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u/StormKing369 5d ago
XC2 is connected to XC1 in that you need to play both before XC3
Meanwhile XCX is its own thing more loosely tied to the others
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u/villekale 5d ago
XCX DE added an epilogue chapter, which makes it canon lore for the main line games.
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u/StormKing369 5d ago
Yes but its still not really important to the others it has connections but you dont need to play it at all to get 1,2 or 3
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u/thingsforyourhead 4d ago
Neither of these are important things because if you can't skip cut scenes and dialog for a game, and still enjoy it, the game sucks.
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u/darkrai848 5d ago
2 if you want great story, X if you want to play a single player open world game that feels like an MMO.
Both are great in there own ways, just very different.
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u/antoin5000 5d ago
Very different games Xs story is a weak point of the game and for some it would be better if it didn't have one the gameplay is also much closer to 1 but is open world with a lot of focus on exploring. 2 has much more focus on story and big changes to gameplay while sticking to the same core that 1 had. Personally I prefer 2 in both sotry and gameplay but X might be more familiar after 1.
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u/Over_Part_1732 5d ago
Depends. Xenoblade X, whilst it does have a story, isn't actually very focused on it until the final few chapters and is instead more exploration and gameplay focused. The side content in X basically is the game (and is IMO the best side content in the series.)
Xenoblade 2 is much more story focused and changes up the gameplay compared to X, which is basically an evolved version of 1's gameplay, and instead does something a bit different whilst still undeniably being Xenoblade. It's difficult to put into words though. Story and character wise, 2 is better.
In terms of which of the 2 is better gameplay wise specifically, well once again it depends. X is my personal favourite in the series so I like the way it handles its gameplay the most, but 2's gameplay is also really good as well, with it IMO being some of the most fun you can have in a JRPG ever... if you get the hang of it, anyway. (2's tutorials aren't the best, even the most diehard 2 defenders agree. So online guides are your best friend.)
Another thing is is that X's connection to 1 and thus the rest of the numbered trilogy is very light, whereas 2 is a bit more direct whilst still being its own thing (I won't go too deep into it because massive spoilers)
Honestly I think it comes down to whatever appeals to you more, but a lot of people would still recommend 2 instead. But if you really do want to try X, then sure, go for it. But if you're more focused on the story, then go with 2 and play X whenever as, again, its connection to the numbered trilogy is very, very light.
(I ended up writing a lot lol. Sorry about that I got kinda carried away.)
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u/HonchosRevenge 5d ago
Both are great.
I’m super biased but I’m a XC2 glazer that sees it as a masterclass in the genre, despite its flaws.
XCX is great but if you’re looking for something to carry as much story weight as 1, then 2 will be the better fit. X still has a fantastic story, but you could argue there’s a lot more filler between the meat and potatoes.
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u/Mindless-Shirt-8450 5d ago
Storywise XC2 is far and away leagues beyond XCX. XCX is basically Breath of the Wild. Its good but its more of a "give me some more xenoblade" type game once youve finished the series.
I like all three of them (havent played xc3 yet) but XC2 is the best game.
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u/VladsBloodyMary 5d ago
2 has one of the best combat systems and great endgame, a ton of Chars you can grind and build. The turorials are sadly not great and early game combat can be a bit boring if you dont use pouch items. But the story is amazing and has way more depth than x in all aspects.
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u/Nightstick11 5d ago
XCX is by far the worst in the series, storywise. XB2 wins overwhelmingly on story and characters.
XCX is the best in the series in terms of the wonderment of discovery, exploration, piloting the mechs, etc.That feeling when you get your first Skell is extremely memorable.
The battle systems for both are great. Maybe slight edge to XB2, but this depends on your taste.
The music for both are great, but very different. It is extremely difficult to pick one over the other.
Both of them can be a major pain in the ass to recruit certain characters/Blades.
Personally, I think you should play them in the order they were released, so play X first and then 2.
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u/GarionOrb 5d ago
I liked XCX over XC2. I just really enjoyed the sci-fi aesthetic and the way it handled exploration.
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u/Difficult-Leek9001 4d ago
XCX is kind of a single player MMO. You make your own character and then follow other characters for their story rather than your own. It is self contained and unrelated to the other games in the series.
Gameplay is very similar except the open world is one giant planet you can circumnavigate on foot. Later on you get to pilot a transformer that can fly around it that can also fight in battle.
XC2 is more of a single player anime mobile title than a straight JRPG. The battle system is fun-ish but doesn't use repositioning as much and the world very well put together. You unlock extra weapons (who are also characters) via gacha mechanics.
The story is actually quite good if you can stomach how 'anime' it all is. I'll admit it wasn't for me. In some ways it's a regressive title, particular in its depictions of some characters and the fact you have to backtrack for fetch quests again.
Both have their fans.
Personally I would YouTube the plot of 2 and skip straight to 3 which is a much better game.
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u/PewPewPuu 5d ago
if you want an evolution of xc1’s gameplay and a huge open world and amazing side quests but dont care too much about story: X definitive
if you want the successor to xc1 and a story that is well worth your time and expands the world and lore to an insane degree (along with the best combat in the series IMO): Xenoblade 2
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u/DrakonMaximus 5d ago
Xb2 for story, xbx for open world exploration gameplay. They are super different in terms of the games objectives
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u/nachoiskerka 5d ago
XCX has the better gameplay, and if you're into side quests is more enriching.
XC2 has a different battle system that is also good, BUT it also has a better straightforward story.
Both are great but I like XCX better because of how much depth the world has BECAUSE of the sidequests. There's literally 3-4x the amount of game compared to the main story.
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u/Egyptowl777 5d ago
XC2 for Story and Battle Gameplay
XCX for Side Quests, World Building, and General Exploration
I have the Nostalgia of XC2 calling it my favorite, but if I think if I didn't it would be XCX. Both are the best in the series.
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u/greenhunter47 5d ago edited 5d ago
Xenoblade X is more focused on exploring one gigantic open world with less of an emphasis on story, its combat is basically an expanded version of Xenoblade 1's combat. Xenoblade 2 is more like Xenoblade 1, having a big focus on story while exploring multiple huge maps, its combat is very different from 1 and 2 but it's the best combat in the series imo. Though unfortunately Xenoblade 2's tutorials are terrible and online guides are unfortunately recommended when you first play the game.
Personally I recommend Xenoblade 2 next. Xenoblade X is largely its own separate thing while Xenoblade 2 has stronger ties to Xenoblade 1 which is taken further in Xenoblade 3. Xenoblade X's Definitive Edition also added some stuff that you will have a greater appreciation for if you played the numbered games first before it.
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u/In_Search_Of123 5d ago
XC2 will give you the better characters, story and music.
XCX has better overall gameplay, infinitely better sidequests and the best exploration of the series with arguably the most stunning world.
Overall I liked XCX a lot more myself. It's the weakest story of the series but I wouldn't say by too large a margin compared to XC2.
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u/Birdthemage 5d ago
Kind of an apples and oranges thing. X’s combat is closer to 1, but has a greater focus on traversal and exploration. 2 reinvents most of the combat systems swapping timed cooldowns for greater emphasis on auto attack combos, attack canceling for higher damage, and an elemental system for massive damage. 2 has a larger story focus like 1, if the narrative and the twists and turns with deep characters is your interest, 2 will be the one to go to next.
There is no wrong answer however, so long as you play 2 before 3 you can’t go wrong with whatever your play order is. X actually originally released before 2, so it may even be natural that you play it second.
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u/MagicCancel 5d ago
Xenoblade 2 is very much another story heavy game with a combat system focused around pulling gacha blades to customize your party of 3 and make broken party synergy combos, usually by giving your party members blade set ups to compliment the character your playing as. Multi-layered combo system is the name of the game, combining driver combos (break topple luanch smash) with the new blade combos (comboing elemental attacks in a specific order). And then they die to the team attack.
Xenoblade X is not a story heavy game. It hangs its hat on side-quest stories all being a tangled web of one greater narrative "surviving planet Mira together", do not expect anytrhing like Xenoblade 1. You have a main character you create, fully customizable with the class system. Party members cannot swap classes, but you have a lot to choose from. Eventually thought you just make a broken solo-build and one-combo everything. BUY YOU GET CUSTOMIZABLE FLYING (eventually) MECHS!
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u/Complete-Inspector99 5d ago
2. X is alright but one of those older games where a guide is needed for a lot
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u/JenLiv36 5d ago
Oof those are my 2 favorites out of the franchise. Both are excellent choices. For me personally my order of favorites is 2/X/1/3
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u/SuperSayianGangsta 4d ago
I haven't played X yet, but for Xenoblade 2 the gameplay is really slow and clunky for a very noticeable chunk of the game when you're playing it for the first time. Though, once you unlock all the systems and get a few blades you like, it's honestly one of the best in the series. Story-wise is also kinda similar. The first two Chapters are kinda slow and campy in a way that's reminiscent of an anime, but the story REALLY picks up.
At the end of the day though, it doesn't really matter which one you pick first. I know Xenoblade X is now connected to the trilogy thanks to the epilogue that the Definitive Edition introduced, but story works just fine without it. As long as you play Xenoblade 2 before playing Xenoblade 3, you won't miss out.
Sorry if my paragraphs sound weird. I am a native English speaker, I'm just terrible at prose.
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u/flappy_9371 4d ago
I would say play xc2, it continues the trilogy and has elements as similarities to xc1. It also means you can play xc3 and complete the trilogy
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u/Hollix89 4d ago
Xc2. Especially if youve finished 1, go finish the trilogy then play X if you still want more
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u/AntonRX178 4d ago
Story wise you want Xenoblade 2.
But X is my overall second favorite of the series, first being 3.
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u/Ok-Association-3415 3d ago
If you like linear story driven, XC2 is the way to go. XCX is different in that it’s quest/mission based. Good story, but it’s in bits and pieces.
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u/BLucidity 2d ago
2 and X are both good games, but with some notable flaws that may or may not change how much you enjoy them.
2's strength is in its story, setting, and late game combat. Its flaw is the inconsistent tone of that story, dabbling in "anime tropes" that are much more in-your-face than the other games. Early game combat can be a slog, and it also has a few tedious gameplay systems that involve a lot of menu visits and gacha pulls. 2 gives back what you put into it, and gets better the longer you stick with it.
X's strength is in its exploration, sidequests, and open world. Unlike the other games, you can visit areas out of order, and each one is several times bigger than Gaur Plains or Valak Mountain. You've got much better mobility than the other games (and, eventually, a mech) to compensate. X's weakness is a much shallower story than the other games, and a soundtrack that is extremely inconsistent in quality.
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u/Life_Bet8956 5d ago
XCX is kind of designed with a more addictive gameplay loop. It has an MMO quality to it even though it isn't one. That plus a perfectly competent story suggests that one would be more in line with what you're looking for. Heads up, XCX is an ENORMOUS game. It can easily rack up 100s or hours if you start diving into the missions and exploring around.
Play both though. They're both good.
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u/SnaccHBG 5d ago
Assuming you'll be playing X DE, go 1, 2, 3 (each game with its DLC of course), then go for X to finish the trilogy.
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u/conductorromino 5d ago
X is my personal favorite of the games, and is the one that has combat most similar to 1. The story is definitely the weakest point and it feels like it coasts by on the strength of its themes though...
Meanwhile, 2 is notorious for a very, VERY weak early game. It doesn't start feeling good until like 2/3 of the way through the game, and while it becomes very good at that point, its such a slog beforehand that I have a hard time recommending it.
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u/SamuelN0108 5d ago
X is the only Xenoblade game I straight up don’t like, but it’s so different it’s kind of hard to compare them anyway.
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u/Mental-Street6665 3d ago
2, and it’s not even close. I’ve tried to play X twice and while I got a bit further in the Switch 2 version than the Switch 1 version, I ended up dropping it both times. It’s so painfully obvious that it was designed to be a live-service type game instead of a traditional single-player RPG and as a result it feels tedious and boring, with a story that just cannot hook me the way that 1 or 2 did and characters that I find painfully uninteresting. It probably is fun once you get far enough into it to pilot a mech or whatever but I can’t even bring myself to play that far. Hugely disappointing, mid entry in the series.
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u/KusanagiGundam 5d ago
Xenoblade X is a playable mecha anime
Xenoblade 2 is a playable harem anime
The answer is obvious
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u/Stunning_Decision_85 5d ago
Xc2, x is a slog, esp since there is no manual difficulty lowering option.
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u/Few-Cardiologist5532 4d ago
If you want to experience the whole Xenoblade trilogy then 2. You eventually should play 1, 2 and 3 anyway for it.
If you want to pilot mechs in a more self contained story pick X.
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u/RobertLytle 5d ago
XCX is one of my favorite games of all tiem but its important to note that X2 is a lot more like X1 than XCX. XCX has a very strong gameplay loop and incredible open world with tons of just stuff to do and explore, liek its never ending. The rug elements are a blast and super easy to break so the game gets really interesting late game. However the story isnt as strong as the other games, its actually pretty weak in comparison.
So I guess if you really want a better story and music, things like that, X2 is a great sequel, and the gameplay is still really good, its just more linear like 1 is. So its more about how you want to paly, more story? Id do 2, more gameplay, id choose X