Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – Story Recap You Need to Know Before Playing

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 promises to be a massive game featuring areas that made appearances in previous titles. Ever since its reveal in February, it was made clear that the game was designed as a direct sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2. If this third entry into the series even comes close to the size of those other games, its story is bound to be incredibly intricate and complicated. For any fans that haven’t played these games in a while, it might be best to have a quick Xenoblade story recap before this new title hits stores shelves. Massive spoilers for Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will follow!

Xenoblade Story Recap and What it Means for Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Certain aspects of the newest Xenoblade game seem to take inspiration from more recent entries. While Xenoblade Chronicles X had a cameo appearance in DLC for Xenoblade 2, story elements from the former title seem to be lacking at best in this latest entry. Additionally, the post-game story added in Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition seems to tie in heavily to the newest title, and for good reason.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

In the first Xenoblade game, two titans known as Bionis and Mechonis ruled over an endless sea. Following the events of the game, both titans were felled, and the world was reborn when Shulk and his allies defeated Zanza, the world’s god. Shulk was able to rebuild the world thanks to Alvis, an “administrative computer” that gained divine properties after Zanza’s human form destroyed his former world to create the Bionis and Mechonis titans. In the Definitive Edition, Shulk assisted his friend Melia in rebuilding her home, Alcamoth, and reinstating herself as Empress of the High Entia race. The High Entia race makes an appearance in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, alongside people and machines resembling Mechonis inhabitants and a character that looks eerily similar to Melia.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

In Xenoblade Chronicles 2, the world is a sea of fog filled with titans. Beings known as Blades are summoned through core crystals, helping their summoners in battle and allying with them until death. Rex, the main character, meets Pyra, a particularly powerful Blade known as an Aegis. Later, it’s revealed that the Aegises were cores of the Trinity Processor, used by Zanza’s human self – Klaus – to create a new world and become a god. Rex and his allies meet Klaus, and with his help they defeat the evil Aegis Malos and settle the dying titans on a new world. While not stated in the game itself, it’s possible that this new world is the same one from Xenoblade Chronicles, as it features a vast sea just like that game. Blades make an appearance in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, along with one Blade that closely resembles Nia, one of Rex’s allies.

So far, these seem to be the most relevant elements to Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s overarching story. Certain other characters, enemies, and locations that reference these two titles are sure to make appearances. It’s still questionable how closely these games will relate to each other, but fans won’t have to wait long to discover every connection shared between the worlds of Bionis, Mechonis, Alrest, and Aionios.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is set to release as a Nintendo Switch exclusive on July 29th, 2022.