Xenoblade Chronicles 3

77%
Game Brain Score Based on 44 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Game Cover
What Monolith Soft has done here is nothing short of remarkable. They've taken everything that worked in previous games, thrown out the things that didn't, and given us one of the best RPGs ever.
Starting at $54.90Buy now

In "Xenoblade Chronicles 3," players traverse a vast world torn by conflict between Keves and Agnus, assuming the roles of protagonists Noah and Mio. A story centered on the theme of "life" unites six characters from the opposing nations. This game bridges the narratives of Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2, offering a connected experience for series fans.

  • Nintendo Switch
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

77%
Audience ScoreBased on 44 reviews
story27 positive mentions
grinding3 negative mentions
  • Captivating and emotionally charged story with a great cast of likable characters.
  • Deeply customizable and engaging combat system that encourages experimentation.
  • Expansive world filled with exploration opportunities, meaningful side quests, and a stellar soundtrack.
  • Performance issues and technical limitations due to the Nintendo Switch hardware.
  • Repetitive voice lines and combat dialogue that can detract from the experience.
  • Some pacing problems and a lengthy introduction that may frustrate players.
  • story37 mentions

    The story of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is widely praised for its emotional depth, engaging characters, and intricate world-building, making it a standout aspect of the game. Reviewers highlight the captivating narrative, memorable character arcs, and the seamless integration of story with gameplay, although some note minor pacing issues and a few disappointing story beats. Overall, it is regarded as a powerful and immersive experience that resonates with both newcomers and long-time fans of the series.

    • “Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a gripping, powerful story told well with a unique world and compelling characters.”
    • “The moving story, delightful characters, and deep, thrilling gameplay loop set this apart as a title that transcends the sum of its parts.”
    • “Xenoblade Chronicles 3 gracefully fuses story and gameplay in a masterful conclusion to the Klaus saga.”
    • “One of the best JRPGs ever made, marred slightly by some disappointing story beats.”
    • “Story fumbles a bit toward the finish line, tutorials are long and annoying, needs more Riku.”
    • “But even those issues can't put a damper on the captivating combat engine and dynamic storytelling featured here.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game has been universally praised, described as "stellar," "fantastic," and "godlike," enhancing the emotional depth and overall experience. Reviewers highlight its ability to complement the engaging narratives and immersive world, making it a standout feature that resonates with players throughout their adventure. The soundtrack is noted for being both beautiful and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's atmosphere and emotional impact.

    • “Stellar soundtrack, great cast of likable characters, deeply customizable and engaging combat, huge world to explore with tons of surprises, emotionally charged story with thrilling set piece moments.”
    • “Incredible worldbuilding, fantastic music.”
    • “The music, good lord, the music is so good.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is widely praised for its engaging and deep mechanics, captivating combat, and a well-structured gameplay loop that keeps players invested for hours. The game successfully combines exploration, a rich narrative, and character development, while also incorporating quality-of-life improvements and a vibrant world filled with diverse activities. Despite minor graphical flaws and some repetitive elements, the overall experience is described as unique, entertaining, and accessible to both newcomers and series veterans.

    • “Add that to a great gameplay loop and vibrant world to explore, and you’ll see just how great this title is almost every moment you play it.”
    • “The moving story, delightful characters, and deep, thrilling gameplay loop set this apart as a title that transcends the sum of its parts.”
    • “Xenoblade Chronicles 3 takes the best elements from its predecessors and combines them into a uniquely compelling gameplay experience, all while telling a nuanced and captivating narrative of its own.”
    • “Some graphical flaws are noticeable in camera focus, and combat dialogue is overused. There is occasionally an iffy balance between cutscenes and gameplay.”
  • graphics12 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the high production values, unique art style, and engaging visuals that enhance the storytelling and combat experience. However, some players note that the graphics are hindered by the Nintendo Switch's hardware limitations, resulting in outdated visuals, occasional graphical flaws, and bland environments, particularly in handheld mode. Overall, while the aesthetic appeal is strong, technical constraints impact the overall graphical experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Emotional rollercoaster, likable characters, unique character classes, experimentation-friendly, swoonworthy visuals.”
    • “Engaging and emotional story, spectacular action-packed cutscenes, incredible music and great visuals, expansive and detailed high-fantasy world.”
    • “The graphics are hindered by the Switch's hardware limitations.”
    • “Some graphical flaws are noticeable in camera focus, and the combat dialogue is overused.”
    • “Graphics take a hit in handheld mode, and the environments are often a bit bland.”
  • emotional10 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply engaging and heartfelt narrative, featuring a cast of likable characters and a complex story that explores challenging themes. Players experience an emotional rollercoaster, supported by a stellar soundtrack and breathtaking visuals, all while navigating a vast world filled with surprises and thrilling combat moments. Overall, the game delivers a mature and cathartic journey that resonates with players on multiple levels.

    • “Join Noah and Mio, members of the two opposing nations of Keves and Agnus, on a heartfelt journey through a warring world with a dark secret.”
    • “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.”
    • “Its beautiful and stylistic art direction lends a rare maturity to its visual presentation, while its heartfelt, melancholic story comes together in an epic, personal conclusion in spite of a couple of odd pacing decisions.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While some players appreciate the solid performance and engaging gameplay, others have noted performance issues related to the Switch's hardware limitations, including graphics constraints and frequent voice line repetition. Additionally, the inability to level down until post-game has been criticized, impacting the overall experience.

    • “A darker tone more in line with the original Xenoblade, great soundtrack, no field skills, solid overall performance, the best gameplay in the trilogy.”
    • “Incredible production values, deep and intricate class system with tons of variety, climactic boss fights with pacing dictated by the player's skill, wonderfully written characters with outstanding voice performances to match, engaging side quests that will make you care for the inhabitants of the world.”
    • “Solid overall performance, the best gameplay in the trilogy.”
    • “The Switch's hardware limits the graphics and performance.”
    • “There is no ability to level down until post-game, which is frustrating.”
    • “Obnoxiously frequent repeated voice lines detract from the experience.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Reviews indicate that while "Xenoblade Chronicles 3" features a solid battle system and minimal grinding, some players find certain aspects tedious, particularly item grinding and overwhelming combat. Despite these frustrations, many agree that the game's compelling story and high-quality production values make the grind worthwhile.

    • “Xenoblade Chronicles 3 might be too frustrating for some, but it's worth fighting through tedious systems for the RPG's stellar storytelling.”
    • “Overwhelming combat, tedious item grinding, exploration could be better.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by an immersive premise and meaningful side quests that contribute to character growth. While the dialogue occasionally falls short, it remains significant in advancing the narrative and enhancing player engagement. The combination of futuristic art and medieval combat further enriches the overall experience.

    • “The immersive and engaging premise, combined with a futuristic art style blended into medieval-style combat, creates a beautiful experience. The character dialogue, while having some lows, is always important and provides significant character development and growth.”
    • “The chain attacks and Ouroboros mode combined for satisfying combat, and the abundance of meaningful side quests further enhance the character development aspect.”
    • “The character development is enriched by the depth of the dialogue, which contributes to the overall growth of the characters throughout the game.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I found the character arcs predictable and uninspired, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “Despite the engaging premise, the characters don't evolve in a meaningful way, leaving their growth feeling unfulfilled.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

Buy Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Videos

Similar Games