xenoblade chronicles 3 should you play the first two games first

Should you play Xenoblade Chronicles 1 & 2 before jumping into Xenoblade Chronicles 3? Here’s what you should know before getting started.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the newest JRPG to land on the Nintendo Switch. With a 100+ hour story and plenty of characters, many people are wondering if they should play the first two games. The answer to that question depends on how much time you want to invest in the world these games take place in.

XB3 is by far the best of the series, mechanically speaking. The tutorial is well-fleshed out for newbies and is probably the best in the series. If you’re not sure if these games are for you, it’s a fine entry point because its tutorial is far less confusing than those in XB1 or XB2. The combat mechanics are explained well and once you have an idea of how the Arts system works – you’re better equipped to understand the previous two games.

The games take place in two separate universes with different casts, world building, plots, and character design. The games do overlap in a multiverse type situation with a few late game twists that make the games more meaningful if you do play them first. But XB1 and XB2 are both 80+ hour commitments. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 can be enjoyed without any knowledge from the first game.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 brings the ideas and concepts introduced in the previous two games together in a meaningful way. But it’s just as accessible as a standalone story as any of the Final Fantasy games are. The combat is more streamlined, so it’s easier to understand what’s happening with the multi-cast of characters. While the game is a singleplayer JRPG, the party structure is set up to feel like managing an MMO dungeon party with a tank, healer, and damage dealers.


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