Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Reviews
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the strongest JRPG in the modern Nintendo catalog, and is among the greatest games on the Nintendo Switch, and can potentially stand the test of time when considered among other platforms and generations as well. It's a complex, emotional journey, where you and the characters will confront challenging themes and philosophical ideas, and see them through to their respective cathartic conclusions.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 earns a modest thumbs up. It’s undeniably huge, delivering good bang for your RPG dollar, and has some interesting ideas on its mind. It’s no Final Fantasy or Zelda, but fans of sophisticated combat and Japanese storytelling should be well served.
When Xenoblade Chronicles 3 wasn’t bringing a smile to my face, it was breaking my heart over and over again.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 delivers a massive world, and more than enough story and character to fill it, combined with the series’ most reactive combat system to date. While certainly a monster commitment, Aionios is an incredible place to live for a month or two.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the strongest entry into the series yet, while simultaneously managing to bridge the themes and mechanics of the first two games in a meaningful way. Even after the credits roll close to the 60-hour mark, each of the character’s personal journeys are fulfilling and memorable, while contending with heavier subject matter than the series has been known for.
With the third game in the Xenoblade saga, Monolith Soft outperforms themselves and delivers one of the best Japanese role-playing games ever, regardless of format. While the adventure is weighed down by some unnecessary padding, complicated subtleties and technology that sometimes becomes too much for the Switch – it's hard not to be totally captured by the exciting and moving journey.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Despite a few issues, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a remarkable achievement that evolves the series formula in exciting ways, all the while weaving an emotionally charged story that is sure to be remembered for a long time to come. It makes a strong case not just as one of the best games of the year but as one of the best of all time.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has its flaws like any other game. However, its qualities more than make up for them, bringing a beautiful JRPG experience like none other before seen in the series. The Class system is varied and fun to experiment with, the story is one of the best in the series history, and the aesthetic and production values are incredibly high. This game offers tons of content that will keep you glued to your Nintendo Switch and last a long time.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a masterpiece, and I'm not one who uses the term lightly. It has a magnetic storyline, is held up by an accomplished cast, and the audio-visual presentation literally rocks, showcasing how far you can actually push the Switch. If you love Japanese role-playing games, you must have far greater problems than those afflicting Aionios to pass it up.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This review might seem short, especially for such a gigantic game. There’s just so much I can’t disclose. Bits of the combat and the mechanics of course, but mainly the story. It’s just much better if you experience these things yourself. I will say that this story manages to be both relatable and enormous. You want – almost desperately – to see how this thing shakes out. I wish the combat wasn’t so sluggish at times. It almost obstructs the narrative, having to wade through these disconnected battles. But the quest system is engaging, and the battles do eventually make sense. The writing is great, and the voice acting is getting better with every game. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a gigantic, epic adventure. It’s also bloated, hyperactive, and easily distracted. It’s beautiful but flat, it’s weird yet familiar. If you’re looking for a massive new JRPG, the latest Xenoblade game is here for you.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is an amazing entry into the already wonderful series. It reaches a new standard of storytelling, combat and customisation within the Xeno series There are a few technical mishaps here and there but not enough to dampen the overall experience. JRPG fans can’t miss this stellar adventure that’s one for the ages.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 collects, iterates, and perfects JRPG mechanics.
Small foibles aside, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 might just be the Switch’s prettiest and grandest game of 2022. With a deep combat system and surprisingly effective story, along with quality of life improvements over the prior game, it’s a true spectacle whether you’re playing in handheld mode or docked. It really is a must-buy for JRPG fans.
Monolithsoft has culminated in an ending that they’ve had their sights on for over a decade, and it shows in the level of detail and quality of life improvements that they’ve made emanating from that ten-plus years’ worth of experience. It’s a robust conclusion to the JRPG franchise and spans well over a hundred hours of gameplay, leading up to a finale that long-time fans will thoroughly enjoy without leaving newer players wanting. Although the true potential of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 feels held back by the limitations of the Switch’s hardware, developer Monolithsoft has clearly taken all of the lessons and experiences that they’ve accumulated over the years and crafted a gem that even Riku the Nopon would consider priceless.
You’d think that the bigger an enemy is, the harder it would fall, but because the only determining factor of difficulty is the gap between your level and theirs, there’s no sense of scale to combat. The only tactic you need is that of attrition: The longer a battle drags on, the more meters you’ll fill, and the flashier the attacks that you’ll be able to unleash, like interlinking with allies to briefly enter a more powerful form, or executing a chain attack that laboriously unleashes a series of uninterruptible commands. Your sword-sponge enemies have millions of hit points not because it makes for interesting combat, but because it stretches things out long enough to make players feel as if they’re more than cogs in the system. These flashy combos are a good way to illustrate the importance of teamwork to the plot, but in terms of gameplay, they only continue to demonstrate how overly engineered every inch of the conflict is.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 continues the series' tradition of massive maps and intuitive combat, but this time offers a story that elevates the experience to new heights.
Like its predecessors in the series, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 likes to go big. Whether it be its story, its large areas and creatures, or gameplay that can stretch well over 100 hours, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 boasts a scope that’s hard to beat. Its scale can admittedly be intimidating and overwhelming at times. The story can also be prone to anime tropes and uneven pacing. Overall, however, the narrative impresses with its poignant take on war and death. Add its fleshed-out gameplay and there’s a lot to love in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 for RPG lovers.
Mammoth even more than the phenomenal second episode of the trilogy, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the best JRPGs of recent years. The Monolith Soft team has managed to surprise us once again, creating a mature, moving and unfortunately current story, as well as embellished with a cast of exquisitely characterized and irresistible characters. If as far as the exploratory component is concerned, we knew that the studio would draw on the well-established formula of the franchise, proposing an immense open world capable of trapping the player for hundreds of hours, it is instead the combat system that has left us speechless.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Brilliant action role-playing game with a bombastic, but also excessive film part. The insane number of possibilities in battle can be overwhelming.
Review in German | Read full review
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is such a memorable RPG, one of the best in history actually. Monolith Soft has demonstrate its true talent creating a complex and satisfying adventure that would live in our memories for a very long time.
Review in Spanish | Read full review