Bandai Namco has crowned the winners of its 2021 Tales of popularity poll, and Dohalim from Tales of Arise took the top spot. Voting ran from October 25 to November 7, 2021, with the top ten revealed during the Tales of Festival 2021 event, according to a report on Siliconera.
It is the first year that Dohalim has reached the number one slot, and he replaces Mikleo from Tales of Zestiria as the previous winner.
What happened
- Dohalim from Tales of Arise topped the poll for the first time.
- Voting was open from October 25 to November 7, 2021.
- The top ten was revealed during Tales of Festival 2021.
- Yuri (Tales of Vesperia) and Leon (Tales of Destiny) are now in the hall of fame and were not on the ballot.
- Tales of Arise has sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.
- Female characters appeared starting at #11 (Shionne) and #13 (Rose).
The top ten
The ten most popular male characters in the Tales of series poll are, in order: Dohalim (Tales of Arise), Mikleo (Tales of Zestiria), Alphen (Tales of Arise), Luke (Tales of the Abyss), Ludger (Tales of Xillia 2), Asbel (Tales of Graces), Sorey (Tales of Zestiria), Raven (Tales of Vesperia), Lloyd (Tales of Symphonia), and Zelos (Tales of Symphonia).
Three Tales of Arise characters land in the top ten, which is a strong showing for the newest entry. Luke and Asbel also appear in the upper ranks, both being long-time favorites.
Why no female winners?
Every character in the top ten is male, with Shionne at #11 and Rose at #13 the first two female characters on the list. The facts show a consistent pattern of male-led results through previous Tales of popularity polls.
The poll explicitly asked fans to vote for popular characters from past entries, with some long-running male leads now in the hall of fame—which partially explains the male-dominated top ten.
Other categories
Beyond the main poll, Bandai Namco also ran categories for favorite mascot character, the character you would most want to organize a winter party with, and the character you would want to cook with while camping. The results of these categories were set to be revealed on the second day of Tales of Festival 2021 on November 21.
Why this matters
Dohalim's win is a strong signal for Tales of Arise's character writing, one of the most praised elements of the game. It also gives Bandai Namco a marketing hook as it looks to sustain momentum for the franchise.
The gender distribution in the results reflects a recurring pattern in the series' poll history. With female leads like Shionne ranking lower despite major roles in recent entries, the gap between character prominence in storytelling and fan popularity is worth watching. How Bandai Namco responds could shape future engagement.
Who should care
| Scenario | Why the poll matters |
|---|---|
| JRPG newcomer evaluating Tales of Arise | Three Arise characters in the top ten suggests the cast resonated broadly with fans |
| Longtime Tales fan at a convention | Dohalim is now the safest cosplay pick for peak in-universe visibility in 2022 |
| Follower of franchise gender dynamics | Female leads ranking #11 and #13 signals a gap between narrative prominence and fan vote |
Bottom line
Dohalim's climb to first place in the 2021 Tales of popularity poll is a clear endorsement of Tales of Arise's cast. The top ten remains heavily male-dominated, which mirrors prior poll years. With Tales of Arise selling over 1.5 million copies worldwide and the franchise's next steps unclear, expect Bandai Namco to keep this entry in its marketing plans for the foreseeable future.
Key takeaways
- Dohalim from Tales of Arise won the 2021 Tales of popularity poll.
- Three Tales of Arise characters landed in the top ten, reinforcing the new game's lead.
- Female characters appeared starting at #11, mirroring prior poll years.
- Yuri and Leon are now in the hall of fame and were not on the ballot.
Frequently asked questions
How long was voting open for the Tales of popularity poll?
Voting was open from October 25 to November 7, 2021.
Who replaced Mikleo at the top of the poll?
Dohalim from Tales of Arise replaced Mikleo as the most popular character.
Why aren't Yuri or Leon on the ballot?
Both characters have appeared in the top three multiple times and have been inducted into the hall of fame.
When were the mascot and side categories revealed?
The mascot, winter party, and camping cook categories were set to be revealed on the second day of Tales of Festival 2021, on November 21.
How many Tales of Arise characters made the top ten?
Three Tales of Arise characters—Dohalim, Alphen, and one other—appeared in the top ten.