Tales of Phantasia follows Cless, a young boy living with his parents in a peaceful village, as he embarks on a journey to unravel the mystery behind his mother's death. A mysterious talking tree sets him on a path that leads to a series of events culminating in the slaughter of the village and its inhabitants.
The gameplay of Tales of Phantasia is centered around action-based battles fought on separate side-scrolling screens. The player controls one character directly, while AI-controlled party members provide additional support during combat. Players can pause the game at any time to utilize magic, items, or strategically plan their allies' actions.