Xenoblade Chronicles 3

 Switch
Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 122 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 116 out of 122
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 122
  3. Negative: 0 out of 122
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  1. Game Informer
    Jul 26, 2022
    73
    My party of seven felt like a little army when explosive Arts and flashy Ouroboros combos lit up an already-chaotic battlefield. And the quality-of-life improvements like customizable shortcut hotbars and in-game GPS streamlined menu-surfing and traversal. Still, the narrative and world designs left much to be desired as critical plot twists are frustratingly obvious, character growth is virtually nonexistent, and navigation in each uninspired environment proves to be a tiring exercise. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a double-edged sword that needs a bit more sharpening.
  2. Gamer.no
    Aug 5, 2022
    70
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a spectacular game that could've been made even more spectacular if the combat was even remotely close to challenging.
  3. PCMag
    Jul 26, 2022
    70
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a massive JRPG with a unique story and deep combat that's tempered by all-too-familiar gameplay mechanics.
  5. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Jul 26, 2022
    70
    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.
  6. GameCritics
    Oct 11, 2022
    60
    This is a studio that has created characters with moving arcs and developed stories that grapple with revenge, forgiveness, and even the nature of being. Here, it feels like all that ambition has died and been replaced with Gundam for Complete Illiterates. It’s a tragic regression, all the more so because here and there compelling stories and characters poke through. Alas, they end up buried beneath a mountain of anime tropes and JRPG platitudes. Monolith is better than Xenoblade Chronicles 3, and so are we.
  7. Slant Magazine
    Sep 9, 2022
    50
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3 just cannot get out of its own way. This is, after all, a game that provides a tutorial on how to complete tutorials, and it keeps piling on slight mechanics well into the 20-hour range.
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These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

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  1. 3DJuegos
    Aug 10, 2022
    Definitely, one of the biggest JRPG ever made. If you love the genre, you should play it.
  2. Eurogamer
    Jul 26, 2022
    Monolith Soft closes out its loosely connected trilogy of epic RPGs with its most adaptable, malleable and high-spirited adventure yet. [Eurogamer Essential]
  3. Polygon
    Jul 26, 2022
    Xenoblade Chronicles 3 rewards you for investing in people and places, in spending time with a community and learning the core of their struggles. In perhaps its longest-running quest line, as both a diplomat and a warrior, I helped a liberated colony establish sustenance farming on its land. And I did do so with the help of neighboring colonies who would’ve once fought one another. This quest was in keeping with many stories in the late game, in which heroes came together in surprising ways to lead the world beyond the limited purview of a protagonist; they developed trade networks, shared knowledge, and established mutual aid. [Polygon Recommends]
  5. The Loadout
    Aug 12, 2022
    From what I have played so far, it is clear that Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has a pretty special narrative, which is why the series has captivated such a big audience over the years. The world-building, character-building, and the way the game follows through on its themes is mighty impressive so far and I am completely captivated by where the game is going. [Review in Progress]
  6. The Verge
    Jul 26, 2022
    As much as this game confuses me, I’m content to let it string me along babe-in-the-woods-style.

Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best Switch Game of 2022
4
#4 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1372 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,137 out of 1372
  2. Mixed: 79 out of 1372
  3. Negative: 156 out of 1372
  1. HappyDonnie
    Jul 30, 2022
    10
    Best in the series by far, as it should! Masterpiece, they keep introducing new mechanics way past the opening chapters, this could beBest in the series by far, as it should! Masterpiece, they keep introducing new mechanics way past the opening chapters, this could be complicated but everything is explained and the slow approach makes it feel like im learning and even evolving the characters. Many games i just put down, but this i cant put down.

    Handheld or docked, i like both. It runs very good in my opinion and is contrary to many jrpgs a full fletched game. I love it.    … Full Review »
  2. JDK-the-L0lic0n
    Jul 30, 2022
    5
    Pretty standard, mediocre I would say
    Despite the title wanting to be more like Xenoblade 1 for Wii, it fails in several aspects that make it    Pretty standard, mediocre I would say
    Despite the title wanting to be more like Xenoblade 1 for Wii, it fails in several aspects that make it inferior
    Personally I find the story recycled and lacking in imagination or interesting twists.

    However, it's a purchase that I don't regret, I would recommend others with a different criterion to try it, because I didn't love it.    … Full Review »
  3. OnlyOneHere
    Jul 30, 2022
    0
    This game is a steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $60 for a mobile game. The graphics are a joke. The groundThis game is a steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $60 for a mobile game. The graphics are a joke. The ground textures are pathetic, it literally looks like it was ported from a GameCube game. The story is terrible. The combat is boring and repetitive. When I pay $60, I expect a combat system with depth and detail. All the developers did in this game is put pretty lights during every move, to give players the illusion that the game is fun. None of that is fun for me. The physics are beyond horrible. The splash physics don't look as good as they do in the cutscenes. The animations are laughable.

    It says on the back of the game case to explore. What is there to explore in this game? It is the exact same trash as 90 percent of modern open world games. Just a boring and empty landscape full of grass, rocks, and vegetation. Why would I want to explore that? Why can't I explore the village that is in the intro cutscene instead? Developers these days are so cheap and lazy, they can't even be bothered to make enough villages or man-made environments, because it's easier to copy and paste grass everywhere. Speaking of grass, it doesn't even react to the player's movement. The characters are so annoying. They keep repeating the same lines over and over again when attacking enemies. Boss battles are lazily designed and so are the side quests.

    There is no multiplayer. So once you beat the story, there is literally not a reason to play this game again. Charging $60 for a game with no replay value is a cash grab. For goodness sake, why are video game developers so obsessed with the word Chronicles? Enough already. I don't recommend this game at all, unless you want to support laziness.    … Full Review »
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