Tales of Phantasia tells the story of Cless, a young boy living in a quiet village with his parents. One day, while hunting with his friend Chester, Cless discovers a talking tree in the forest who asks for help. However, when they return to the village, they find it burnt down and its inhabitants murdered. Before she dies, Cless' mother reveals that the massacre is connected to a pendant given to Cless on his birthday. Determined to uncover the truth, Cless sets out on a journey with his uncle to explore distant lands.
Tales of Phantasia is a Japanese-style RPG with an action-based combat system. Battles take place on separate side-scrolling screens, where the player controls one character and AI controls the other party members. The game allows for pausing at any time to use magic, items, or adjust the overall strategy for the allies.