The player controls Arsia, a young girl, wandering around Napple Tale town and levels themed around the four seasons. To restore peace, Arsia and her pet creatures will have to collect six "petals". The story revolves around restoring balance to Napple town, with various characters and plot twists.
The gameplay is a mix of platforming and exploration. In side-scrolling levels, Arsia usually has to complete the level and fight against a boss. Several levels require certain items or people to talk to, meaning that the player might need to revisit some levels several times to progress. The game also features micro-management with pets, items, and a complex process to create new creatures or items by combining them in various ways.
Napple Tale is released for the Sega Dreamcast on 19 October 2000, offering a unique blend of platforming, exploration, and RPG elements. The game's setting is influenced by European fairy tale tradition, with colorful houses and cartoon-like characters reminiscent of classic cartoons.