Recommended Free Tools
For Bandai Namco’s Tales role-playing game series, there is no universally agreed best entry. The Escapist’s editorial ranking puts Tales of Berseria first, while Ranker’s community-voted list uses a different ordering. Your best pick depends on whether you want a darker character story, a modern action RPG, a classic adventure, or local co-op. This guide focuses on the Tales series; “Tales” can also refer to unrelated games.
How to read “best Tales games” rankings
Rankings answer different questions depending on who made them and how. The Escapist’s editorial guide, last updated October 14, 2025, ranks Tales of Berseria, Tales of Arise, Tales of Vesperia, Tales of Symphonia, and Tales of Xillia in that order. It characterizes Berseria as darker and concerned with grief and individuality, and Arise as a story about oppression and prejudice. Those are the guide’s judgments, not an agreed series-wide verdict. Read The Escapist’s ranking.
Ranker’s list is community-voted rather than an editorial ranking. Its August 19, 2026 update reported 4.7K voters and 16.5K votes on the platform; those figures describe participation on Ranker, not a representative survey of every Tales player. Its different ordering is a reminder that a list reflects its method and audience. See Ranker’s community list.
Eneba’s October 1, 2026 guide also organizes recommendations around story, combat, and player preference, highlighting Arise, Symphonia, and Vesperia. It is another editorial perspective, not an authoritative aggregate. Read Eneba’s guide.
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstall#1 Best Overall
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX: Meet the Tales Family Edition Conversation Deck: a curated set of 150 fun and relatable conversation starters designed specifically for families. These prompts help spark authentic discussions, encourage meaningful connections, and inspire families to open up in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.
- SPECIALLY CRAFTED FOR FAMILY: This card games deck features questions written with Family life in mind, covering school, friendships, hobbies, goals, and everyday experiences. Each card is created to feel inviting, engaging, and relevant—perfect for encouraging real talks and genuine bonding.
- EASY & VERSATILE TO USE: Whether you're hosting a sleepover, road trip, classroom activity, family dinner, or casual hangout, these cards make it simple to get teens interacting and reducing screen time. Just pull a card and let the conversation flow.
- DURABLE AND PORTABLE DESIGN: Crafted with a compact, durable build, this deck is easy to toss into a bag and take anywhere. It’s a go-to activity for parties, game nights, school events, or on-the-go conversation.
- BUILD CONNECTIONS THAT LAST: In a world full of distractions, these cards help teens slow down and share what really matters. The Teens Edition encourages meaningful conversations, moments of laughter, new discoveries, and stronger relationships with friends and family.
Rather than treating any one ranking as objective, use the shortlist below to match a game’s premise, edition, platform, and features to what you want.
Which Tales game should you play?
Choose Tales of Arise for a modern action RPG
Arise is a strong starting point if you want a newer-feeling entry and a story built around two people from different worlds trying to change their fate. Bandai Namco’s description sets the conflict in a world where Rena has ruled Dahna for 300 years and exploited its people; the publisher also describes an updated battle system. Those are the official premise and feature descriptions, not a claim that every player will prefer its combat.
Rank #2
- WHAT’S IN THE BOX: Meet the Tales Kids Edition Conversation Deck: a curated set of 150 fun and relatable conversation starters designed specifically for kids. These prompts help spark authentic discussions, encourage meaningful connections, and inspire teens to open up in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.
- SPECIALLY CRAFTED FOR KIDS: This card games deck features questions written with teen life in mind, covering school, friendships, hobbies, goals, and everyday experiences. Each card is created to feel inviting, engaging, and relevant—perfect for encouraging real talks and genuine bonding.
- EASY & VERSATILE TO USE: Whether you're hosting a sleepover, road trip, classroom activity, family dinner, or casual hangout, these cards make it simple to get kids interacting and reducing screen time. Just pull a card and let the conversation flow.
- DURABLE AND PORTABLE DESIGN: Crafted with a compact, durable build, this deck is easy to toss into a bag and take anywhere. It’s a go-to activity for parties, game nights, school events, or on-the-go conversation.
- BUILD CONNECTIONS THAT LAST: In a world full of distractions, these cards help teens slow down and share what really matters. The Kids Edition encourages meaningful conversations, moments of laughter, new discoveries, and stronger relationships with friends and family.
The official listing includes Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC. Its Beyond the Dawn expansion adds “20+ hours” of content according to Bandai Namco; that is the publisher’s estimate, not independently timed playtime. Check the official Tales of Arise page.
Choose Tales of Berseria for a darker revenge story
Berseria is the clearest recommendation if you want a darker story centered on an emotionally driven protagonist. Bandai Namco describes Velvet Crowe’s journey as a revenge story and highlights a customizable battle system and quality-of-life enhancements in the remastered edition. The Escapist’s top ranking also favors the game, citing themes of grief and individuality, though those are editorial interpretations.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Rank #3
- Tales of Xadia: The Dragon Prince Roleplaying Game is about characters who experience love, war, family, heartbreak, and triumph in the world of the ground-breaking Netflix animated series.
- Forge your own adventure in Xadia, the world of The Dragon Prince!
- Will you negotiate in the political arena of the Human Kingdoms, explore a wilderness full of magical creatures, or something else?
- Anything is possible in Tales of Xadia, the official TTRPG of The Dragon Prince.
- Narrative-focused traits and archetypes quickly bring your characters and stories to life and make them feel like they truly belong in the world of Xadia.
Be precise when buying: Tales of Berseria Remastered is a distinct edition from the earlier release. The official Remastered listing names Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Check the official Berseria Remastered page.
Choose Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition for a classic-style adventure
Vesperia is a good fit if you want a celebrated older entry in a more complete edition. Bandai Namco describes the story as a young hero’s quest for justice. The Definitive Edition adds full HD graphics, new music, mini-games, bosses, previously unreleased costume DLC, and two additional playable characters.
Rank #4
- This is a 124-page full-color hardback module to the multiple award-winning tales from the loop roleplaying Game.
- There are rumors of a mechanical contraption that roams around the fields outside the small communities of the mälaren islands.
- At the same time, flyers asking for information on lost pets are increasing on the bulletin board outside the grocery store. On TV, the weatherman speaks of “random Storm gusts” – and hasn't there been severely bad weather The past few nights? this is the beginning of a series of mysteries that lead the children out into the wilderness of the loop and down into its secret tunnels.
- But what does this all have to do with the long-awaited summer camp, the magnetrine ship susi Tala, and the 1969 Moon landing?
The official page lists PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Make sure the store listing says Definitive Edition if those edition additions matter to you. Check the official Vesperia: Definitive Edition page.
Choose Tales of Symphonia Remastered for local co-op
Symphonia is the pick to consider if you want a classic entry with a world-spanning premise and couch play. Bandai Namco describes a story involving two linked worlds and explicitly lists local co-op for up to three friends. That co-op detail is confirmed for this game in the cited official listing; do not assume the other recommendations share it.
The Remastered edition’s official platform list is PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Bandai Namco also lists an original Symphonia PC release separately, so do not mistake that listing for support of the Remastered edition on PC. Check the official Symphonia Remastered page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Quick comparison: stories, editions, and platforms
| Game and edition | Why it may suit you | Officially listed platforms | Edition notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tales of Arise | Modern action RPG; two people from different worlds seek to change their fate amid Dahna’s exploitation. | Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC | Beyond the Dawn expansion; publisher says it adds “20+ hours” of content. |
| Tales of Berseria Remastered | Velvet Crowe’s revenge story; suited to players drawn to a darker tone. | Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S | Remastered edition includes playability and quality-of-life enhancements; distinct from the earlier release. |
| Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition | A young hero’s quest for justice; a classic entry in an edition with additional content. | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | Full HD graphics, new music, mini-games, bosses, unreleased costume DLC, and two additional playable characters. |
| Tales of Symphonia Remastered | Linked-world story; the confirmed local co-op choice among these four. | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | Local co-op for up to three friends. The original PC release is listed separately from Remastered. |
Platform lists reflect the cited Bandai Namco pages, not a guarantee that a particular store currently sells an edition in your region. Check the exact edition and storefront before purchasing. Bandai Namco’s catalogue also lists other current entries, including Tales of Xillia Remastered and Tales of Graces f Remastered; the shortlist here is not a complete catalogue. Browse Bandai Namco’s Tales catalogue.
How to choose based on what you value
- For a contemporary entry: Start with Arise, whose official page describes an updated battle system and a conflict between two worlds.
- For story tone and character drama: Compare Berseria’s revenge premise with Vesperia’s quest for justice. The Escapist’s descriptions of grief, individuality, oppression, and prejudice are editorial readings rather than formal genre labels.
- For local play with friends: Pick Symphonia Remastered if you specifically want the cited local co-op feature.
- For a particular platform: Match the platform against the precise edition in the table; similarly named original and remastered releases do not necessarily share platform support.
- For remaster extras: Vesperia: Definitive Edition and Berseria Remastered have distinct stated additions, while Symphonia Remastered has its own separate platform listing.
For current listings and any newer releases or remasters, consult Bandai Namco’s official catalogue alongside the individual game pages.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches
