Next Up for the Nintendo Switch: Which ‘Tales’ Game Will Join the Roster?

Large, brave characters. Joyful tales that transcend multiple worlds, deities, and the essence of camaraderie. Intricate title battle systems. And lively anime openings featuring J-pop melodies. The Tales franchise has carved out a niche for itself over the past 30 years for a multitude of varied reasons, and it’s precisely why many — myself included — refer to it as the comfort-food JRPG.

Despite growing up with iconic titles like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, I can pinpoint the exact moment I realized that RPGs were my passion: the release of Tales of Symphonia on the GameCube. It was openly cheesy, exaggerated, heartfelt, and exactly what I craved as I approached my teenage years.

This year, the series commemorates its thirtieth anniversary, with its inaugural title — Tales of Phantasia — debuting nearly three decades ago on 15th December 1995. Currently, there are 17 mainline (‘mothership’ — if you’re familiar with the terminology) Tales games available, and Bandai Namco is actively engaged in a thirtieth Anniversary Remastered Project — aiming to reintroduce older titles on modern platforms. Last month’s Tales of Graces f Remastered is the first to emerge from that initiative.

The Switch has seen two different rereleases — Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition and Tales of Symphonia Remastered (though you might want to skip that version) — along with several other recent entries available on PC. However, we are still lacking numerous games, many of which remain trapped in Japan, while others are confined to older consoles.

I am optimistic that we will see more remasters on either the Switch or Switch 2, so, reflecting on 30 years of history, I have selected 5 (plus) titles that I believe we’re more likely to see next. No spin-offs or mobile titles.

Tales of Phantasia

No Tales game has been rereleased more frequently than Tales of Phantasia. In Japan, it has been available on platforms like the Super Famicom, PS1, GBA, PSP, and mobile devices. While this may pose a challenge to securing another premium-priced port, there are compelling reasons why I believe this game needs a remaster.

The only official English releases we received were the GBA version and an iOS release, which was notoriously free-to-play but required an internet connection and was heavily laden with microtransactions. Unsurprisingly, it was discontinued in 2014. The GBA version is decidedly not the best way to experience this title.

Despite all these setbacks, I remain captivated by Tales of Phantasia. Its narrative revolves around time travel and environmentalism, featuring a very well-crafted antagonist. Additionally, I admire Kosuke Fujishima’s character designs (one of the series’ original character designers) — they’re quite simple yet put an interesting spin on traditional RPG classes like Medic, Mage, and Summoner.

The combat can be somewhat standard — although it has greatly improved in the PS1 and PSP versions, the latter of which also includes fantastic voice acting. And while you may have played Star Ocean: First Departure R, it won’t feel entirely different.

Simply put, the West deserves a proper version of Phantasia. Bandai Namco could follow in Falcom’s footsteps and collaborate with those who did the fan translations. As long as we avoid the Kangaroo War translation fiasco…

Anyway, with the game’s thirtieth anniversary on the horizon, this seems like an obvious choice.

Tales of Eternia

After Phantasia, the Tales series transitioned to the PlayStation until 2003’s Tales of Symphonia. North America got its first taste of the franchise with Tales of Destiny, while Tales of Eternia (known as Tales of Destiny II — not to be confused with the actual Japan-exclusive Tales of Destiny 2) followed closely behind.

I believe both PS1 titles deserve rereleases, but Destiny’s PS1 release hasn’t aged well in terms of gameplay. The PS2 Director’s Cut remake is the way to go — and my sources suggest that it’s fantastic.

As for Eternia, this is the sole 2D Tales game. Even 25 years post-release, it plays like a dream. The combat is exceptional, and every 2D game that follows has drawn from Eternia’s template. The cast and story are enchanting, and Motoi Sakuraba’s music is at its prime here. It’s truly the complete package and could be one of the finest games to bring to the Switch.

I would wholeheartedly welcome a remaster of Tales of Destiny — used copies of the PS1 game often sell for over $100 — while Eternia at least has a PSP version (the only way to play it in Europe, and easily importable and region-free for North America). But modern tweaks like new character models, no random encounters, fast-forward options — all of these could greatly enhance a new rerelease of one of the coziest Tales games.

Tales of the Abyss

If you are searching for a narrative-driven RPG, Tales of the Abyss is your sole option in this series. It features a grander, more developed narrative. A larger, more diverse world. The ability to move freely in fully 3D battles — gone are the days of 2D planes and linear constraints! I love Tales of the Abyss; it’s my favorite game in the series by a long shot.

It has somewhat awkward pacing issues and involves a lot of backtracking in the later hours, but its core narrative about free choice, redemption, and individuality is beautifully conveyed. The main cast consists of a group of traumatized individuals — some whose actions have shaped the world and story in negative ways, while others have lived a deceptive existence — all seeking to find redemption in their own ways. Luke’s growth from a spoiled brat to a compassionate, caring individual over the course of fifty hours is remarkable. Just… bear with him for the first 10 hours or so.

By today’s standards, Tales of the Abyss can indeed feel a bit antiquated. It doesn’t help that the only version some of us can access (i.e., Europeans) is the 3DS edition, but that’s how I experienced it, and I still fell head over heels for it. The PS2 US version is superior, but those lengthy load times do not do it any favors.

As a dedicated fan, I believe Abyss stands a strong chance of receiving a rerelease. If Vesperia and Graces — two other fan favorites — can both be remastered for the Switch, I see no reason to skip over the one title in the series. Don’t argue with me.

Tales of Xillia & Tales of Xillia 2

Of all five selections here, this is the one most likely to transition to modern consoles, and potentially the Switch (and/or Switch 2) soon.

I know I am cheating here by combining two games, but Bandai Namco would be foolish not to bundle Xillia 1 & Xillia 2 together. Sure, they skipped that with Tales of Symphonia and Dawn of the New World on Switch — which was previously bundled in the Chronicles edition on PS3 and PC — however wit