Tales of Graces
A Tales series action RPG set in the world of Ephinea.
Sir Walter Scott · Public domain
Tales of Graces is an action role-playing video game developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai Games for the Wii. It is the twelfth main installment of the Tales series, initially released only in Japan in December 2009. The game was later ported to the PlayStation 3 as Tales of Graces f, released in Japan in December 2010 and localized for English release in 2012. A remastered version, Tales of Graces f Remastered, was released for multiple platforms on January 17, 2025.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Tales of Graces
- Developer
- Namco Tales StudioRemaster developed by Tose.
- Publisher
- Namco Bandai GamesUnder the Namco label.
- Director
- Kazuya Ishizuka
- Producer
- Hideo Baba
- Designer
- Tatsurou Udou
- Programmer
- Ryuichi Ishizawa
- Artist
- Mutsumi Inomata
- Writer
- Daisuke Kiga
- Composer
- Motoi Sakuraba / Shinji Tamura
- Engine
- Unity (Remastered)
- Platforms
- Wii / Tales of Graces f / PlayStation 3 / Tales of Graces f Remastered / Nintendo Switch / PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X/S / Windows
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game is set in the world of Ephinea, divided into the countries of Windor, Stratha, and Fendel. Each nation relies on energy known as 'eleth', distributed through crystals called 'Cryas', with three giant 'Valkines Cryas' serving as primary energy sources. The story follows Asbel Lhant, who as a child befriends an amnesiac girl named Sophie and witnesses her death before reuniting with her seven years later. The plot involves political intrigue, the possession of Prince Richard by an entity called Lambda, and a journey to the planet Fodra to save Sophie.
Reader's Guide
Tales of Graces and Tales of Graces f both received positive reception in Japan. The English localization of Tales of Graces f received praise for its gameplay, with mixed reviews for its presentation. The game was adapted into four manga collections, a novel series, and eight drama CDs. The gameplay uses the Style Shift Linear Motion Battle System, featuring Chain Capacity (CC) that governs skill usage and recharges over time, along with an Eleth Gauge that grants unlimited CC when filled. Characters develop skills through Titles earned via story progression and battle criteria. The after-story 'Lineage and Legacies' explores the consequences of Fodra's influence on monster populations, concluding with Asbel marrying Cheria and adopting Sophie. Asbel has ranked third in Tales character popularity polls since his debut.
Did You Know?
- The game was initially released only in Japan for the Wii in December 2009.
- The PlayStation 3 version, Tales of Graces f, was localized and released in English in 2012.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Tales of Graces?
Tales of Graces is the twelfth mainline action RPG in the Tales series, developed by Namco Tales Studio and published by Namco Bandai Games. Set in the world of Ephinea, it launched exclusively in Japan for the Wii in December 2009 before later receiving expanded ports and remasters.
What platforms is Tales of Graces available on?
The original Wii version was Japan-only, but the expanded Tales of Graces f port arrived on PlayStation 3 in 2010 and got an English release in 2012. The 2025 Tales of Graces f Remastered brought the game to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
How does the story of Tales of Graces end?
After confronting the manipulative gods who have kept Ephinea in a cycle of suffering, Svelt and his companions break that cycle and reshape the world's fate. The game closes with the characters finding a path toward genuine peace rather than another divine reset.
Why is Tales of Graces considered important to the Tales series?
It introduced a heavily branching narrative where player choices determine which story arcs, characters, and endings you experience, a structural experiment that stood out even within the series. It also sold over 100,000 copies in its first week in Japan, showing the franchise's continued commercial strength on the Wii.
What is the difference between Tales of Graces and Tales of Graces f?
The 'f' edition added a new playable character, Asch, along with extra story content and gameplay features absent from the original Wii build. It was also the first version localized into English, making the game accessible to Western players for the first time.
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