Xenoblade Chronicles 3 — Review (2026): Is It Worth Playing?
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a JRPG from Monolith Soft, released in July 2022 on Nintendo Switch. The third entry in the series, uniting the worlds of the first two games. Players control a party of six heroes battling in real time, exploring vast locations, and uncovering the mystery of an eternal war between two nations.
What is the game about
The world of Aionios is torn by an eternal war between Keves and Agnus. You are Noah, a Keves soldier who meets Mio, an Agnus soldier. Together with four other heroes, they journey to understand the meaning of war and find a way to stop it. The story explores themes of life, death, and freedom.
Gameplay
- Real-time combat: attacks execute automatically, you choose Arts and position.
- Class changes: each hero can master any of the six classes.
- Ouroboros fusion: two heroes can fuse into a powerful mech.
- Huge world: locations the size of entire countries, full of secrets.
- DLC Future Redeemed: a prequel concluding the trilogy's story.
Should you play it in 2026
Yes. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the best JRPGs on Switch: epic story, deep combat, and hundreds of hours of content. If you love Final Fantasy, Persona, or previous Xenoblade games — a must.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Epic story | Lots of text and cutscenes |
| Deep combat | Graphics lag behind other JRPGs |
| Huge world | Slow start |
FAQ
Do I need to play previous Xenoblade games? No, but there are references.
How many hours? 60–80 hours main story, 100+ with side content.
On other platforms? No, only Nintendo Switch.