Xenoblade Chronicles Games Ranked: Best to Worst
▼ Summary
– The article ranks all main Xenoblade Chronicles games, noting even the lowest-ranked titles are still high-quality and worth playing.
– Xenoblade Chronicles: Future Connected is ranked last as a short, free epilogue with weaker villains and simplified combat compared to main titles.
– Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is praised for exploration and quality-of-life improvements but differs by being less story-driven than the numbered entries.
– Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is highlighted for its fantastic story and characters but criticized for technical issues and a poor tutorial system on the Switch.
– Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed is ranked first as an exceptional DLC that beautifully concludes the trilogy’s story, though it requires playing previous games first.
Ranking the Xenoblade Chronicles series presents a unique challenge, as even the titles at the lower end of the spectrum offer exceptional experiences. This list attempts to order every main entry and significant expansion from the least impactful to the very best, focusing on the definitive versions available to players today. While personal rankings will always vary, this order reflects a consensus on narrative strength, gameplay polish, and overall impact within the acclaimed JRPG franchise.
Sitting at the seventh position is Xenoblade Chronicles: Future Connected, the epilogue story bundled with the Definitive Edition of the first game. It’s crucial to note that its placement here doesn’t signify poor quality. This shorter adventure, focusing on Shulk and Melia confronting the mysterious Fogbeasts, serves as a nice narrative coda. However, its abbreviated length, the absence of Chain Attacks in combat, and its somewhat forgettable antagonists prevent it from standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the full-scale entries. It’s a satisfying bonus for fans rather than a essential chapter.
In sixth place is the expansive Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. This remaster is a monumental technical achievement, offering a vast, breathtaking open world on the planet Mira to explore, eventually with the aid of giant mechs called Skells. The game’s focus is squarely on exploration and combat rather than a driving narrative, which sets it apart. For players who prioritize uncovering every corner of a world and tackling challenging monsters, it’s a masterpiece. Yet, its deliberately thin story and occasional lack of direction make it the black sheep of the family, appealing more to fans of exploration-heavy RPGs than those drawn to the series for its epic tales.
The fifth spot goes to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a game with a passionate fanbase that often considers it the peak of the series. Its story begins deceptively slow before unfolding into an emotional and grand saga, supported by a memorable cast and an incredible soundtrack. The combat system is deep and rewarding, though notoriously poorly explained by its in-game tutorials. Its main drawbacks are technical; it suffers from significant visual blurriness in handheld mode and occasional performance dips. With a potential future remaster to address these issues and refine some divisive mechanics like Field Skills, it has the undeniable potential to climb much higher on any list.
Acting as a prequel to that title, Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna ~ The Golden Country earns the fourth position. This story DLC campaign improves upon the base game in several key areas, offering better performance, clearer tutorials, and a more focused, bittersweet narrative. Its shorter runtime is a refreshing change of pace, and the combat feels refined. While it provides excellent context and emotional depth for the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, most of its story beats are summarized in the main game, making it a highly recommended but not strictly necessary experience.
The bronze medal belongs to Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, the stellar remaster of the original Wii classic. This version delivers a massive visual overhaul, giving the characters new life and expressiveness, along with a rearranged soundtrack. Beyond the presentation upgrades, it remains the perfect starting point for newcomers, featuring a timeless story, a fantastic world to explore, and a combat system that still feels engaging. It comes packaged with the Future Connected epilogue, making it a complete and highly accessible package that lays the foundation for the entire saga.
Securing the second spot is Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a monumental JRPG that represents the technical and narrative pinnacle of Monolith Soft’s work on the Switch. The game masterfully weaves together the worlds of the previous titles into a poignant story about life and conflict. Its combat is the most polished in the series, the voice acting is superb, and it features one of the most memorable story chapters in recent gaming history. It is a masterpiece in its own right, though its emotional payoff is greatly enhanced by playing the earlier games.
Finally, claiming the top position is Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed. This story expansion is not just exceptional DLC; it is a masterful conclusion to the entire narrative arc that began with the first game. It addresses lingering questions from the base game, brings back beloved characters in meaningful ways, and delivers a profoundly satisfying finale. With solid combat, new areas to explore, and a story that elevates the entire trilogy, it is an essential, unforgettable experience. A critical warning: this must absolutely be played last, as it is laden with spoilers for every preceding game.
For those new to the series, the recommended starting point remains Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition, which provides the ideal introduction to this rich and complex universe.
(Source: Nintendo Everything)
