Xanadu Next

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 371 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Xanadu Next Game Cover
Xanadu Next encapsulates the design philosophies of the early-to-mid 2000's Falcom, culminating in one of the best PC games I've played in years. You owe it to yourself to give this game a shot.
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In "Xanadu Next," explore Harlech Island and search for the elusive Castle Strangerock to solve its mysteries. Charlotte, a scholar, and her reborn knight friend work together to uncover artifacts and learn about the castle. However, danger lurks around every corner, and the knight's life is at risk, setting the stage for a perilous adventure.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 371 reviews
story48 positive mentions
grinding49 negative mentions
  • Engaging combat system that emphasizes positioning and strategy, making battles feel satisfying and rewarding.
  • Great atmosphere with a well-crafted interconnected world, filled with secrets and lore that encourages exploration.
  • Charming soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, contributing to the game's nostalgic feel.
  • Technical issues such as stuttering, crashes, and bugs that can hinder gameplay and frustrate players.
  • Clunky controls, especially when using a gamepad, as inventory management requires a mouse, making it cumbersome.
  • Grindy gameplay with a heavy reliance on leveling up and acquiring keys, which can disrupt the pacing and enjoyment.
  • story161 mentions

    The story in this game is generally regarded as decent, with many players appreciating its simplicity and the way it unfolds through exploration and collectible lore items. While some find it engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others describe it as somewhat generic or lacking depth, often relying on familiar JRPG tropes. Overall, the narrative is seen as a solid complement to the enjoyable gameplay and atmospheric elements, though it may not be the main draw for all players.

    • “The story is extremely good, and I loved reading all of the documents I got.”
    • “The plot is one of a great mystery and it's a joy to see bits and pieces of it revealed through character dialogue and archived reading material discovered by the player.”
    • “The story, while starting off only somewhat cliché, begins to unravel into something much more complex and intricate, as the plot is surprisingly deep and the world is full of lore.”
    • “The story is, of all things, the lowest point of the game; usually, the story cutscenes consist of character models staring at one another while text scrolls, and no, the story is not good.”
    • “The storytelling in this game isn't stellar.”
    • “The story is very forgettable, but fighting monsters is fun in a brainless kind of way.”
  • gameplay128 mentions

    The gameplay of "Xanadu Next" is characterized by a blend of simple yet engaging mechanics, reminiscent of classic action RPGs like Diablo and Ys, with a focus on exploration, positioning, and combat strategy. While boss fights are a standout feature, offering varied challenges, some players find the overall gameplay can become repetitive and grind-heavy, with occasional clunky controls. Despite these flaws, the game is praised for its addictive loop, satisfying progression systems, and a charming atmosphere enhanced by its music and visuals.

    • “Boss fights are a real high point; despite these simple mechanics, they are varied and involve unique mechanics and phases.”
    • “The gameplay of Xanadu Next is a highlight for fans of the genre.”
    • “Xanadu Next takes the basic gameplay of Diablo, combines it with the action of Ys, injects some Zelda puzzle solving, and places it in an interconnected, atmospheric world similar to Dark Souls.”
    • “Persistent stuttering mars gameplay, detracting from the otherwise engrossing experience.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive; grinding for weapon skills is slow.”
    • “In order to reach a somewhat passable gameplay time length, they really had to stretch things out in this game through excessive grinding, recolored/reused enemies, and the awful key system.”
  • music126 mentions

    The music in "Xanadu Next" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its atmospheric and haunting qualities that enhance the game's overall experience. While it diverges from the more energetic soundtracks typical of Falcom's other titles, it effectively sets the mood for exploration and combat, featuring memorable tracks that resonate with players. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's standout features, contributing significantly to its charm and immersion.

    • “The soundtrack deserves special mention.”
    • “There's something truly magical about the moment you start a game and are greeted with a stunning soundtrack and an intro that feels like it's been tailored just for you.”
    • “The music is, as always for Falcom, really good with some memorable tracks.”
    • “The music is either generic or completely obnoxious (the final boss theme is actually good); the game used a whole crapton of recolored enemies.”
    • “Story is dull, music isn't exciting, and characters aren't very interesting.”
    • “Unfortunately, the music couldn't hold a candle to what could be found in Ys; the graphics were uglier than lower-bit Ys games, and the character felt clunkier.”
  • graphics75 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2005 origins, with many reviewers noting a nostalgic charm despite their antiquated appearance. While some appreciate the artistic style and find the visuals serviceable, others criticize them as muddy or lacking polish, with occasional graphical bugs. Overall, the visuals may not meet modern standards, but they resonate well with fans of classic RPG aesthetics.

    • “I firmly believe that this game is the peak of game visuals.”
    • “A dungeon crawler with Falcom's 3D graphics and isometric maps combined with a dark fantastical setting leads to an absolutely brilliant outcome.”
    • “While the game's graphics may appear somewhat antiquated initially, they seamlessly complement the title's nostalgic charm.”
    • “The graphics are a bit muddy for a game from 2005, which makes sense given the N-Gage, but they're serviceable.”
    • “The game’s graphics are really dated and honestly quite ugly today.”
    • “The dated graphics are a major turn off and people expecting infinite replay value in character builds and equipment will be disappointed.”
  • grinding49 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it both enjoyable and excessive. While some appreciate the depth and customization it offers, others feel it can become tedious, especially when leveling up or farming for resources. Overall, the game encourages grinding as a core mechanic, which can enhance the experience for fans of classic RPGs, but may frustrate those seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.

    • “A couple of things I could criticize: the game heavily incentivizes grinding. Though the leveling system itself is brilliant, you will still burn some hours if you want to get ahead.”
    • “The grinding, as I've said, was one of the worst experiences I had to endure because throughout the game you're forced to level your character to progress.”
    • “I have run into so many doors that it seems impossible that I will be able to go much further without grinding millions of gold off creeps to buy the ridiculously overpriced keys that the shop sells.”
  • atmosphere35 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, enhanced by memorable music and well-crafted environments. Reviewers highlight the blend of eerie, melancholic tones with engaging gameplay, creating a unique and captivating experience. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a standout feature that elevates the game's storytelling and exploration.

    • “The island's eerie, desolate and lost to time feel is beautifully conveyed through the atmospheric, memorable music and the environments.”
    • “In combination with the music, this adds a great melancholy, haunting, and ancient atmosphere to the whole game.”
    • “The game’s sound design and music are spectacular; the sound effects convey an incredible atmosphere and the game’s soundtrack is equally haunting.”
    • “The story, atmosphere, music, and level design are all crafted competently, and because it is a rather short game, it was over before my annoyances with it could sour my gameplay experience.”
    • “While there may have been much better games graphically even at its original release of 2005, the overall atmosphere and design just feels... right, and well-detailed.”
    • “Xanadu next focuses much more on dungeon crawling and exploration, and the atmosphere is relatively dark.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting persistent stuttering, frequent crashes, and poor performance even on high-end systems. Despite some enhancements like widescreen support, these issues significantly detract from the overall experience, making the game feel unplayable for many. Users have struggled to find effective solutions, leading to frustration over the lack of improvements since its release on Steam.

    • “Very fun game! It's like classic Zelda, but for the love of God, use dgVoodoo to improve performance.”
    • “Constant stuttering and frequent random crashing have made this game unplayable for me, and little to no solution exists online as people have been posting about said issues for years with little result.”
    • “Despite attempting various recommended fixes, none proved effective in resolving the stuttering, leading to frequent interruptions during play and bad framerate.”
    • “The stuttering issue is a disgrace for a game that came out on Steam 7 years ago and it is a disgrace in 2023.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a nostalgic charm, particularly through its quirky minotaur model reminiscent of early PS2 titles. Players find amusement in the absurdity of the 32-bit color resolution options, which can lead to crashes if not properly managed. Overall, the game is praised for its comedic elements intertwined with engaging JRPG gameplay and visuals.

    • “There's something nostalgic about the hilariously proportioned minotaur model that gives you that early PS2 vibe.”
    • “It's extremely funny that all resolutions are 32-bit color, but you can choose not to enable 32-bit color mode, which will then just crash on load.”
    • “Very funny JRPG, interesting story and gameplay.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The stability of the game has received negative feedback, with users reporting numerous bugs, including untracked achievements, graphical glitches, and even complete game crashes. While some players noted that the game runs well at times, the overall experience is marred by these persistent issues.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
    • “I haven't experienced any stability issues; it performs consistently well.”
    • “The performance is solid, making for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “As this is on my completionist account, I was a little upset to find that a few of the achievements are buggy and do not track progress as intended.”
    • “Unfortunately, it's also buggy as heck.”
    • “Finally, there are quite a few bugs I encountered: graphical glitches, an enemy skills malfunction, and even a complete game crash.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game's story to be emotionally impactful, with a simple yet powerful narrative that culminates in a beautiful and satisfying ending. The emotional depth is enhanced by the game's backdrop, making the overall experience engaging and memorable.

    • “Other than that, this game really fired on all cylinders for me and kept me hooked the whole way: I loved the story, which, as simple as it was, felt very emotional and had an incredible payoff ending to it.”
    • “It also provides a backdrop for the emotional crutch of the story.”
    • “And all this adds up to an incredibly beautiful, genuinely emotional ending.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game offers decent replayability with engaging gameplay and side content to explore. However, some players may find the dated graphics and limited variety in character builds and equipment disappointing for those seeking infinite replay value.

    • “Decent game with good replayability.”
    • “Really fun and engaging gameplay, fun system, replayability, side content to complete.”
    • “The dated graphics are a major turn-off, and people expecting infinite replay value in character builds and equipment will be disappointed.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Character development is notably strong, as the game's focus on a single location allows for in-depth exploration of each resident's personality and issues, contrasting with other titles that feature less engaging protagonists. While the character designs hint at anime influences, the development is primarily driven by the player's choices in weapons and armor, rather than traditional narrative progression.

    • “Keeping the story in one place lets you get to know the personality and problems of each resident - a strength I am happy to see was not reserved for the Trails games, which pay a steep bloating cost for somewhat more character development than we get from the empty vessel Adol or the silent protagonist of Xanadu.”
    • “Your weapons and armor are the only things which dictate your character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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Play time

2hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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