10 /10 20

Tales of Arise stands as a landmark entry in the Tales franchise, introducing a fresh direction while maintaining the series’ beloved identity. Released in September 2021, this action RPG earned a Metacritic score of 87, reflecting critical appreciation for its modernized combat system, character-driven narrative, and breathtaking visual presentation enhanced by anime cutscenes from studio Ufotable. Players control Alphen, a masked amnesiac slave, as he partners with Shionne, a Renan girl cursed to harm anyone who touches her, embarking on a quest that explores themes of oppression, freedom, and destiny. The game’s success lies in balancing traditional Tales mechanics with innovative improvements, creating an experience that appeals to both franchise veterans and newcomers seeking an authentic JRPG adventure.

How to Play Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise combines real-time action combat with party-based strategy, requiring players to master timing, positioning, and ability combinations. The core gameplay loop alternates between exploration, character interaction through skits, and dynamic battle encounters that reward aggressive play and tactical thinking.

1. Controls – Master the Boost Strike system, which chains Artes (special abilities), regular attacks, and boost mechanics into devastating combos. Learning curves are manageable with the intuitive control scheme.
2. Progression – Advance by completing story dungeons, engaging in side quests, and gathering materials for weapon crafting. Character leveling is straightforward, while title systems provide stat customization options.
3. Combat/Mechanics – Engage in real-time battles where party positioning matters. Switch between characters mid-battle, utilize Alphen’s unique ability to channel elemental energy from Shionne’s Master Core, and execute coordinated party attacks for maximum damage.
4. Tips – Prioritize mastering Boost Strike timing; craft weapons regularly for stat increases; watch character skits between battles for story depth and combat tips hidden in dialogue.

Who Should Play Tales of Arise

Tales of Arise caters to action RPG enthusiasts who value narrative depth alongside engaging combat mechanics. The game’s 40-110 hour playtime accommodates both casual and completionist players, with optional content available for those seeking additional challenge and lore.

• Action RPG Fans – If you love real-time combat with strategic party management, Tales of Arise delivers satisfying encounters with a learning curve that respects player skill.
• Story-Driven Gamers – The narrative exploring slavery, resistance, and reconciliation resonates strongly, enhanced by memorable characters and abundant character skits (visual novel-style conversations).
• JRPG Newcomers – Accessible difficulty options and straightforward progression systems make this an excellent entry point to Japanese RPGs without overwhelming complexity.
• Skip if – You dislike action-based combat or prefer purely turn-based systems; you’re unwilling to invest 40+ hours in a single playthrough; you find anime aesthetics off-putting.

Tales of Arise Platform Performance

Tales of Arise delivers consistent performance across modern platforms with flexible options for players prioritizing either visual fidelity or frame rate smoothness. Console versions leverage hardware efficiently, while PC scalability accommodates various PC configurations from modest to high-end rigs.

Tales of Arise System Requirements

PC players need modest to moderate hardware to experience Tales of Arise smoothly. The game scales excellently from minimum specifications targeting 1080p/60fps to high-end configurations supporting 4K gaming with enhanced visual settings and higher framerates.

Similar Games to Tales of Arise

Players who enjoy Tales of Arise’s blend of action combat, story-driven narratives, and character-focused adventures will appreciate these comparable titles. Each offers distinct mechanical or thematic elements while delivering similar emotional investment in character development and world-building.

• Trails of Cold Steel series – Turn-based JRPG alternative with comparable narrative depth; focuses on school-life social bonds and political intrigue; slightly slower pacing but richer character interactions.
• Fire Emblem: Three Houses – Strategy-focused JRPG with superior character development but less refined combat mechanics; features school management and faction-based storytelling similar to Tales’ thematic elements.
• Star Ocean: The Divine Force – Action RPG from the same publisher with similar real-time combat systems; features dual-protagonist narrative and exploration-focused gameplay; released alongside Arise’s popularity.
• Persona 5 Royal – Turn-based JRPG with superior social link systems and stylish presentation; longer commitment required (100+ hours); fantasy elements less pronounced than Tales’ world-building.

Tales of Arise vs Competitors

Comparing Tales of Arise against contemporary action RPGs and JRPGs reveals its strengths in combat innovation and narrative pacing. While not the highest-rated in the genre, Arise successfully modernizes the Tales formula against established competition, offering unique value propositions in combat mechanics and story presentation.

Tales of Arise Story and World

The narrative unfolds across two distinct worlds: technologically advanced Rena and underdeveloped Dahna. The Renans have subjugated Dahnans for 300 years, extracting astral energy while imposing a caste system that denies the enslaved population basic dignity. Alphen, stripped of memories and pain, partners with Shionne, a Renan noble cursed by her own people, creating a bond that transcends the societal divide. Their journey collecting Master Cores (repositories of elemental power) catalyzes a broader revolution against oppressive Renan lords controlling different regions. The story balances intimate character moments, captured through hundreds of skits, against larger themes of liberation, identity, and unity. World-building deepens through environmental storytelling, NPC dialogue, and gradual revelation of the conspiracy that created Alphen’s condition and cursed Shionne, ultimately leading to a climax addressing systemic oppression through the fusion of both worlds.

Tales of Arise Multiplayer and Online

Tales of Arise is exclusively a single-player experience, a deliberate design choice by producer Yusuke Tomizawa to prioritize narrative immersion. The developer believes multiplayer mechanics would compromise the dramatic weight of the story and character interactions, justifying the removal of co-op features present in some previous Tales entries.

• Shared Encounters – No online multiplayer or competitive modes exist; the game remains entirely offline-focused, though save transfers work across platforms.
• Community Events – Seasonal DLC releases (costumes, items) occasionally tie to real-world events; no seasonal gameplay systems or battle passes.
• Cross-Play – Not applicable due to single-player design; PS4/PS5 saves cannot be directly transferred, requiring separate playthroughs per platform.
• Community Features – Player communities organize on Reddit and Discord; modders have developed experimental multiplayer mods through reverse engineering, though unsupported by developers.

Tales of Arise DLC and Expansions

Beyond the Dawn expansion serves as the major post-launch content offering, adding approximately 20 hours of story content. Supplementary DLC focuses on cosmetics and convenience items, with no gameplay-altering mechanical additions, preserving balance for completion-focused players.

• Beyond the Dawn Expansion – $29.99; adds new story arc, dungeons, boss encounters, and post-game quests; set after the main ending, exploring consequences of the united worlds.
• Costume Packs – $2.49-$7.49 each; includes Beach Time, School Life, Warring States, and Collaboration outfits; purely cosmetic with no mechanical impact.
• Item Packs – $4.99-$9.99; convenience items providing EXP/SP boosts or currency; controversial for pay-to-progress perception despite being entirely optional.
• Free Updates – Regular balance patches addressing combat adjustments and bug fixes; no major content additions beyond the Beyond the Dawn expansion.

Tales of Arise Community and Support

Active player communities persist on dedicated platforms despite the game’s single-player nature. Developers maintain communication through official channels, releasing periodic updates addressing performance and balance concerns. Community contributions include extensive wikis, build guides, and creative content.

• Official Forums – Bandai Namco maintains official community spaces; developers occasionally interact regarding bug reports and feature suggestions.
• Reddit and Discord – r/TalesOfArise and community Discord servers host thousands of active members sharing build optimization, lore discussions, and fan content.
• Mod Support – Community mods available on NexusMods include texture enhancements, UI improvements, and costume additions; multiplayer mods in experimental stages.
• Updates – Post-launch support continues with occasional patches; development focus shifted toward new IP following Beyond the Dawn’s release in November 2023.