwhelming runtime thanks to an eclectic band of likable characters and a story that never lacks charm.
Focusing on the Story
A significant factor in the quest for completion are collectables, which are dotted around in most entries in the series. Scooping them up along the way will take a little effort and a lot of time, and the abundance of Owls in Tales of Arise means it too will require more time to reach 100%. Not unlike filling out the collector's book in Tales of Vesperia, which is a side-task that many will want to complete, this will add hours to its total time.
Ultimately, any entry in the Tales series can take as long as the player desires. While Tales of Arise places significant emphasis on exploration, if the goal is to just see its story reach a satisfying conclusion, its length is nothing out of the ordinary. 40 hours is what players have come to expect of the series, though it can fluctuate somewhat according to which entry gamers are diving into.
Alongside Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, the games presented in Bandai Namco's Tales series sit atop the mountain of JRPG popularity. Fans can rest assured that the most recent entry the Tales of Arise is yet another great entry in a long line of successes, with a runtime that's manageable yet substantial.
Tales of Arise is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.