Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is set to be one of the best JRPGs of the year. The game takes elements of the previous games in the series and combines them, creating a game that’s essentially the best parts of the previous Chronicles games. That being said, it’s still an excellent place for new players to jump in as well!
The series is much longer than one would initially think, though. Despite Xenoblade Chronicles 1 releasing on the Wii, the series actually goes all the way back to the original Playstation. Across many teams and publishers, this long-running series is beloved by fans, but not every entry has received equal reception from critics in aggregates like Metacritic.
10 Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country – 80
Switch, 2018
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was released early in Switch’s life, and the developers at Monolith Soft were very busy. As a result, they didn’t get a chance to put everything they wanted in the full game. A chapter showing the backstory of the antagonist Jinn was cut from development. That planned content was implemented as a DLC pack.
Unlike most DLC, this could be bought and played separately. This did cause it to review poorer as it doesn’t adequately introduce the concepts from 2. That being said, if one has played that game it’s a dream. Not only does it add more to the story, but it allows the Blade characters to become playable for the first time.
9 Xenosaga Episode III: Also Sprach Zarathustra – 81
Playstation 2, 2006
Despite its title, Xenosaga Episode III is the fifth Xenosaga game. The second entry switched focus away from the protagonist KOS-MOS and had less action. This entry, in turn, attempts to conclude the plot lines from those games. The party starts looking into the backstory of the alien Gnosis while on the run from the government.
The game includes a lot of heavy philosophical themes, specifically ones derived from the works of Friedrich Nietzsche. In order to explain its complex plot and themes, the game includes a database that explains and defines terms. The game was well-liked for its plot, but some critics found the side content lacking.
8 Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – 83
Switch, 2017
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was a bit controversial on its release. It simplified character designs compared to previous entries, which rubbed fans the wrong way. It was also released the same year as Breath of the Wild, which was tough competition on Switch. Word of mouth spread the news of the game’s confusing tutorials and odd voice acting.
Players that tried it out loved the game, though. Xenoblade Chronicles 2‘s protagonist Rex could equip Blades or support party members to help him out in combat. This system had a variety of story content and level-up trees attached. This mechanic, while initially confusing, gives the game a ton of great depth.
7 Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille Zur Macht
Playstation 2, 2003
In the distant future, humanity has left the planet Earth behind. The story follows Shion Uzuki, an employee of the futuristic supercompany Vector Industries, and a super-fighting robot girl named KOS-MOS. They are attacked by the evil alien Gnosis and are forced to unravel a strange mystery.
The game features two distinct combat styles. There is on-foot combat as well as mech-based combat using large robots called AGWS. Combat involved button combinations, and a variety of unique leveling systems injected some action into the turn-based gameplay. It’s somewhat of a midpoint between the combat of the Chronicles games and the original Xenogears.
6 Xenoblade Chronicles X – 84
Wii U, 2015
Xenoblade Chronicles X is kind of the black sheep of the franchise despite reviewing better than the similar Xenosaga series. It was very different from its direct predecessor Chronicles 1. It also was unique in that it was the only game to feature a custom protagonist. Biggest of all of its black sheep qualities is that it was one of few Wii U titles not to get a Switch port.
Players find themselves as a colonist on the uncharted planet of Mira. They escape Earth in a mass exodus and explore the terrifying new world after being awakened by their mysterious new companion Elma. The biggest draw of the game is the planet Mira itself, which was full of open-world quests and secrets to discover. Its lack of connections to previous games did make some fans upset, though.
5 Xenogears – 84
Playstation, 1998
Xeno has experimented with alternate combat styles and custom ways to grow characters since the beginning. Also, around since the beginning was a strong story, even in the Playstation 1’s first installment. The game takes place on an alien planet split between two gigantic warring empires.
The protagonist Fei Fong Wong is an amnesiac living in the small and peaceful village of Lahan. His life is upended by the arrival of the “Deus,” a machine weapon likened to a God. To fight against it, he uses a mechanical tank called a gear which most of the game’s combat centers around. The game’s story was praised, but poor pacing in the second disk prevented it from getting perfect marks.
4 Xenoblade Chronicles 3D – 86
New 3DS, 2015
The New Nintendo 3DS was pretty powerful for a handheld device, but it needed a game that could really show off its potential. So instead of making a brand new technical showcase, Nintendo put one of the most graphically complex Wii games on the system. Getting the game running on the system was a challenge, but there’s a lot to show for it.
The game’s graphics and mechanics see basically no shortening in the transition from console to handheld. Some environments were rebuilt to not tax the hardware, though. Still, Shulk’s original adventure could be played on the go for the first time. It wouldn’t be the last time the game would go mobile.
3 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – 89
Switch, 2020
In 2020, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition was released on Nintendo Switch. 2 had been one of the console’s flagship titles the year of its release, so having the original on it as well was great. The portability wasn’t the only advantage. It also received a graphical update to bring it more in line with 2’s aesthetic without sacrificing the original designs.
Most interesting of all is Future Connected. This was a second campaign that could be accessed right from the main menu for returning fans. It featured an expansion on the character of Melia set a year after the original game. It’s overall a great version, although some fans were disappointed that some changes from the 3DS version didn’t make it in.
2 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – 89
Switch, 2022
Chronicles 3 has, without a doubt, been the most anticipated title in the series. A game that merges the settings of the first two Chronicle games has been desired since 2017. The reveals of the ways the games cross over in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 have blown the minds of fans on Twitter. It’s not only good for long-time fans of the franchise, though.
The game starts with an intriguing plot straight out of a film like Logan’s Run. The world is split into warring colonies that fight with artificial soldiers. These soldiers have purposefully short lifespans and a lot of philosophical posturing is brought out of this decision. Combine that with refined combat to get one of the best JRPGs on the Switch.
1 Xenoblade Chronicles – 92
Wii, 2012
Xenoblade Chronicles was a real stand-out game on the Wii. It didn’t focus on motion controls, swapping it for a photorealistic graphical style. When it hit shelves in Japan, fans were so impressed that a project called Operation Rainfall demanded the game be brought overseas. When it was, critics couldn’t’;t get enough of it.
The action-packed combat and thoughtful character interactions were like nothing else on the Wii at that point. Most JRPGs on the console were dumbed down, but Xenoblade featured an abundance of side quests and a giant world to explore. The quest of Shulk for revenge turning into understanding also resonated with enough players. While everyone has their favorite Xeno title, this one was the breakout hit.
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