WithTales of Arisedue torelease in September 2021, it may possibly be one of the most hotly anticipated titles in theTales ofseries. 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.
RELATED:10 Action JRPGs To Play While Waiting For Scarlet Nexus
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 intoTales of Arise’shealthy 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.
10Tales Of Eternia
First released in 2001 asTales of Destiny II,the game was released in Japan and Europe asTales 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 predecessorTales of Destinybut 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.
9Tales Of Destiny
The second title in Namco’sTalesseries,Tales of Destinywas released on the Ps1 in 1998 for American audiences. The game got a Japan-only remake for the PlayStation 2 calledTales of Destiny – Director’s Cutbut it is yet to be released for Western audiences.
RELATED:15 JRPGs With The Deepest Lore, Ranked
However, the original PS1 release holds up very nicely on its own merit.Tales of Destinyhas 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 butTales of Destinyhas a fantastic score featuring around 90 tracks and excellent character designs.
8Tales Of Xillia 2
Released Worldwide on the PlayStation 3 in 2014,Tales of Xillia 2is one of the few direct sequels in theTalesfranchise. It’s also the only mainline entry to feature a silent protagonist developed to immerse the player even more.
Tales of Xilliawas a popular title with fans but there were a lot of loose ends that needed tying up. As a sequel,Xillia 2did 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 2has a compelling story and serves as a great companion to the first game.
7Tales Of Zesteria
Released in 2015,Tales of Zesteriais the fifteenth mothership title in theTalesseries. It was the first game in the series to be released on the PlayStation 4 and was the most visuallyTalesgame at the time.
RELATED:Tales of Series Games List
As a more colorful and cheerful title,Tales of Zesteriadoesn’t quite have the narrative impact asTales of Symphonia. It does, however, hark back to classic titles likeTales of PhantasiaandTales of Destiny.That said,Zesteria’s take on Arthurian legend and myth is entertaining and the combat system is fantastic.
6Tales Of Legendia
Released worldwide for the PlayStation 2 in 2006,Tales of Legendiais the seventh mothership title in theTalesseries. It was created as part of a team-up between the Tales Studio and the studio behind theTekkenseries. Yet, despite this,Tales of Legendiaremains one of the most underappreciated titles in the series.
There are issues with the repetitiveness of the dungeons, and the lack of voice acting inLegendia’s second half. However, the game features some of the best individual character stories in the series. This is thanks toLegendia’s post-game Character Quests, a feature that gives all the characters a chance to shine.
5Tales Of Xillia
Released in 2013 for the PlayStation 3,Tales of Xilliais the thirteenth mainline entry in theTalesseries. 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 butXilliais 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 withdistinct fighting stylesbetween characters.
4Tales Of The Abyss
Released in 2006 for the PS2 and the Nintendo 3DS in 2012,Tales of the Abyssremains 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 Abyssbuilds up to a fantastic ending complete with stunning anime cutscenes.
3Tales Of Berseria
As the sixteenth mainline entry,Tales of Berseriais the most recent title in the series untilTales of Ariseis released in late 2021. It’s the most visually impressiveTalesgame so far and features the first solo female lead with Velvet.
RELATED:Tales Of Vesperia: The Best Base & Arcane Artes For Each Playable Character
Berseriais 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 Berseriais a prequel toTales of Zesteriabut the connections are minor enough that fans enjoyBerseriaas a standalone title.
2Tales Of Symphonia
When it first released on the Nintendo GameCube in 2004,Tales of Symphoniaserved as an introduction to the series for many fans in the West. Sometimes referred to as theFinal Fantasy VIIof theTales ofseries,Symphoniais 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 andits cast of charactersis timeless. However, it’s the story centered on racism and intolerance that is just as affecting as it is relevant in 2021.Tales of Symphoniawas remastered and bundled with its direct sequelDawn of a New Worldon the PS3.
1Tales 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 Vesperiais easily one of the best titles in the series. When it comes to the best in the series it’s usually betweenSymphoniaandVesperiaand for good reason.
Both are amazing entries in the series but thanks to the sheer accessibility and availability ofTales of Vesperiaslightly edges it. Furthermore,Vesperiafeatures 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,Vesperialooks amazing and clean even by today’s standards.
Next:10 Games To Play While You’re Waiting For Tales Of Arise
