Summary
Considering it took a petition called “Operation Rainfall” to get the originalXenoblade Chroniclesfor the Wii translated and released in the West, it’s impressive that the series has become one of Nintendo’s top-selling and critically acclaimed RPGs. The games are from the same team that createdXenogearsand theXenosagatrilogy and carry similar science fiction themes.
Thanks to therising popularity of theXenobladeseries, JRPG fans who love character development and large, fleshed-out worlds will want to play the games and experience them for themselves. This list ranks the games in order, but thanks to the quality of the trilogy and its spin-off, all of the games offer something fun for sci-fi and RPG fans.
Updated July 02, 2025, by Michael Llewellyn:With the definitive version of Xenoblade Chronicles X serving as the perfect swansong for the Nintendo Switch, this list is updated to include the new version, along with tags and galleries for each entry. Whether players want to start with the first game in the trilogy or try Xenoblade Chronicles X, it’s the perfect time to jump into one of the best JRPG series on any system.
Featuring a lighter atmosphere than its predecessor,Xenoblade Chronicles 2focuses on the plucky young main protagonist, Rex. Rex is a salvager who obtains an artificial lifeform known as a Blade. Pyra is a Blade, and after saving Rex’s life, she asks him to take her to a legendary land known as Elysium. The Titans exist inXenoblade Chronicles 2’stimeline, and they interact with the cast and are woven into the story. It’s an interesting setup that develops into something more as the narrative progresses.
However, one of the main complaints from fans is that the combat can take some time to click with players. Complexities aren’t always explained well, but it will click with those familiar with the previous twoXenoblade Chroniclesgames.As before, players program their characters to perform on the battlefield. The biggest drawback ofXenoblade Chronicles 2is the character recruitment mechanic, which utilizesa frustrating gacha-style gimmick where characters are randomly unlocked. Those willing to look past this will still find a fantastic JRPG with a massive world and lots to do with an excellent supporting cast. The story takes some time to pick up the pace, but there’s much to love aboutXenoblade Chronicles 2.
Xenoblade Chronicles Xis an enjoyable spin-off title for the Nintendo Wii U. It is separate from the trilogy and its DLC but features excellent gameplay and a stunning world that holds up on the Wii U. It’s a beautifully created world and one of the most impressive and explorable in a generation. The combat is challenging and there is very little handholding. There’s a steep learning curve, but its systems are rewarding when focused on exploring and battles. Its combat is similar toFinal Fantasy 12,where players can program their teammates to carry out actions on the battlefield.
While the story and character development are enjoyable, they lack the depth of the mainline titles.Xenoblade Chronicles Xhas 12 story missions, but missions require several time-consuming conditions to move through the game and complete the story. Thankfully, there’s a lot of content to keep players busy as they can take on jobs ranging from working for the military to becoming a diplomat. The lengthy and challengingMMO-style nature of its systemsmay turn off some players, but there is a vast and stunning world to immerse oneself in.
Cementing itself as one of the Nintendo Switch’s last must-have games before the Switch 2 arrives,Xenoblade Chronicles X The Definitive Editionshines asone of the best open-world RPGs available on the system. It’s a spin-off from the mainline series, but fans should consider it as its own game. While the story may not beXenoblade Chronicles X’s strongest aspect, exploring the expansive world of Mira is an incredible experience, especially as the game continues to unfold the more players continue with the story.
Performance is improved on better hardware with better visuals and improved frame rates. Returning fans will also be pleased to know that there is new mission content, more party members, and post-game content that helps clear up loose ends from the Wii U original. There are also fantastic quality-of-life features like an improved UI, an auto-save function, a respec feature for battle points, being able to change party members on the move, and being able to manually adjust the time of day.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna - The Golden Countryis a standalone prequel story that was substantial enough for a physical launch.The Golden Countryfeatures a new cast of characters, mature storytelling, and a streamlined combat system with quality-of-life features that allow players to review tutorials - a vital feature for fans who take long breaks between gameplay sessions.Xenoblade Chronicles 2:Torna: Golden Countryintroduces a Community mechanic, where the player must speak to NPCs and raise the Community’s level by completing quests. In turn, some of the game’s story quests are unlocked after increasing the number of supporters in the Community.
The story takes place 494 years before the events ofXenoblade Chronicles 2and has arguably better characters and a more focused 20-30-hour narrative than the base game. More importantly, the random nature of the second game’s mechanics has been replaced with a much-improved system.Torn: Golden Countryis a fantastic prequel, providing more context for the lore, events, and places that fans will be familiar with after playingXenoblade Chronicles 2.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3is a culmination of its predecessor’s best mechanics while showcasing Monolith Soft’s penchant for incredible storytelling andcharacter development.Xenoblade Chronicles 3gets off to a cinematically fast start. It drives the story forward without rushing and keeps players intrigued and guessing from start to finish. The cast is among the best in the trilogy and takes the players on an emotional rollercoaster as they fight to escape an endless war. Each character has a compelling story arc that provides insight into what drives their motivations.
The visuals are stunning, and next toThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, the epic JRPG is one of the most technically impressive games on the Nintendo Switch. Monolith has mastered creating compelling open-worlds andXenoblade Chronicles 3is no different. The world is a joy to explore with lots of sights and sounds and it never feels laborious. The score complementsXenoblade Chronicles 3’sintense and emotional moments. It’s a darker story than its predecessor and the dramatic moments that reflect on war, loss, and the inevitability of death are whereXenoblade Chronicles 3shines the most.
Xenoblade Chronicles - The Definitive Editionis both a remaster and an expansion of the Wii version launched in PAL and North American territories in 2011 and 2012, respectively. It features the original game with visuals on par withXenoblade Chronicles 2andXenoblade Chronicles 3.It also includes the story expansionFuture Connected,an epilogue that sets the stage for theXenobladesaga as a trilogy.
While JRPG fans may have heard about the series after the critical and commercial success ofXenoblade Chronicles 3,they should always start at the beginning with what is an incredible JRPG thatimproves on the standard versionin every way. Moreover, the storytelling and character development make it one of the best titles on the Nintendo Switch. The story follows the protagonist Shulk and his companions on their journey across landscapes that developed on the back of two battling Titans. There are blonde-haired chosen ones and powerful magic swords and on the surface,Xenoblade Chronicleshasfamiliar clichés, but the narrative goes in surprisingly unpredictable directions.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemedis the final story expansion that ties story elements and characters from all three games into one package for an emotional finale that longtime fans will love. Fans are encouraged to playXenoblade Chronicles: The Definitive Edition,Xenoblade Chronicles 2, and the expansionTorna - The Golden Countryto appreciateFuture Redeemed, as allthese stories come togetherfor an epic conclusion.
Future Redeemedfollows the new protagonist Matthew and his traveling companion A. Both are excellent characters who have great interactions with the new cast of characters — and some returning ones from the first twoXenobladegames. It’s a more condensed experience than the main game, butFuture Redeemedis a big expansion with a large map to explore and several side quests to keep fans occupied.
