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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCris Tales is a turn-based JRPG built around a striking idea: its heroine can see the past, present, and future at once—and use that knowledge in exploration, combat, and choices that affect what comes next. Its art direction and time-based design are the clearest draws. The main reservation in reviews is that its charm and premise do not always translate into consistently satisfying pacing or content.
What is Cris Tales?
Released on July 20, 2021, Cris Tales is a turn-based role-playing game starring Crisbell, a newly awakened time mage. She travels with companions through Crystallis and its kingdoms, confronting the Time Empress. The central mechanic is not simply time travel: the game presents different time periods together, letting Crisbell observe past, present, and future and make choices intended to change future outcomes.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Cris Tales (NSW) - Nintendo Switch | $23.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Cris Tales (PS4) - PlayStation 4 | $12.74 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cris Tales (PS5) - PlayStation 5 | $22.89 | Buy on Amazon |
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Maximum Games CRIS Tales | $40.14 | Buy on Amazon |
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Cris Tales (PS5) | $19.99 | Buy on Amazon |
That premise also shapes the combat and exploration, giving the game a distinctive identity among classic-JRPG-inspired adventures. Nintendo describes it as combining branching stories, innovative combat, and classic RPG play. Steam’s listing calls it a “gorgeous, indie love letter to classic JRPGs.”
What do Cris Tales reviews say?
The critical response was generally favorable on PC and more mixed on PS4, though the aggregates are platform-specific snapshots rather than a single universal score.
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- Get a bonus game art poster when you purchase any boxed version of Cris Tales - Poster Dimensions: 4.52"x3.34" folded, 18" x 12" unfolded
- A Love Letter to Classic JRPGs - Inspired by timeless JRPGs, meet and recruit a unique cast of teammates, challenge myriad enemies, and make your way through an expansive world
- Experience the Past, Present, and Future Simultaneously - Peer into and learn from the past, decide on actions in the present, and alter the course of the future depending on the choices you make
- Master Strategic Turn-Based Combat - Warp enemies into the past or future, synchronize attacks for enhanced group abilities, master timing of attack/defense to go beyond your party's limits in combat
- Uncover a Fascinating Story & Characters -Use your wits and recruit powerful allies to uncover and undo the Empress' multi-faceted web and make your way to the True Ending of this enchanting tale
| Platform | Metacritic critic aggregate | Breakdown shown |
|---|---|---|
| PC | 74/100 from 30 reviews in the 2021-era release aggregate | 16 positive, 13 mixed, and one additional review outside those categories |
| PS4 | 70/100 from six reviews in the 2021-era release aggregate | Three positive and three mixed |
Reviews recognized the unusual art direction and the way the time-mage concept feeds into combat and exploration. The key criticism is about follow-through: a memorable premise and attractive presentation do not ensure that the pacing and amount of satisfying content remain equally strong throughout. Jon Bailes’s Wireframe verdict neatly expresses that balance: “Cris Tales has immense charm and beauty, but spreads its content too thin.”
Who is likely to enjoy Cris Tales?
It may suit you if…
- You like turn-based JRPGs and want a game with a clear mechanical hook.
- You enjoy seeing a setting change across time and considering how choices may affect its future.
- Distinctive visual presentation and a classic-RPG sensibility are major reasons you try a game.
You may want to temper expectations if…
- You need a consistently compelling pace and substantial content from beginning to end.
- You are choosing primarily on the assumption that its striking premise guarantees equally strong execution throughout.
In short, the strongest case for playing is the way the time concept gives the game its own character. The main reason for caution is the review concern that the content does not sustain that promise as consistently as the premise suggests.
Rank #2
- Get a bonus game art poster when you purchase any boxed version of Cris Tales - Poster Dimensions: 5.85"x4.165" folded, 23.38" x 16.5" unfolded
- A Love Letter to Classic JRPGs - Inspired by timeless JRPGs, meet and recruit a unique cast of teammates, challenge myriad enemies, and make your way through an expansive world
- Experience the Past, Present, and Future Simultaneously - Peer into and learn from the past, decide on actions in the present, and alter the course of the future depending on the choices you make
- Master Strategic Turn-Based Combat - Warp enemies into the past or future, synchronize attacks for enhanced group abilities, master timing of attack/defense to go beyond your party's limits in combat
- Uncover a Fascinating Story & Characters -Use your wits and recruit powerful allies to uncover and undo the Empress' multi-faceted web and make your way to the True Ending of this enchanting tale
Which platforms can you play Cris Tales on?
| Platform | What the official listing establishes | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| PC | Listed on Steam | Choose it if PC is your preferred available hardware; the cited listing does not establish comparative performance. |
| Nintendo Switch | Listed by Nintendo UK, with a July 20, 2021 release date | Check the Nintendo store for your region before buying. |
| PS4 | Listed on PlayStation Store | The PlayStation listing says it can be played on PS5, but warns that some PS4 features may be absent on PS5. |
The available listings confirm these platform options, but do not support ranking them by performance or claiming feature parity across every version. Pick based on the hardware you own, the regional storefront available to you, and the PS5 compatibility caveat if relevant.
Is there a Cris Tales soundtrack edition?
Steam lists the Cris Tales Original Soundtrack as a digital purchase, as well as a game-and-soundtrack bundle. That listing supports a digital soundtrack option; it does not establish the availability of a physical soundtrack edition.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
- Get a bonus game art poster when you purchase any boxed version of Cris Tales - Poster Dimensions: 5.85"x4.165" folded, 23.38" x 16.5" unfolded
- A Love Letter to Classic JRPGs - Inspired by timeless JRPGs, meet and recruit a unique cast of teammates, challenge myriad enemies, and make your way through an expansive world
- Experience the Past, Present, and Future Simultaneously - Peer into and learn from the past, decide on actions in the present, and alter the course of the future depending on the choices you make
- Master Strategic Turn-Based Combat - Warp enemies into the past or future, synchronize attacks for enhanced group abilities, master timing of attack/defense to go beyond your party's limits in combat
- Uncover a Fascinating Story & Characters -Use your wits and recruit powerful allies to uncover and undo the Empress' multi-faceted web and make your way to the True Ending of this enchanting tale
What should you check before buying?
- Confirm that the store listing is for your platform and region.
- If you plan to play the PS4 version on PS5, review the PlayStation Store compatibility notice about features that may be missing.
- For a physical copy, verify the retailer’s current stock, price, and edition details. A 2021 community deal reference does not confirm present-day availability.
At launch, contemporaneous coverage named Modus Games as publisher. The current Steam store page lists Maximum Entertainment as publisher, alongside developers Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK. These labels refer to different contexts, so the publisher name should be read in relation to the source and date.
Sources: Steam store listing; Nintendo UK listing; PlayStation Store listing; Metacritic PC critic reviews; Metacritic PS4 critic reviews; Jon Bailes’s Wireframe review.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Empress' plot to destroy the world is complex and layered. Use your wits and recruit powerful allies throughout the world to uncover and undo her multi-faceted web and make your way to the true ending of this enchanting tale.
- Discover a beautiful world - climb aboard an airship or boat and traverse this handcrafted, dark fairytale world. From the shining kingdom of Crystallis to the slums of St. Clarity, discover each unique location and shape its future
- Inspired by timeless JRPGs like Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Valkyrie Profile, and modern classics like Bravely Default and Persona 5, meet and recruit a unique cast of teammates, challenge myriad enemies, and make your way through an expansive world
- Peer into and learn from the past, decide on actions in the present, and alter the course of the future in ways that will reshape the world dynamically depending on the choices you make
- Warp your enemies into the past or future, synchronize attacks for enhanced group abilities, and master the timing of attack and defense to go beyond your party's limits in combat
Rank #4
- 1199163
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.
