From the game that started the series, Tales of Phantasia, to the most recent installment, Tales of Arise, the Tales franchise has always had memorable and impactful female protagonists. Even compared to other JRPGs, which is a genre that usually has more prominent women than most gaming genres, the Tales series is still exceptional for having an enormous variety of female characters that directly influence the plot and have unique personalities.
Since all of these characters are different and significant to their stories, it can be hard to choose only a few. But, there're some that especially shine during their games.
Arche (Tales of Phantasia)
Despite being the first entry in the Tales series, the original 1995 Super Famicom version of Tales of Phantasia was a Japan-only release. The game was finally released internationally in 2006 when it was ported to the Game Boy Advance. This iconic first installment follows young swordsman Cress Albane as he travels across time, gathers party members, and contacts spirits in order to defeat the powerful sorcerer king Dhaos who indirectly caused the destruction of Cress' hometown.
One of the six main playable characters, Arche Klein, who is one of the best female protagonists on the GBA. As a half-elf magician, she is one of the most powerful characters in the entire game. Though she has an outwardly cheerful, playful, and carefree personality, she is extremely intelligent, cares about others, and struggles with the discrimination she faces due to being a half-elf.
Rutee (Tales of Destiny)
Although early titles created by Namco Tales Studio, such as Tales of Phantasia and the PC-98 game Tokyo Twilight Busters, were not released internationally, the second mainline title in the Tales series, Tales of Destiny, did receive a North American release. Created in 1997 for the PlayStation, this action JRPG follows a young adventurer named Stahn Aileron who encounters a sentient sword named Dymlos, which leads to Stahn getting involved in a battle for a deadly ancient artifact.
The main heroine of the game, Rutee Katrea, is a wielder of another sentient sword and joins Stahn as one of his party members. While her focus on gaining gaining or stealing money seems selfish and greedy at first, it's eventually revealed that she's obtaining the money to help the people who raised her at the orphanage. She's strong-willed, loyal, and tries to protect other orphans.
Pascal (Tales of Graces, Tales of Graces F)
Though not as well known as other amazing RPGs on the Wii due to the original 2009 Wii version not being released internationally, the twelfth mainline installment, Tales of Graces, is significant because it introduced many gameplay elements that would become the new norm for the series. Released internationally as the PlayStation 3 port Tales of Graces F, the game follows a young man named Asbel Lhant who tries to stop a creature called Lambda from destroying humanity.
One of the party members Asbel gains during his journey is the genius technician Pascal, who is often ranked on character popularity polls. She's cheerful, friendly, and naturally curious, and she isn't afraid to speak her mind. While she often misreads social situations, she's focused, hard-working, and easily the heart of the group.
Tear (Tales of the Abyss)
Often considered one of the best entries in the series, the 2005 PlayStation 2 JRPG Tales of the Abyss is the eighth mainline title, which follows a spoiled and arrogant teenager named Luke fon Fabre. When his Seventh Fonon reacts to the Seventh Fonon of a teenage soldier named Tear Grants, the two begin a long journey that eventually reveals the truth behind Luke's existence and the fate of the world.
As the main female protagonist, Tear is respectful, strong-willed, and logical. After her parents died when she was a baby, she was raised all her life as a powerful warrior, which made her strong but also emotionally distant. She still cares for others, however, and loves cute things.
Sheena (Tales of Symphonia, Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World)
Created as the fifth mainline installment and the first fully 3D entry, the 2003 JRPG Tales of Symphonia is a prequel to Tales of Phantasia and a major turning point for the franchise. Considered to be one of the top two Tales games along with Tales of Vesperia, the game follows a teenage boy named Lloyd Irving as he accompanies his childhood friend, Colette Brunel, on her destined journey to save the world. But, they soon realize that saving their world might doom another.
One of the eventual party members is the skilled warrior Sheena Fujibayashi, who is from the other world and has a fox-like Summon Spirit named Corrine. Though she originally tries to assassinate Colette to save her world, she decides to team up with the party after she learns more about their intentions. She's strong-willed and hot-blooded, but also clumsy and indecisive.
Judith (Tales of Vesperia)
Released in 2008 for the Xbox 360 as the tenth mainline entry, Tales of Vesperia is one of the most beloved installments in the series, and it recently had an enhanced re-release with new content in 2019. After a former Imperial Knight named Yuri Lowell meets a noble woman named Estelle, he inadvertently begins a journey that will lead to him creating a guild called Brave Vesperia and saving the world.
While fans love all of the main characters in this game, including Yuri's trusty dog Repede, the Krytian dragon rider Judith is often considered one of the best. She's a strong, mature, determined, and perceptive individual who can sometimes be impulsive.
Farah (Tales of Eternia)
Although released as Tales of Destiny II in North America, the third mainline title Tales of Eternia has no connection to Tales of Destiny or its actual sequel Tales of Destiny 2. Released in 2000 for the PlayStation, the game follows a young hunter named Reid Hershel and his two friends Farah Oersted and Keele Zeibel as they discover a girl from another world named Meredy who is trying to prevent their worlds from colliding.
Farah, who is the main heroine, is an optimistic, cheerful, and friendly individual who's also incredibly physically powerful. Though she's always willing to help those around her, she prefers to hide her own struggles from others.
Velvet (Tales of Berseria)
It's impossible to talk about female protagonists in the Tales series without mentioning the game with a solo female main protagonist: Tales of Berseria. Released in 2016 as a prequel to Tales of Zesteria, this darker entry follows a young woman named Velvet Crowe who was forcibly transformed into a Daemon by her brother-in-law and now is on a quest for revenge.
Though Velvet originally is a cheerful person who only cares about taking care of her sick brother Laphicet, she becomes a vengeful woman after she witnesses Artorius sacrifice Laphicet and try to sacrifice her too. Despite her new cold demeanor, she's still a kind person who worries about her companions.
Shionne (Tales of Arise)
Released during late 2021, Tales of Arise is the latest mainline installment and the first one to be released after Tales of Berseria. Created to revitalize the series, the game centers around a Dahnan slave named Alphen and a cursed Renan woman named Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore as they work together to defeat the five Renan lords, recover Alphen's memories, free the world of Dahna, and break Shionne's curse.
As the deuteragonist, Shionne is a strong-willed and determined person. Because of her curse and background, she is initially cold and emotionally distant from the other characters, but she eventually opens up more and empathizes with the other Dahnans.
Milla (Tales of Xillia, Tales of Xillia 2)
Created in 2011 for the PlayStation 3, the award-winning Tales of Xillia is the thirteenth mainline installment, and it has a 2012 sequel titled Tales of Xillia 2. In a world where humans and spirits co-exist, the story follows two main protagonists, Jude Mathis and Milla Maxwell, as they try to stop a terrorist group called Exodus from using the Lance of Kresnik, which requires spirits to work.
As an incarnation of the "Lord of Spirits," Milla controls the four great spirits and is in charge of protecting the world. Because of her isolated upbringing, she's socially awkward and a bit cold to others, but she's also intelligent, strong, and determined. Eventually, she learns how to connect with others.