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Xenoblade being connected is good actually
It feels crazy whenever I read Reddit posts, Twitter threads, or YouTube comments from people saying they’re disappointed that Xenoblade is trying to connect everything to the other Xeno series and the mainline numbered games.
Like, I feel people have the wrong expectations about the Xenoblade series. They think it’s like most JRPGs: Final Fantasy, Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest, Tales, etc.
Where each entry is standalone and doesn’t share a universe. So they expect every new Xenoblade game to be set in a brand-new world with no connection to the previous ones.
But sorry, that’s just wrong. Xenoblade is a JRPG series with a connected, shared universe. It’s not like the Kiseki series, where every game is a direct continuation of the previous one, but more like an anthology or “arc/saga” framework. Each entry has its own arc that can stand alone as a full story, but the next game often includes some sort of continuation or expands on certain plot points that weren’t fully explored before.
It’s kind of like in manga — you finish one arc, and then, later on, a new arc brings back elements or terms from the old one in a new context. That’s how Xenoblade works.
In a way, Xenoblade is more like Persona, SMT, or Pokémon in that there's a shared universe — but even more so, it's structured like Western media, where the story arcs build into a larger saga. Think of Star Wars or (oh god) the Marvel movies. Actually, I’d say Xenoblade takes a lot of inspiration from Star Wars and Star Trek, since its structure feels very similar.
Most people — especially Nintendo fans and casual JRPG fans, just aren’t used to that format. They’re used to JRPGs resetting the world and lore with each new game, but Xenoblade doesn’t do that. Everything is connected, and often there are little setups for overarching narratives and sagas.
Like I said — Star Wars vibes, again, lol. But it makes sense considering Tetsuya Takahashi, the creator of Xenoblade, is a massive Star Wars fan. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s following that format, or even drawing from old-school sci-fi like Dune and Star Trek, where there’s a shared universe and each new entry is a standalone arc that contributes to a bigger saga.
And this isn’t even the first time he’s done this — Xenosaga did it too, though it was a bit more vague. But with all the Zohar stuff and the Lower Domain, it’s super clear there’s multiverse/parallel universe stuff going on. Like, how can anyone look at the Zohar/Conduit and expect a simple linear universe?
Also, this is not a bad thing, and I refuse to let people say otherwise. Xenoblade is probably the closest thing we have to a grand, epic sci-fi saga in JRPGs. That’s so rare nowadays.
The Xeno series has so many cool, elements: Trinity Processor, the Collective Unconscious, metaphysics, Jungian theory, Saviorites, and more and people expect them to just throw that away? Hell no.
Honestly, I’m so glad they chose this direction. Especially because Xenoblade doesn’t trap you like the Trails/Kiseki series, where you have to play every game in order. You can jump into any Xenoblade entry and still enjoy it, since each cast is set in a different world or timeline. It’s a healthy way to do sequels without the baggage of having to play every single past game to understand what’s going on.
Personally, I’m glad Xenoblade is taking this path, even if it’s risky. We don’t get big, ambitious sci-fi stories like this anymore — even in Japanese media. That’s probably why I love the Xeno series so much. It reminds me of old-school sci-fi anime that felt grand and daring, like Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Macross, or classic Gundam. I seriously love it, and I’ve missed this kind of storytelling. I'm so glad Monolith Soft and Takahashi are taking this direction.
Sure, it’s niche — but series like this tend to have the most dedicated, loyal fanbases.
Anyway, enough rambling. I’m just really excited about the future of Xenoblade.
Kinda sad I can’t play Xenoblade X right now since I sold my Switch... but hey, I’ll get a Switch 2 for it, lol.
Like, I feel people have the wrong expectations about the Xenoblade series. They think it’s like most JRPGs: Final Fantasy, Fire Emblem, Dragon Quest, Tales, etc.
Where each entry is standalone and doesn’t share a universe. So they expect every new Xenoblade game to be set in a brand-new world with no connection to the previous ones.
But sorry, that’s just wrong. Xenoblade is a JRPG series with a connected, shared universe. It’s not like the Kiseki series, where every game is a direct continuation of the previous one, but more like an anthology or “arc/saga” framework. Each entry has its own arc that can stand alone as a full story, but the next game often includes some sort of continuation or expands on certain plot points that weren’t fully explored before.
It’s kind of like in manga — you finish one arc, and then, later on, a new arc brings back elements or terms from the old one in a new context. That’s how Xenoblade works.
In a way, Xenoblade is more like Persona, SMT, or Pokémon in that there's a shared universe — but even more so, it's structured like Western media, where the story arcs build into a larger saga. Think of Star Wars or (oh god) the Marvel movies. Actually, I’d say Xenoblade takes a lot of inspiration from Star Wars and Star Trek, since its structure feels very similar.
Most people — especially Nintendo fans and casual JRPG fans, just aren’t used to that format. They’re used to JRPGs resetting the world and lore with each new game, but Xenoblade doesn’t do that. Everything is connected, and often there are little setups for overarching narratives and sagas.
Like I said — Star Wars vibes, again, lol. But it makes sense considering Tetsuya Takahashi, the creator of Xenoblade, is a massive Star Wars fan. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s following that format, or even drawing from old-school sci-fi like Dune and Star Trek, where there’s a shared universe and each new entry is a standalone arc that contributes to a bigger saga.
And this isn’t even the first time he’s done this — Xenosaga did it too, though it was a bit more vague. But with all the Zohar stuff and the Lower Domain, it’s super clear there’s multiverse/parallel universe stuff going on. Like, how can anyone look at the Zohar/Conduit and expect a simple linear universe?
Also, this is not a bad thing, and I refuse to let people say otherwise. Xenoblade is probably the closest thing we have to a grand, epic sci-fi saga in JRPGs. That’s so rare nowadays.
The Xeno series has so many cool, elements: Trinity Processor, the Collective Unconscious, metaphysics, Jungian theory, Saviorites, and more and people expect them to just throw that away? Hell no.
Honestly, I’m so glad they chose this direction. Especially because Xenoblade doesn’t trap you like the Trails/Kiseki series, where you have to play every game in order. You can jump into any Xenoblade entry and still enjoy it, since each cast is set in a different world or timeline. It’s a healthy way to do sequels without the baggage of having to play every single past game to understand what’s going on.
Personally, I’m glad Xenoblade is taking this path, even if it’s risky. We don’t get big, ambitious sci-fi stories like this anymore — even in Japanese media. That’s probably why I love the Xeno series so much. It reminds me of old-school sci-fi anime that felt grand and daring, like Legend of the Galactic Heroes, Macross, or classic Gundam. I seriously love it, and I’ve missed this kind of storytelling. I'm so glad Monolith Soft and Takahashi are taking this direction.
Sure, it’s niche — but series like this tend to have the most dedicated, loyal fanbases.
Anyway, enough rambling. I’m just really excited about the future of Xenoblade.
Kinda sad I can’t play Xenoblade X right now since I sold my Switch... but hey, I’ll get a Switch 2 for it, lol.