Topic: Which Xenoblade Game Should I Start With?

I have been wanting to get a Xenoblade game for a while now, and I am wondering which one would be best for me to start with. Xcx just released on Switch and I want to get it but do you have to play the other ones first? Also, do you have to play 1, 2, and 3 in order? Thanks!

@SlamDunk22 I'd highly recommend starting with Xenoblade Chronicles DE and playing the mainline games in order. X doesn't matter as much as it's basically it's own thing (I actually don't like it very much despite it being my favourite series) but logically it'd probably make the most sense to either play it after the first game as that's when it originally released or just at the end after you're done with the main series.

You'll never go wrong playing them in release order. The first game is also still my favorite in terms of story, so that helps too.

That said, it's not like there's a huge amount of direct continuity from game to game. It's more a case of building a common set of lore, and the callbacks can be quite subtle. So, feel free to jump in at the deep end and start with one of the later games if they particularly take your fancy.

I'd also note that the Definitive Editions of XC1 and XCX have additional content that strengthens their links to the other games, so the experience now is going to be a little different to if you had started back in 2010.

This is always the way. Books. Movies. TV. Regardless of the timeline chronology, they are made assuming you've experienced the previously released ones.

Just to offer a counterpoint cause everyone is saying play in order, I didn't finish and actually enjoy a Xenoblade game until 3. I bounced off of Xenoblade DE for years over multiple attempts, and I've gone back and tried 2 again, which I eventually gave up on because it's frustrating elements became too much. I'd honestly say X has provided a much stronger out the gate experience than even 3 did, with more refined combat but it's now impossible for me to say whether that's just X's strength or whether I'm just more used to this series quirks now after playing all of 3 and most of 2.

I'd play it in numerical order, with X after the mainline games. Ignore people saying that these games don't connect. 3 is pretty much only the most enjoyable if you've played 1 and 2 beforehand. Xenoblade X is standalone (from what I know of. Haven't beaten it yet), so I'd say put that to the side.

It doesn't matter where you begin, just that you play them.

Did everyone read The Hobbit before they watched the The Lord of Rings trilogy.

Probably not.

Happens with the Yakuza franchise all the time too. The best way to burn out new people to a franchise you enjoy is setting the expectation they must play through hundreds of hours of games to get to the part they might actually enjoy. Nobody should do that.

I played Xenoblade 3 just fine after giving up on DE / never playing 2. The ending / some of the cameos didn't land as hard as if I'd played those other games, sure, but I was never lost at any point by starting here. And in fact, DE made me assume Xenoblade combat was awful, and thanks to 3 I've gone on to thoroughly enjoy the combat in 2 and X.

I think i'll probably just go with DE first.

@Pizzamorg Good post. I'm so glad I gave XC2 a chance after bouncing off XC1 so many times. It's just... for me, at least... not on the same level as the rest of the mainline series.

And yeah, I feel like the same thing happens with Trails as well. Fans over-emphasize the importance of playing older games because of random cameos and older storylines that crop up from older games.

As if almost everyone didn't enjoy The Witcher 3 without playing the old ones, despite plenty of returning elements lmao

@SlamDunk22 Grab the one that looks the most interesting to you. XCX is entirely standalone, XC2 is 99% standalone, and XC3 can still be enjoyed despite references/cameos from characters in the first two games.

If you want to play them all, there's no reason not to at least try the original, though.

Very few games nowadays do you need to play the previous title to understand what's going on in the current one. Yeah there might be some inside joke you might miss but noting that will confuse you or understand what's going on the current game. If you are confused too there is nothing that a quick search on the internet can't help you find out from a previous game.

I am currently playing Avowed on Series X and I have never played the Pillars of Eternity games yet I understand what's going on as the story is self contained to Avowed. Yeah I did look up a few things that were mentioned in Avowed that were references to P.o.E.

Numerical order with X whenever you want.
XC DE Main Quest + Future Connected
XC 2 + Torna
XC 3 + Future Redeemed
You could play 2 first if you wanted, but 3 should be played last of the 3 numbered games.

X just looks the most appealing to me,
thinking of jumping into the series with that one.

I would start with either 2 or X.
While i personally loved 2 the most, most people tend to rate it the lowest due to some mechanics like the field skills/gacha mechanics.
Therefore it might be harder for you to get into if you don't play it first.
The way the story is set up makes it so that both 1 and 2 could be considered the first in the story.
Basicly 2 worlds/dimensions that lead to a combined thing in 3.
X is its own thing and thus doesn't rely on a play order.