The Tales franchise made its first appearance with Tales of Phantasia in 1995. Its themes of friendship, coexistence, and character development ensured that it gained a dedicated and vocal fanbase over six generations of consoles. As one of the top three JRPGs in Japan, it rivals the likes of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest in terms of storytelling. However, by comparison, the series has remained obscure when compared to its rivals in the West.

As a result, critical opinions outside of JRPG fan circles didn’t quite reach the same heights as a Final Fantasy VII or Dragon Quest XI. That being said, there are still some high-scoring hits for the series that even Metacritic has acknowledged, many of which remain the best Tales games among fans to this day.

Updated September 19, 2021 by Michael Llewellyn: It’s been a great year for Namco Bandai, with two major JRPG hits releasing within months of each other. The first was Scarlet Nexus, a sci-fi title worked on by members of the Tales and God Eater series. The second hit is of course the hotly anticipated Tales of Arise. Thankfully, the anticipation and the five-year wait for the seventeenth mainline title were worth it. It’s the best-selling Tales game and one that is likely to pull in a generation of fans. Unsurprisingly, it’s a hit with critics too but how does it rank against the best Tales games?

17 Tales Of Phantasia – Metascore 55.5%

  • Platform:
  • GBA and iOS
  • Released:
  • 2006 and 2014

As the first game in the series, Tales Of Phantasia may be showing its age by today’s standards. However, its story and mechanics laid the groundwork for every title in the series going forward.

It’s still a worthy entry in any JRPG collector’s library. Unfortunately, its excellent score was ruined by the awful iOS port and its free-to-play model. After the recent success of Tales of Arise, fans are hopeful that this will get the remaster or remake that It deserves.

16 Tales Of Crestoria – Metascore 58%

  • Platform:
  • Android and iOS
  • Released:
  • 2020

Released in 2020, Tales Of Crestoria is designed to be played on mobile devices. The spin-off title uses a free-to-play model and unlike other titles in the Tales series, the combat is turn-based.

The new combat system is better suited to mobile devices, but it may disappoint fans of the series’ renowned real-time action system. It features recognizable characters from past Tales titles allowing them to be summoned into battle. Unfortunately, as with all games of this type, it’s designed to make you want to part with your cash by ramping up the difficulty.

15 Tales Of The World: Radiant Mythology – Metascore 66%

  • Platform:
  • PSP
  • Released:
  • 2007

Tales Of The World: Radiant Mythology is a crossover spin-off title that was released exclusively for the PSP. It wasn’t as well-received as the mothership series and resembled the gameplay of MMORPG.

It features appearances from well-known characters in the Tales franchise like Lloyd from Tales of Symphonia and Reid from Tales of Eternia. Unfortunately, even though the gameplay was fun the story and character development was lacking.

14 Tales Of Symphonia: Dawn Of The New World – Metascore 68%

  • Platform:
  • Wii and PS3
  • Released:
  • 2008

Released as a direct sequel to the classic Tales of Symphonia, Dawn of the New World wasn’t as well-received as its predecessor. Much of the disappointment stemmed from the focus being on two new protagonists as opposed to Lloyd and his friends.

The predecessor’s cast is treated more like cameos, and it lacked the magic that made the original so good. On the plus side, the gameplay and the world are still a joy to revisit. Additionally, the new monster-collecting mechanic allowing the protagonists to capture and use over 200 creatures in combat is surprisingly deep and addictive.

13 Tales Of Xillia 2 - Metascore 71%

  • Platform:
  • PS3
  • Released:
  • 2014

Released as a direct sequel to Tales Of Xillia, Tales of Xillia 2 takes place around a year after the events of its predecessor. The new lead is Ludgar Kresnik, a silent protagonist designed to make one feel like they are in the shoes of the hero. As a result, there are dialogue choices that can affect the outcome of the story.

It featured some restrictive and frustrating mechanics, like a debt system that forces you to earn enough gald before the plot moves forward. Despite this, the story is solid and helps tie up a lot of the loose ends leftover from its predecessor.

12 Tales Of Legendia - Metascore 72%

  • Platform:
  • PS2
  • Released:
  • 2005

Released in 2005, Tales Of Legendia hit the shelves a year after fan-favorite Tales of Symphonia and was overshadowed by the popular Tales of the Abyss. It features unique character designs from Kazuto Nakazawa best known for his work on the anime Samurai Champloo and Capcom’s Asura’s Wrath.

Tales Of Legendia’s world takes place on a continent-sized ancient ship. The races are divided by the people of the land and the people of the sea or the Orerines and the Ferines respectively. The setting is one of the most unique in the series and the world-building is intricate and intriguing. In addition, the post-game content features the best character development in the series to date. It’s easy to see why Tales of Legendia is looked upon as an underappreciated classic.

11 Tales Of Zestiria – Metascore 74%

  • Platform:
  • PS4 and PC
  • Released:
  • 2015

As the first title in the Tales series to hit PS4, Tales of Zesteria had the task of unenviable task of following the Tales of Xillia games. It divided fans upon release but has managed to gain a larger fanbase since.

Zesteria features a world and storyline that’s heavily influenced by Arthurian legend. Furthermore, the combat system is still a lot of fun even when compared to Tales of Berseria. As ever, the strength of this particular title is fortified by the relationships between the lead character Sorey and his Seraphs Mikleo and Lailah.

10 Tales Of The Abyss - Metascore 75.6%

  • Platform:
  • PS2 and 3DS
  • Released:
  • 2006 and 2012

First released on the PS2 in 2006, Tales of the Abyss still ranks highly among fans of the series. In many ways, it felt like a step forward for the series in terms of combat and visuals that are still comparable to Tales of Vesperia.

Where Tales of Abyss shines is the story and development of its lead Luke Von Fabre. It does take some time for the story to get going but it’s worth it. Luke’s development from an unlikeable spoiled rich kid to a warrior on the road to redemption is exceptionally executed.

9 Tales Of Hearts R Metascore - 76%

  • Platform:
  • PS3
  • Released:
  • 2012

As a remake of the Nintendo DS original, Tales of Hearts R was the first time the title was released in The West. It’s a whimsical tale even by the series’ standards but the world history and character motivations are what drives this game forward.

As with previous titles, there is a strong emphasis on friendship and loss. The budding relationship develops between the main protagonist Kor and its female lead Kohaku. Kohaku is a girl whose emotions that he inadvertently destroyed while trying to save her. His sense of duty to her and remorse blossoms into a romance that connects them both in a way the audience can get behind.

8 Tales Of Symphonia Chronicles – Metascore 77%

  • Platform:
  • PS3 and PC
  • Released:
  • 2014

Tales of Symphonia Chronicles is a remastered set of both Tales of Symphonia and its direct sequel Dawn of the New World. The original game is still one of the highest-scoring titles in the series but its sequel wasn’t as well-received.

This could account for the remaster’s lower review score but the first title is worth the price of entry alone. The cell-shaded visuals upscaled nicely on the PS3 the world looked better than ever. It was, however, let down by some issues with the loading times compared to the GameCube original. Hopefully, a modern remaster will be on the cards so fans jump back into one of the best games in the series.

7 Tales Of Graces F – Metascore 77%

  • Platform:
  • PS3 and Nintendo Wii
  • Released:
  • 2012

Originally released on the Nintendo Wii in 2009, Tales of Graces f was the first time this entry in the series made it to the West. It served as both a port and a remaster with the visuals being upscaled for the PS3.

The game’s plot doesn’t have much in the way of surprising twists and turns, but it’s still entertaining and has a great cast of characters. The combat system is the true star of the show with it arguably being the best in the series next to Tales of Arise.

6 Tales Of Xillia – Metascore 78%

Released in 2013, Tales of Xillia was the first Tales game to release on the PS3 in the West. It features two protagonists in Jude Mathis and Milla Maxwell. Milla’s story is the most captivating and the stronger character overall but the stories intertwine making each journey worthwhile.

The combat system is very similar to that of Tales of Graces although it was more complex in its execution. As a result, it can take a little time to learn but it’s very rewarding. The story and believable characters will draw you in from the start. In addition, there is a load of content outside the campaign to you occupied.

5 Tales Of Eternia/Destiny 2 – Metascore 78%

  • Platform:
  • PS1 and PSP
  • Released:
  • 2001 and 2006

Released in the US as Tales of Destiny 2, Tales of Eternia made it to European and Australian territories under its real name for the PSP.

As a more lighthearted JRPG, Tales of Eternia doesn’t hit the same notes as Tales of Berseria and Tales of Arise. The story follows protagonists Reid and Meredy as they try to prevent a cataclysmic event from destroying both their planets

4 Tales Of Berseria – Metascore 79.5%

  • Platform:
  • PS4 and PC
  • Released:
  • 2017

Going forward most fans may remember the newest entry Tales of Arise as taking the series into darker territories. It was a Tales of Berseria, however, that took the series into new depths.

With its protagonist hell-bent on vengeance and struggling with rage Berseria’s Velvet Crowe is one of the best protagonists in the series. Additionally, the cast of supporting characters have their dark motivations to drive the plot forward. Tales of Berseria serves as a prequel to Tales of Zestiria. While it serves as a great way to appreciate Zestiria in a new light, Berseria is very much its own game.

3 Tales Of Vesperia – Metascore 80.6%

  • Platform:
  • Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC
  • Released:
  • 2008 and 2019

Originally released as an Xbox 360 exclusive for Western audiences in 2008, Tales of Vesperia was remastered for multiple platforms in 2019. It remains one of the best entries in the series and thanks to the art style it holds up very well against the modern entries in the Tales franchise.

Vesperia also features one of the best protagonists in the series history with Yuri Lowell. Unlike his predecessors, Yuri is an experienced warrior with a sarcastic tone and cynical view of the world. He’s a far cry from the naive teenager seen in previous entries and a more relatable character for older players. In addition, Yuri often falls into the anti-hero category as opposed to the relentless do-gooder seen in JRPGs. He isn’t afraid to take matters into his own hands when it comes to serving justice to evil-doers.

2 Tales Of Arise – Metascore 85%

  • Platform:
  • PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
  • Released:
  • 2021

Released in 2021, Tales of Arise is the newest entry in the series and already ranks as one of the best. As a result of moving the series on to Unreal Engine 4, the wait was a long one for fans. It was time well spent, Arise is a step forward for the series without forgetting its roots and a great introduction to the series for newcomers.

Thanks to the extra time committed to Tales of Arise, the series finally looks like it can compete with the bigger budget with Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. In addition, it features one of the best stories in the series to date. Not only is it a great Tales game but it’s an amazing JRPG that ranks among the best in the genre. The combat took inspiration from Tales of Graces f with its effective countering system and manages to even surpass it. It’s a combination of technical skill, flashy gameplay, and easy-to-learn mechanics.

1 Tales Of Symphonia – Metascore 86%

  • Platform:
  • GameCube, PC, and PS3
  • Released:
  • 2004 and 2014

Released in 2004, Tales of Symphonia was for many fans in the 2000s it served as an excellent introduction to the series. It remains a fantastic title on its own despite being based in the same universe as Tales of Phantasia. Its strength lies in world-building and its story of racial division and acceptance is as relevant today as it was then.

The gameplay is fantastic with a combat system that still feels fresh even when compared to the likes of Tales of Vesperia. It has an excellent cast of characters and the lead protagonist Lloyd was developed perfectly. His transition from a boisterous young boy to a matured warrior with worldly experience is executed perfectly.