Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition received favorable critic reviews on both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. Metacritic lists an 81 from 36 critic reviews for PS4 and an 83 from 28 for Switch. Reviewers most often praised the cast, story, and real-time combat, while noting that the game shows its age.
What critics thought
The Metacritic platform pages show broadly positive sentiment, but they are separate aggregates rather than one combined score.
| Platform | Metascore | Critic reviews | Sentiment breakdown |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | 81 | 36 | 28 positive, 7 mixed, 0 negative |
| Nintendo Switch | 83 | 28 | 26 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative |
These figures are Metacritic page aggregates accessed in 2026: PS4 critic reviews and Switch critic reviews. The two-point difference does not establish that one port performs better technically; critic scores measure reviews, not comparative frame rates or other platform-specific performance.
What reviewers praised
Cast and character chemistry
The ensemble is a recurring strength in the sampled reviews. Cubed3’s PS4 review, published January 9, 2019, praised the chemistry among the members of Brave Vesperia. Reviews also characterize the characters as enjoyable and well-developed.
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- A BELOVED TALE RETURNS! — The tale of a young hero on a quest for justice that captivated Tales fans returns to Xbox and makes its way for the first time to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam!
- EVERYTHING IN ONE EDITION! — Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC!
- THE PARTY GROWS STRONGER! — Yuri sets sail on his adventure with Estelle, a young noblewoman; Karol; a boy in pursuit of a guild to call his own; Rita, an eccentric scholar; Raven, a laid-back archer; Judith, a mysterious dragoon; and Repede, a pipe-smoking dog… and now two more playable characters join the fray!
- FIGHT WITH FLAIR! — Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills!
Story and combat
Critics found the story engaging and the real-time battle system fun. Cubed3 described the combat as comparatively simple, but valued its accessibility and the depth involved in mastering it. That balance helps explain why the battle system earned praise without being presented as especially complex at first.
How much does the game show its age?
Reviewers acknowledged signs of age and minor blemishes, and some observed that the changes in this edition are limited. Attack of the Fanboy’s January 11, 2019 review said the game shows its age in some areas but still holds up on the strength of its characters, story, aesthetic, and combat. Wccftech’s January 9, 2019 review similarly praised the cast and battle system while noting minimal tweaking.
Rank #2
- A BELOVED TALE RETURNS! — The tale of a young hero on a quest for justice that captivated Tales fans returns to Xbox and makes its way for the first time to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam!
- EVERYTHING IN ONE EDITION! — Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC!
- THE PARTY GROWS STRONGER! — Yuri sets sail on his adventure with Estelle, a young noblewoman; Karol; a boy in pursuit of a guild to call his own; Rita, an eccentric scholar; Raven, a laid-back archer; Judith, a mysterious dragoon; and Repede, a pipe-smoking dog… and now two more playable characters join the fray!
- FIGHT WITH FLAIR! — Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills!
The Definitive Edition is an updated release, not a full modern rebuild. Bandai Namco describes it as an updated full-HD version with additions to the original game; that description does not mean every dated element was redesigned.
What the Definitive Edition adds
Bandai Namco lists new music, mini-games, bosses, costume content, and expanded story material among the edition’s additions. It also adds two playable characters: Patty Fleur and Flynn Scifo. The publisher lists PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC/Steam as platforms for the edition: Bandai Namco’s edition page.
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- A BELOVED TALE RETURNS! — The tale of a young hero on a quest for justice that captivated Tales fans returns to Xbox and makes its way for the first time to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam!
- EVERYTHING IN ONE EDITION! — Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC!
- THE PARTY GROWS STRONGER! — Yuri sets sail on his adventure with Estelle, a young noblewoman; Karol; a boy in pursuit of a guild to call his own; Rita, an eccentric scholar; Raven, a laid-back archer; Judith, a mysterious dragoon; and Repede, a pipe-smoking dog… and now two more playable characters join the fray!
- FIGHT WITH FLAIR! — Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills!
Which version should you choose?
The critic aggregates support a favorable reception on both PS4 and Switch, but do not identify a technical winner. Choose based on the platform you own or prefer, and whether Switch portability is important to you. If you are comparing the Definitive Edition with the earlier release, its added characters and other included content are the clearest differences established by the publisher.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Release-date context
Release dates vary by source and context. Bandai Namco’s US availability announcement, dated January 12, 2019, says the game became available January 11 for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and Steam. Steam lists January 10, 2019 as its release date. Those listings should not be flattened into a single worldwide date: Bandai Namco’s announcement and Steam’s listing give their respective contexts.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
![Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ULsHW1KTL._SL160_.jpg)
- A BELOVED TALE RETURNS! — The tale of a young hero on a quest for justice that captivated Tales fans returns to Xbox and makes its way for the first time to PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Steam
- EVERYTHING IN ONE EDITION! — Dive into the Definitive version of this game with updated full HD graphics, brand-new music tracks, exciting mini-games, bosses, and a collection of unreleased costume DLC
- THE PARTY GROWS STRONGER! — Yuri sets sail on his adventure with Estelle, a young noblewoman; Karol; a boy in pursuit of a guild to call his own; Rita, an eccentric scholar; Raven, a laid-back archer; Judith, a mysterious dragoon; and Repede, a pipe-smoking dog… and now two more playable characters join the fray
- FIGHT WITH FLAIR! — Assemble your favorite team and enjoy exciting real-time battles with all new Mystic Artes and skills
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.
