The Xeno brand dates back to 1998 with Xenogears. Xenoblade Chronicles, though, has only existed since 2010 after this new series began on the Wii, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is very much like a conclusion to this decade-long tale.
Whatever the next game turns out to be, it might be time for Monolith Soft to rethink the Xenoblade Chronicles formula. There’s nothing inherently bad about the series, but a fresh coat of paint never hurt anyone. Taking the series in a new direction may generate new fans. They also have to be careful to not upset longtime supporters. From possible sequels and spinoffs to gameplay ideas, these are all things Monolith Soft should take into consideration.
8 Action Combat
It would be nice to see the next game experiment with action combat. The turn-based hybrid with MMO-style combat is interesting, but the series should consider spicing things up by venturing in a different direction. If things don’t work out then they can always go back to the more traditional battle system.
It worked for the remake of Final Fantasy 7 and they even included a way for players to play with slower combat too. Fans should be confident in Monolith Soft’s abilities to nail action combat in an RPG.
7 Turn-Based Alternatives
If the team does not want to break tradition then there are some other things they could do to tweak the MMO-like combat. First, keep the idea of a smaller party that always has their fighters participate. Second, add a fast-forward button to the experience. The auto-battle function was a stroke of genius, but it would have been better if players were allowed to speed through battles.
Third, it might be a good idea to streamline the combat and not make all the specials, cancel arts, and parry techniques so confusing.
6 Add Potions
This series has been in need of an item system since Xenoblade Chronicles. Healing in these games can be tricky, especially on the harder difficulties. Only a certain number of characters and classes can heal, and their specials run on cooldown meters.
A potion system would help ease players into these tricky battle scenarios better. The games are not impossible without potions, but the option would be nice to have.
5 A Smaller World
As great as it is for Monolith Soft to boast about how each successive world is bigger than the last, it can be detrimental to the experience. Creating a giant open-world RPG is all well and good but only if the environments have interesting things in them. Also, players need to be able to travel quickly so that running from one area to another doesn't feel daunting.
A tighter series of maps could be beneficial for the next game in this epic franchise. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 should be praised for including a good fast travel system though.
4 Rebalance The Monsters
Fighting monsters that are stronger than the player is one of the things worth seeking out in these giant maps. The problem is these monsters are not special. In the first area, there are giant ape-like monsters. These monster apes are plentiful in other places of the game as well.
It might be more interesting if these high-level monsters were more unique like mini-bosses. The next game could follow more traditional RPG formulas in this regard. For example, imagine a world where Final Fantasy 7 was littered with multiple Weapon monsters. It would make those encounters less special.
3 Add Vehicles
If the team is dead set on keeping their giant open-world environments then they can improve some current complaints. There is one vehicle in Xenoblade Chronicles 3, a boat, which is nice to have. However, it is only good in one area of the experience.
Players should be able to get other vehicles in the sequel, be it cars or motorcycles. The coolest addition would be mechs like in Xenoblade Chronicles X. It was a mighty task to unlock them, so maybe Monolith Soft shouldn’t lock them away in the back third of the game again. There were mech-like forms in this game, but they were only used in battle.
2 Better Traversal Abilities On Foot
The human character should also be more versatile. Just increasing the running speed would be one huge plus for the sequel even if vehicles weren’t implemented. More traversal techniques would also be appreciated.
If this is to be another giant open-world then Monolith Soft should copy The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Allow players to climb any surface and glide around as well. Giving players a better jump would also be a big help.
1 Reset The World Again
The most important thing the developers should do is reset the timeline. Do not make this a sequel to either of the three games. Make another world and spice it up with nods to the other games. While it was nice to see Xenoblade Chronicles 3 be a secret sequel to both games, it might have been a lot to take in for new fans of the series.
The next game should do what Final Fantasy does with all of their sequels besides the spinoffs. Also, it is time to create a female lead. Mio came close to one, but Noah was still the true protagonist.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 was released on July 29, 2022 and is available on Switch.