The 15 Best Tales Games, Ranked

The Tales series is a hugely popular and famous line of Japanese role-playing games, but with so many titles, it’s hard to pick the very best. What originally made Tales stand out was its fast-paced, action-focused battles, a departure from the more traditional turn-based combat of other RPGs. Even now, its combat system is considered one of the best in the genre, especially as many other popular RPGs have since switched to action-based fighting.

I’m a huge Tales series fan, and it’s not just the battles that keep me coming back! I’ve really connected with the characters and stories, and I love how the games can be funny and serious at the same time. With seventeen main games and a bunch of spin-offs, picking a favorite is tough, but some definitely stand out as the best!

15. Tales Of Zestiria

A Solid Spin On The Arthurian Legend

While Tales of Zestiria isn’t the most well-known game in the series, the story becomes quite engaging as it unfolds, offering a fresh perspective on the King Arthur myth. The biggest downside is that moving to fully 3D graphics makes the world feel less charming and imaginative compared to older games like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia.

Like other games in the Tales series, Tales of Zestiria offers a rich experience that’s easy to pick up and play. It focuses on strategic team-ups and summoning powerful allies during tough fights. The game is beautifully presented with stunning visuals and exciting, large-scale boss battles. The Tales series is well-known for its strong character writing, and Zestiria continues that tradition. Although the main character fits the classic “chosen one” archetype, Zestiria manages to make Sorey a compelling and relatable hero, avoiding many of the clichés often found in fantasy stories.

14. Tales Of The World: Radiant Mythology

I’ve always thought of the Tales series as being for consoles, but they’ve actually released a bunch of games on handheld systems too. Over about ten years, Tales of the World became a big deal for portable gaming, with eight different titles across a few consoles. It’s a shame though, because we didn’t get many of them over here – only Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology ever made it to the West.

The first game in the Radiant Mythology series does things a little differently. It’s designed like a classic online role-playing game, where you create your own character and complete quests by exploring dungeons. You can fully customize how your character looks and choose their job class, and you’re even able to change classes later in the game. This feature gives the game a lot of replayability, as players can experiment with different character types and abilities.

A key feature of Radiant Mythology is the chance to add characters from other Tales games to your team, letting you fight alongside familiar faces. Fans of the older games will especially appreciate this. While the combat system isn’t as polished as modern games, it was solid for its time and one of the first in the series to use 3D graphics. It’s a bit clunky now, but still functional.

I’m not sure if Radiant Mythology is the strongest of the spin-off games – the later ones feel more polished. But I chose it because it’s the only one that was officially released in other countries besides Japan.

13. Tales Of Legendia

Arguably The Best Character Development In The Series

Released in 2005, Tales of Legendia had a tough time gaining attention because it came out right after the popular Tales of Symphonia and in the same year as the highly-regarded Tales of the Abyss. This has made it a somewhat forgotten game in the Tales series. Compared to Tales of the Abyss, its combat system feels older, and the story unfolds slowly.

One of the best parts of Tales of Legendia is how well its characters grow, even after the main story ends, thanks to a system called Character Arcs. The characters truly drive the narrative, and every single one is well-developed and engaging. This system also gives the post-game content real purpose, moving beyond just replaying areas or doing repetitive side quests. While the story and characters shine, the gameplay itself isn’t one of the series’ strongest points.

12. Tales Of Hearts R

An Underrated Tales Game And A Great PS Vita JRPG

First appearing on the Nintendo DS, Tales of Hearts was later remade for the PS Vita. This Vita version was the first time the game was released outside of Japan. Tales of Hearts R features a 3D combat system, a move away from the 2D battles of the original and more in line with what players expected from the Tales series at the time. Many fans consider this combat system to be one of the best in the entire franchise.

Though not the most visually stunning JRPG on PlayStation, Tales of Hearts R boasts impressive character designs and fluid combat animations, complemented by bright, though simple, environments. It’s a shame the game is tied to the now-discontinued Vita, and I wouldn’t suggest buying one solely for this title. However, if you already own a Vita and enjoy action-based JRPGs, Tales of Hearts R is essential playing.

11. Tales Of Phantasia

The First And Still Iconic Entry In The Tales Series

Tales of Phantasia, the very first game in the popular Tales series, introduced many of the features fans know and love today. The story begins with a dramatic turn of events: the hero, Cress, faces betrayal, loss, and is unexpectedly thrown back in time with his friends to stop a powerful villain named Dhaos. It’s a standout JRPG for the Super Nintendo, considered one of the system’s best alongside classics like Final Fantasy 6 and Dragon Quest 7.

The Game Boy Advance is currently the only version of Tales of Phantasia available in English-speaking regions. However, fans have created an English translation for the original PlayStation version, which is considered better and more faithful to the original Japanese game.

10. Tales Of Eternia

Excellent Combat And Beautiful Pre-Rendered Backdrops

Originally released in the US as Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Eternia was later brought to the PSP in 2006 under its original title. The actual Tales of Destiny 2 never officially came out outside of Japan, though a dedicated fan translation for the PS2 exists. However, Tales of Eternia represented a significant visual improvement over the more basic, SNES-style graphics of the previous game. Its cutscenes, voice acting, full-motion videos, and stunning pre-rendered backgrounds remain impressive even now.

The story starts when Reid meets Meredy, a girl from a world called Celestia. They soon learn Meredy’s mission is to stop their two worlds from crashing into each other. While there aren’t many characters you can directly control besides guest characters, the game focuses on making those characters feel more developed and their relationships more meaningful. Exploring the game’s world and dungeons is also improved, and feels similar to the classic Final Fantasy games on the original PlayStation.

9. Tales of Xillia 2

The Best Tales Sequel

The Tales series hasn’t always had success with direct sequels – Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World is often considered the weakest game in the franchise. However, Tales of Xillia 2 is the best of the second attempts, and in some ways, it’s even better than the original. The first Xillia already featured a remarkably deep and well-developed battle system for a JRPG, and the sequel improves upon it. This creates combat that’s immediately enjoyable, challenging to fully master, and sure to entertain fans of the series’ more recent games. The story does have a somewhat infamous element: you quickly find yourself burdened with a debt that takes a large chunk of your early earnings. While a little annoying, this debt isn’t too difficult to manage and ultimately feels like a minor inconvenience.

The biggest weakness of the game lies with Ludger, the new main character in Xillia 2, even though he’s a great addition to the existing cast. He’s fantastic in battle – incredibly strong and adaptable – and he’s a likable character who interacts well with Jude and the others. However, because Ludger is so much better in combat than everyone else, there’s little incentive to play as any other character. While Tales games often have a character or two who stand out as stronger or more enjoyable, the difference is particularly noticeable in Xillia 2.

8. Tales Of Destiny

Excellent Characters With Some Of The Best Villains In The Series

Released as the second installment in the series, Tales of Destiny was a highly popular Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) for the original PlayStation in the late 1990s. Similar to the Final Fantasy games, Tales of Destiny features a completely new story, separate from the events of the first Tales game, Tales of Phantasia. What really set the Tales series apart was its fast-paced, action-oriented combat, which still feels great to play today. The game follows Stahn Aileron, a spirited hero who remains beloved by Tales fans even after all these years.

Stahn starts his adventure by hiding on a ship, and things take a turn when he finds Dymlos, a sword that can talk! While their interactions are often funny, Tales of Destiny skillfully blends humor with more serious moments, setting a trend for the series. Later, a special version called Tales of Destiny Director’s Cut was released in Japan for the PlayStation 2, featuring updated graphics, music, character art, and a new playable character.

7. Tales Of Xillia

A Compelling Story With Dual Protagonists

Tales of Xillia lets you play through the story from two different perspectives: Milla Maxwell, a spirit lord, and Jude Mathis, a medical student with fighting skills. While their journeys overlap, each character experiences unique events and offers a different take on the story. Like other Tales games, Xillia boasts a rich world and well-developed characters, revealed through conversations and interactions with people you meet as you travel between towns.

Compared to other Tales games, Tales of Xillia feels faster-paced, which keeps the story moving and makes the characters’ challenges more intense. Milla and Jude are on a mission to stop the empire from unleashing a devastating weapon that could destroy the spirit world. While the game doesn’t offer a lot of optional content, its strong focus on the main story and memorable characters make it stand out as one of the best in the series.

6. Tales Of The Abyss

Excellent Character Development Despite A Slow Start

Tales of the Abyss is a fantastic game in the Tales series, with noticeably improved combat compared to Tales of Symphonia. It boasts excellent character development, though players may need to be patient with the main character, Luke.

At first, Luke comes across as a bratty and privileged teen, making him a difficult character to like. But the game’s surprisingly compelling story about self-discovery and finding purpose leads to a satisfying redemption arc, making his journey to becoming a hero truly captivating. The game also deserves praise for its rich world, memorable characters, and beautifully designed towns, which still hold up well even on older systems like the PS2 and 3DS.

2026-04-14 17:07