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Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise offers a superb blend of JRPG favourites, tight combat, and modern-day design choices. It's easily the best Tales game in years.
Tales of Arise Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, monetization
89% User Score Based on 20,596 reviews
Critic Score 86%Based on 61 reviews

Platforms

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Tales of Arise Game Cover

About

Tales of Arise is a single player role playing game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc. and was released on September 9, 2021. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

In "Tales of Arise," players traverse the diverse, anime-inspired world of Dahna, using the "Atmospheric Shader" for immersive visuals. The game features various editions, offering additional content such as costumes, travel packs, and item packs. Exploration and combat are central to the experience as players encounter captivating characters and revel in the vibrant world.

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Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
Tales of Arise screenshot
+13
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 20,596 reviews
story5.6k positive mentions
grinding985 negative mentions
  • story
    14,924 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Tales of Arise" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its engaging character development and emotional depth, particularly in the first half. However, critiques often highlight a decline in quality and pacing in the latter part of the game, where it becomes bogged down by excessive exposition and predictable plot twists. While the narrative tackles serious themes such as oppression and freedom, some players feel it falls into familiar JRPG tropes, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall impact and originality.

    • “The story is beautifully crafted, offering a narrative that is both engaging and profound.”
    • “Tales of Arise delivers a deep and thrilling JRPG experience that balances a compelling story, innovative combat, and stunning visuals.”
    • “The story, character development, and emotional depth kept me invested throughout the entire experience.”
    • “I'm not even sure where to begin with the utter atrocity that is this game's storytelling.”
    • “The very simple and core concept in storytelling, 'show don't tell' is completely ignored.”
    • “A lackluster story pulls down a game that is both graphically and mechanically better.”
  • gameplay
    4,053 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Tales of Arise" has received a mix of praise and criticism from players. Many appreciate the fast-paced, engaging combat mechanics and the introduction of new features like boost strikes, which enhance team synergy and make battles more dynamic. However, some players find the gameplay repetitive, particularly in the late game where enemy variety diminishes and battles can feel like a grind due to spongy enemies. Overall, while the gameplay is generally seen as a significant improvement over previous titles in the series, it is often overshadowed by a lackluster story and pacing issues.

    • “I loved that it still kept the core essence of what makes a good JRPG but with a more polished & fast-paced, modernized gameplay element that drew in newcomers, especially the younger generations to the series!!”
    • “The introduction of new mechanics, such as the boost strike, enhances team synergy and makes battles more dynamic.”
    • “The gameplay is fluid, fresh, and chaotically addictive.”
    • “A lacklustre story pulls down a game that is both graphically and mechanically better.”
    • “The gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
    • “In terms of gameplay; calling this a jrpg may be a stretch, combat is simplistic and button-mashy and gets worse the more you play since battles take way too long, progression and exploration are linear and pointless, enemy variety is non-existent, crafting cooking and fishing serve almost no purpose, maps are small and boring to explore.”
  • graphics
    3,530 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Tales of Arise" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning anime-inspired visuals and vibrant environments, showcasing a significant upgrade from previous titles in the series. Players have praised the game's use of Unreal Engine 4, which enhances the overall aesthetic with detailed character models and fluid animations, creating an immersive experience. While some critiques mention issues like graphical pop-ins and a lack of depth in certain areas, the overall consensus highlights the game's impressive visual presentation as a standout feature.

    • “Tales of Arise: Beyond the Dawn delivers a deep and thrilling JRPG experience that balances a compelling story, innovative combat, and stunning visuals.”
    • “Visuals are a highlight, featuring stunning anime-style graphics and richly detailed environments—from sweeping deserts and lush forests to beautifully designed towns.”
    • “The graphics are breathtaking, with beautifully designed environments and character models that draw players into the world.”
    • “A lackluster story pulls down a game that is both graphically and mechanically better.”
    • “Much to my surprise, this is not a good game at all: the game feels very generic (landscape, monsters, music, story), the graphics are subpar, the combat system is messy and unreadable, and the dialogues are absolutely appalling.”
    • “The graphics are okay; they are definitely not the greatest and feel a bit off at times.”
  • music
    1,748 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Tales of Arise" has received a mixed reception, with many praising its orchestral compositions by Motoi Sakuraba that enhance the game's emotional depth and atmosphere. While some tracks, particularly the opening and battle themes, are highlighted as standout pieces, others are described as forgettable or overly dramatic for certain scenes. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a solid contribution to the game's immersive experience, though it occasionally suffers from audio mixing issues that can overshadow dialogue.

    • “This is paired with a powerful orchestral soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba that enhances the mood, from intense battles to somber, reflective moments.”
    • “The soundtrack of Tales of Arise is equally remarkable, featuring music that perfectly complements every situation, whether it's intense action, lighthearted comedy, deep drama, or the everyday activities within the expansive world.”
    • “The music in Tales of Arise is amazing, depending upon the situation it is well composed, and makes a player immerse itself completely in this world.”
    • “No impressive music in the first 8 hours.”
    • “The music is mostly mediocre but there are some good tunes later in the game.”
    • “The music is forgettable but very serviceable and the English voices were great.”
  • grinding
    1,051 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while some grinding is necessary, it can often feel tedious and repetitive, especially in the late game where enemies become damage sponges. Some players appreciate the combat system, which makes grinding more enjoyable, while others criticize the game's design for pushing players towards purchasing DLC to alleviate the grind. Overall, the experience varies significantly depending on the chosen difficulty and whether players engage in side quests, with some finding the grind manageable and others deeming it excessive.

    • “The overall gameplay, equipment, and leveling system isn't too grindy, but battling many high-level enemies and fighting as much as possible is definitely advised.”
    • “I had no trouble beating the game doing all side quests and absolutely no grinding (which I love), I just killed whatever was in my way and my level was always good enough for the challenge at hand.”
    • “No grinding is needed, just battling mobs will award you the experience and items needed to beat every boss in a natural progression.”
    • “☐ you'll need a second life for grinding”
    • “Massive health pool on the bosses is straight up brutal and grinding levels in this game is absolute hell.”
    • “The final dungeons of the game is a boring slog of tedious combat with high health enemies that take too long to kill only to immediately have to do it again multiple times.”
  • character development
    754 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in "Tales of Arise" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and progression of the main cast, particularly through well-crafted backstories and interactions during skits. However, some players feel that character arcs can be rushed or inconsistent, leading to a lack of emotional payoff. Overall, while the game excels in character design and offers engaging relationships, the execution of character development varies, with some finding it lacking compared to previous titles in the series.

    • “The character development is exceptional, with well-crafted backstories that add depth to the overall experience.”
    • “Tales of Arise is a phenomenal experience that effortlessly blends a deeply engaging story with memorable character development.”
    • “The story and character development is probably one of the strongest traits the game has to offer with tons of cutscenes, dialogues, and skits that can be triggered in many places, filling a player in on many details about various topics.”
    • “Instead they decided to rehash the story we just saw during cutscenes in the skits... and now you have tedious and mundane skits with very little character development.”
    • “There is no significant character development and characters are mostly one-dimensional.”
    • “The game completely drops the ball with its plot at what feels the halfway mark to then throw you into the final arc and spoil all the character development and world building up till that point with a half-baked villain and a massive expectation let down for what it led the player to believe would be the next arc of the story.”
  • monetization
    423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it as predatory and a cash grab. Reviewers express frustration over the intrusive in-game advertisements for DLC and microtransactions, which disrupt immersion in a single-player experience, as well as the presence of non-cosmetic microtransactions that affect gameplay. While some acknowledge that the game can be enjoyed without engaging with these monetization tactics, the overall sentiment is that the aggressive push for additional purchases detracts from the game's quality and player experience.

    • “A good game held back by horrible monetization and some pretty cringey moments.”
    • “Yes, the microtransactions and grind skips are absolutely Ubisoft-levels of awful, but that doesn't take away from just how incredible the game is.”
    • “Yet there's heavy monetization on top that's not even cosmetic, but has a significant effect on the playability, and the game partly induces the need for having these features.”
    • “The game was designed from the ground up to push predatory microtransactions, and yet all of the strengths of the series are still there.”
    • “You shouldn't be seeing advertisements for DLC and microtransactions in a full price, offline, single player game.”
  • emotional
    404 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Tales of Arise" is characterized by a rich narrative that explores themes of oppression, freedom, and personal growth, often leading to heartfelt moments that resonate deeply with players. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions, with some noting that it made them cry, particularly during pivotal character developments and the conclusion. However, there are mixed opinions regarding the execution of emotional scenes, with some feeling that certain moments lacked impact or were overshadowed by awkward dialogue and pacing issues. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth and character arcs, though some critiques suggest that it doesn't consistently reach the emotional heights of previous entries in the series.

    • “The narrative is rich and emotionally engaging, exploring themes of freedom, identity, and the consequences of war.”
    • “The story of Alphen, Shionne, and their journey to free the oppressed Dahnan people from the rule of the Renans is both emotional and thought-provoking.”
    • “Overall, I really loved this game, and I can't remember ever getting as emotional over an ending as I did for this one, which is a testament to how strongly it built up its characters.”
    • “I'm giving this a recommended because the gameplay outshines it, however the boring story does make it a little difficult to push through the game.”
    • “A truly lazy attempt by the writers to keep the otherwise linear and boring storyline somewhat entertaining.”
    • “This game has the most boring story I've ever seen, please don't play this for the story.”
  • humor
    360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of hilarious skits and character interactions that often provide light-hearted moments amidst a darker storyline. While many players appreciate the charm and comedic elements, some feel that the humor can be inconsistent, with certain skits lacking the depth and wit found in previous titles. Overall, the game successfully balances humor and seriousness, though opinions vary on its effectiveness and frequency throughout the gameplay.

    • “The real charm is found in frequent skits and side scenes the game provides for each character; they truly provide some great humor.”
    • “The story has a good sense of camaraderie between the main group of characters, and the character interactions and dialogue are very humorous and fun, often making the player smile.”
    • “The skits were often very funny, and as a guy who appreciates humor, I liked that.”
    • “Game play is not funny at all.”
    • “9/10 reviews seen everywhere are just unfunny jokes.”
    • “The only thing they say to each other are forced romance, silly unfunny gag skits, and constant philosophical musings on life.”
  • optimization
    327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received positive feedback, with many players reporting smooth performance across various hardware setups, including older systems. While some users experienced minor issues like sound stuttering or frame drops in specific scenarios, the majority found the game to run well, often maintaining high frame rates without crashes. Recommendations include installing the game on an SSD for optimal performance, particularly to avoid audio lag during cutscenes.

    • “The visuals are fantastic, a beautiful combination of 3D in 2D space, nothing feels uncanny or janky; the game is nicely optimized and was smooth start to finish.”
    • “The game is incredibly well optimized, runs butter smooth and I’ve had little to no issues running it on my PC.”
    • “Game is well optimized since release build to where high-end PCs can enjoy maxed graphics with 200+ fps exploring and roughly mid 100 fps during bigger fights.”
    • “Don't install this game on your HDD; it causes sound lag (sound stuttering) in cutscenes. You need to install this game on your SSD.”
    • “I think a lot of my performance issues came from the sub-par PC port of the game.”
    • “Also in combat, it has a lot of stuttering. I'm not even sure if sometimes a freeze is intentional or a bug, but it's really annoying when it happens multiple times in a few seconds.”
  • replayability
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting a lack of incentive to replay due to the ability to complete everything in a single playthrough, while others highlight the potential for extended playtime through post-game content and New Game Plus options. Many reviews suggest that while the game can be enjoyable for a single run, the absence of meaningful changes in NG+ and the ease of completing the game diminish its overall replay value. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some finding significant replay potential and others deeming it minimal.

    • “ infinite replayability”
    • “There’s also a ton of after story activities when you finally finish, and I’d say it has a high replay value.”
    • “Very high replay value due to new game +, leveling artes, and securing the strongest weapons/armor.”
    • “Overall, if you can get the game for free and turn your brain off, you might enjoy playing through the game once, but I don't expect you'll find a lot of replay value in it though.”
    • “You can do everything in one playthrough, which is a boon if you are a completionist like me, although it also means there is pretty much no replayability and no reason to do New Game Plus.”
    • “Lack of replayability; there is a New Game Plus, but with zero changes or additional content, the appeal to play again is limited.”
  • atmosphere
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning art style, immersive soundtracks, and dynamic environments that enhance both emotional depth and gameplay experience. Players appreciate the blend of epic and intimate tones, with music that complements various scenes, from intense battles to reflective moments. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in atmosphere, particularly regarding story direction and certain cutscenes that detract from immersion.

    • “The art style blends beautifully with the more mature tone of the story, creating an atmosphere that feels both epic and intimate.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the emotions and atmosphere of each scene, whether it's an intense battle or a heartfelt moment of reflection.”
    • “It has great atmosphere and lush landscapes, an epic brooding soundtrack, and deep character development paired with a healthy balance of light-hearted humor and tense drama.”
    • “My brain can fill in what happened between the two scenes, but considering PC load times are extremely fast, I don't get a moment to take in the previous scene or even the atmosphere of the new one.”
    • “With the bad atmosphere leading to an unclear direction of the story.”
    • “In-game cutscenes are so poorly animated that it just kills the atmosphere.”
  • stability
    88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report a smooth experience with minimal bugs and good performance across various platforms, some have encountered significant issues such as save file deletions and a problematic lock-on system. Despite these concerns, the majority of users found the game to run well, with solid frame rates and few glitches, making it a generally stable choice for players. However, a few players experienced frustrating bugs that impacted gameplay, indicating that stability may vary depending on individual setups.

    • “There were no glitches or bugs from what I could tell, which is a rare find when it comes to video games these days.”
    • “The game runs great from a performance perspective.”
    • “It's flawless and runs great with minimal system requirements.”
    • “Plagued by glitches and bugs that make the game unplayable.”
    • “Glitches in saving that will periodically delete entire save files (always manually copy your saves after every session to prevent this).”
    • “It relies on Steam's buggy input mapping, which for many people has caused a huge amount of trouble getting the game to work.”
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86%Critics’ scoreBased on 61 critic reviews
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48h Median play time
157h Average play time
14-72h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 198 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Tales of Arise is a role playing game with fantasy and anime themes.

Tales of Arise is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 157 hours playing Tales of Arise.

Tales of Arise was released on September 9, 2021.

Tales of Arise was developed by Bandai Namco Studios Inc..

Tales of Arise has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Tales of Arise is a single player game.

Similar games include Tales of Berseria, Tales of Zestiria, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default 2 and others.