Xenoblade Chronicles 2

{{see also|Xenoblade Chronicles#Gameplay}}

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an action role-playing game, and similar to previous games, the player controls a main character out of a party of three.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/01/12/xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-first-japanese-role-playing-game-for-the-nintendo-switch/ |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is the first big Japanese role-playing game for the Nintendo Switch |work=VentureBeat |first=Dean |last=Takahashi |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118070628/http://venturebeat.com/2017/01/12/xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-first-japanese-role-playing-game-for-the-nintendo-switch/ |archive-date=January 18, 2017}}{{cite magazine |last=Wallace |first=Kimberley |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Big World, Big Battles, Big Changes |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |magazine=Game Informer |date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |page=2 |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214125836/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |url-status=live }} The game is open world and has a day-and-night time cycle that affects in-game events, including quests, enemy strength, and item availability. Unlike the two previous titles, which consisted of a cohesive open world, the game takes place on several different Titans which the player travels between using fast travel.

Unlike previous entries, characters in the party also control additional beings known as Blades and can have three Blades active at a time, which determines their class.{{cite web |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/feature/6433-xenoblade-chronicles-2-blades-guide-unlocking-new-blades-upgrading-blades-overdrive-protocol-and-the-best-blades-explained |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Blades Guide: unlocking new blades, upgrading blades, overdrive protocol and the best blades explained |work=RPGSite |date=December 16, 2017 |access-date=February 23, 2018 |archive-date=February 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224114112/https://www.rpgsite.net/feature/6433-xenoblade-chronicles-2-blades-guide-unlocking-new-blades-upgrading-blades-overdrive-protocol-and-the-best-blades-explained |url-status=live }} The game's Blades and skills are based on eight elements: Fire, Water, Wind, Ice, Electric, Earth, Light and Dark.{{Cite web |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Rare Blades Guide: elements, roles, field skills, and how to get every rare blade |work=rpgsite.net |date= |access-date=18 March 2021 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/feature/6418-xenoblade-chronicles-2-rare-blades-guide-elements-roles-field-skills-and-how-to-get-every-rare-blade |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131505/https://www.rpgsite.net/feature/6418-xenoblade-chronicles-2-rare-blades-guide-elements-roles-field-skills-and-how-to-get-every-rare-blade |url-status=live }} There are a total of 40 unique Rare Blades to collect throughout the base game, with 11 being obtainable through downloadable content and New Game Plus. Most of the game's Blades are optional and not obtainable through the main story; among them are KOS-MOS and T-ELOS from the Xeno sub-series Xenosaga.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/11/xenoblade-chronicles-2-adds-kos-mos-re-xenosaga-rare-blade |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 adds KOS-MOS Re: from Xenosaga as Rare Blade |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214031410/https://gematsu.com/2017/11/xenoblade-chronicles-2-adds-kos-mos-re-xenosaga-rare-blade |url-status=live }} The game's Challenge Mode, added through downloadable content, features Shulk and Fiora from Xenoblade Chronicles{{Cite web |date=2018-06-13 |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 DLC 'Challenge Mode' launches June 14, adds Shulk and Fiora Blades |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2018/06/xenoblade-chronicles-2-dlc-challenge-mode-launches-june-14-adds-shulk-and-fiora-blades |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US |archive-date=August 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164611/https://www.gematsu.com/2018/06/xenoblade-chronicles-2-dlc-challenge-mode-launches-june-14-adds-shulk-and-fiora-blades |url-status=live }} and Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X{{Cite web |date=2018-08-24 |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2's latest DLC introduces Elma from Xenoblade Chronicles X |url=https://www.destructoid.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-latest-dlc-introduces-elma-from-xenoblade-chronicles-x/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Destructoid |language=en-US |archive-date=August 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804164607/https://www.destructoid.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-latest-dlc-introduces-elma-from-xenoblade-chronicles-x/ |url-status=live }} as obtainable Blades.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has an action-based battle system, where the player controls the current lead character in real-time and party members will "auto-attack" when enemies enter their attack radius. Each character has skills called "Arts" that can deal damage or inflict status effects.{{Cite magazine |title=Hands-On With Xenoblade Chronicles 2 – Big World, Big Battles, Big Changes |author= |magazine=Game Informer |date= |access-date=6 January 2021 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=1 |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131512/https://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=1 |url-status=live }} Both party members and enemies have a finite amount of health points, which is depleted by attacks. Combat is won when all enemies lose their HP, but is lost if the player character loses all their HP and is unable to be revived. Health can be restored through using healing Arts in battle and regenerates automatically outside of battle. Winning battles earns the player experience points, which strengthens characters as they level up. They also earn Skill Points, which are used to upgrade their stats and skills, and Weapon Points, which are used to power up their Arts. Losing a battle respawns the party at the most recently visited Landmark. Using Arts repeatedly allows use of special moves called Blade Specials, which when used in order creates a Blade Combo that does large amounts of damage and seals one of the enemy's abilities. A Driver Combo requires the party to inflict four status conditions on an enemy in a specific order: Break, Topple, Launch, and Smash. Finishing a Driver Combo does massive damage and causes the enemy to drop items. Performing a Driver Combo and a Blade Combo simultaneously creates a Fusion Combo, which greatly increases damage dealt and the Blade Combo's effects.

A "Party Gauge" fills up as party members attack. When full, the player can perform a Chain Attack, where characters perform attacks in succession. The Chain Attack can be made more effective by destroying elemental Orbs created by previously used Blade Specials, which deals additional damage and gives one additional Chain Attack round. The three-tiered gauge gradually depletes outside of battle, and one tier is used to revive incapacitated characters. An "aggro ring" around a character denotes they have gained aggro from enemies by attacking, leading to a strategic aspect of luring and diverting attention of enemies.

The player directly controls one of the Drivers in the party, who wields one of their Blades' Blade Weapons to auto-attack and perform Arts. Pressing an Art's button as an auto-attack connects allows them to "cancel" the ending animation of the auto-attack and use the Art immediately. After a cooldown, the Driver can Blade Switch to change their active Blade. Each Blade gives their Driver a different set of Arts, which is determined by the Blade's weapon type and the specific Driver.

{{Further|Xenoblade Chronicles#Fictional chronology|label1=Fictional chronology of Xenoblade Chronicles}}

The game is set in the fictional land of Alrest, a sea topped with clouds called the Cloud Sea, which is inhabited by massive creatures called Titans on which humanity lives. Legends claim that humanity once lived atop the World Tree, a massive tree at Alrest's center, in a paradise called Elysium with their creator, the Architect. However, they were exiled for unknown reasons and given the Titans to live on.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Rex: This... This is the world we call home...Alrest. Story goes that when the world was young...Everyone in Alrest lived on the Tree, together with our divine father, the Architect. According to the tales, it was a bountiful land. And the people there held the power to command even the heavens themselves. They called that paradise..."Elysium". But then, one day... we were cast out. Nobody knows why. Perhaps we angered our creator, or perhaps it was something else entirely...All we know is, we were forced to leave Elysium to live here in Alrest. Where, it turns out, life was pretty hard. But, when it seemed like we would surely die out, the Architect...took pity on us...sending his servants, the Titans, to save us. The few of us who survived settled on the Titans... and we've lived in harmony with them ever since.}} Blades are powerful beings summoned from Core Crystals who channel power into their weapons through a force called Ether. Their masters are called Drivers; when a Driver dies, their Blade reverts to a Core Crystal and loses their memory. After some time, another Driver can awaken them if the crystal is intact. Due to the close spiritual bond between Driver and Blade, the personality of the former influences that of the latter. Two nations, Mor Ardain and Uraya are on the brink of war throughout the story.

The main character is Rex (Japanese: Hiro Shimono; English: Al Weaver), who is the Driver of the Aegis, a powerful and legendary Blade. The Aegis has two personalities, Pyra and Mythra (Japanese: Shino Shimoji; English: Skye Bennett), who share the same conscience but have different abilities. As an orphan, Rex grew up in Fonsett Village on the Leftherian Archipelago, a place with several Titans that are close together and connected by bridges and other structures. Rex became very accustomed to the Cloud Sea and became a salvager to salvage parts found beneath it. He is very close with Azurda, a Titan whom he calls "Gramps" and lived a portion of his life upon. A group of Drivers called Torna set out to destroy the Aegis, leading Rex and the party to flee and find a way to the World Tree. Other important characters include Malos, another Aegis and the main antagonist; Jin, a Blade from Torna who aids Malos; Nia, a rebel from Torna, and her Blade Dromarch; Tora, a Nopon specializing in artificial Blades, and his Blade Poppi; Mòrag, a feared Driver from Mor Ardain, and her blade Brighid; and Zeke, the prince of the hermit country of Tantal, and his Blade Pandoria.

The downloadable content Torna – The Golden Country adds a new story, set 500 years before the game's events. It focuses on Lora and her Blade Jin, as well as their allies, in their battle against Malos in Torna, a country that is inaccessible in the main game.

Rex, an orphaned salvager who collects treasure from below the Cloud Sea for money, is hired by Argentum Trade Guild Chairman Bana to aid the Drivers Jin, Malos, and Nia, part of a group named Torna, in the salvage of an ancient ship.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Bana: Bana offered to assemble team of veterans for this job. But this crew very picky. They want small elite team, and only from Leftheria. That when Bana have stroke of genius! Should hire Rex!}}{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Jin: So... There's something that we want to haul up. There were some current shifts. It showed up in an uncharted area. But it's a long way down.}} In the ship, they find Pyra, a legendary Blade known as the Aegis.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Jin: Yes. No mistaking it. That's the Aegis.}} When Rex reaches out to touch Pyra's sword, Jin fatally stabs him. Rex awakens on a field with Pyra, who reveals they are in a memory of her old home Elysium.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Pyra: This world is merely a memory. An ancient, half-forgotten memory of what once was. The real Elysium lies in your world...atop the World Tree that rises from the heart of Alrest.}} She asks him to bring her to Elysium and in exchange gives him half of her Core Crystal to revive him.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Pyra: I will give you half of my life force. That way...you can be revived...As my Driver. As the Driver of the Aegis.}} With help from his Titan companion Azurda and Nia, who has defected from Torna, Rex escapes to the Titan Gormott, but Azurda is wounded and reverts to his larval stage. Soon after, they arrive in Gormott's capital Torigoth and are joined by the Nopon Driver Tora and his artificial Blade Poppi. The group try to get to Elysium, but are stopped by the artifice Ophion and swallowed by the Titan Uraya.

After the group battles the mercenary Driver Vandham while escaping Uraya's stomach, he joins the party and Rex begins to look to him as a mentor. The group later learns that Jin and Malos are the leaders of Torna, a terrorist group named after a Titan destroyed in the Aegis War 494 years ago. Led by Jin, an embittered veteran Blade of the Aegis War, and Malos, later revealed as the other Aegis, they seek to destroy humanity by unleashing the artifice Aion on Elysium. During a battle with Malos and fellow Torna member Akhos, Vandham is killed and Pyra unveils her true form, Mythra.{{Cite video game|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2|developer=Monolith Soft|publisher=Nintendo|platform=Nintendo Switch|date=December 1, 2017|quote=Mythra: I am Mythra. Pyra... She's a different self that I constructed.}} They have shared memory and consider themselves sisters, switching back and forth as needed.

The group's search for a way past Ophion leads them to join forces with Mòrag, special inquisitor of Mor Ardain and elder sister of the Ardainian Emperor, Niall, and Zeke, prince of Tantal. In Tantal, the group battles Jin, who forces Pyra to surrender. While Azurda leads the group to the third Aegis sword to save Pyra, Malos siphons Pyra's power to regain his full strength. After the group finds the third sword, phantoms of Pyra's former Driver nearly kill Rex, but he is deemed worthy of the third sword. The group confronts Jin and Malos at the Cliffs of Morytha, during which Rex unlocks Pyra and Mythra's true form, Pneuma. Rex, now matched with Jin's power, forces Malos to summon Ophion, who knocks the group into Morytha, the devastated land beneath Cloud Sea.

In Morytha, the group is forced to work with a weakened Jin. Malos' Driver, Amalthus, attacks by controlling various Titans. The group severs his connection to the Titans, only for him to kill all Torna members except Malos and Jin, with Jin defeating Amalthus as he dies. The group arrives in Elysium, which is revealed to be a long-dead wasteland, and meet the Architect, a scientist named Klaus who explains that he had discovered a device called the Conduit that sends objects into different dimensions, the use of which split his body in two and destroyed the old world.{{efn|The Architect's other half was sent to an alternate dimension, the setting of the first Xenoblade Chronicles, where he became known as Zanza.}}

Sensing that his other half is about to die,{{efn|Klaus's other half, Zanza, is killed during the events of Xenoblade Chronicles.}} which will result in his own death, Klaus sends the group to stop Malos, who was corrupted by Amalthus's malice and has obtained Aion. After Malos's defeat and death, Klaus dies, but not before granting Rex and the party a "final gift". Klaus's death causes Elysium to begin crumbling. Pneuma helps the group escape, but sacrifices herself to detonate the World Tree, preventing its debris from destroying Alrest. The group barely survives when Azurda, thanks to Pneuma, returns to his adult form and flies everyone down to Alrest. On returning to Alrest, the Cloud Sea fades to reveal a rejuvenated world, the Titans merging to form a new landmass. Afterwards, Pyra and Mythra are revived in separate bodies and reunite with Rex.

The game was developed for the Nintendo Switch by Monolith Soft and is the third entry in their Xenoblade Chronicles series, following the original Xenoblade Chronicles and Xenoblade Chronicles X.{{cite magazine |last=Wallace |first=Kimberley |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Big World, Big Battles, Big Changes |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=1 |magazine=Game Informer |date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |page=1 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201181749/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-hands-on-feature.aspx?PostPageIndex=1 |url-status=live }} Plans for the game began in July 2014, during the latter half of development of Xenoblade Chronicles X.{{cite web |author=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Devs Explain Why There Are So Many Female Rare Blades |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/28/xenoblade-chronicles-2-devs-talk-many-female-rare-blades-super-rare/ |website=Siliconera |date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128190903/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/11/28/xenoblade-chronicles-2-devs-talk-many-female-rare-blades-super-rare/ |url-status=live }} While the original Xenoblade Chronicles followed the typical structure of a general story-driven JRPG, Xenoblade Chronicles X received far less emphasis on story, and was organized in more of a mission-based structure, focused primarily on exploring the game's massive open world. The development team were unhappy upon hearing the fanbase complain about the changes, and started work on another story-driven title. Because the gameplay was more of a continuation of the first game, they decided to title it Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 took shorter to develop than previous games, although development was difficult in the beginning due to a lack of finalization of the Switch's technical specifications. The architecture of Xenoblade Chronicles X was used for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to speed up development.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/01/xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-switch |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 announced for Switch |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116152646/https://gematsu.com/2017/01/xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-switch |archive-date=January 16, 2017}} Another motivating factor was the agreement made by the team with Nintendo specifically to deliver the game early on in the Nintendo Switch's lifecycle.{{cite magazine |first=Matt |last=Peckham |title=Why 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2' Has a Character Designed by Tetsuya Nomura |url=https://time.com/4848935/xenoblade-chronicles-2-interview/ |magazine=Time |date=July 7, 2017 |access-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-date=July 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707170809/http://time.com/4848935/xenoblade-chronicles-2-interview/ |url-status=live }}

One of Monolith Soft's objectives for the game was to give the characters a wider range of facial expressions compared to past Xenoblade titles. The lead character designer was Masatsugu Saito, who was designing characters for a video game for the first time. The developers chose him to give the protagonists a more expressive anime-like art style than prior Xenoblade entries, which featured a more realistic type of modeling that they found a bit too stiff.{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/01/xenoblade_chronicles_2_is_currently_in_development |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Is Currently in Development |work=Nintendo Life |first=Mitch |last=Vogel |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114184944/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/01/xenoblade_chronicles_2_is_currently_in_development |archive-date=January 14, 2017}} Square Enix artist Tetsuya Nomura was responsible for the characters within the Torna organization.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/06/tetsuya-nomura-handling-character-designs-xenoblade-chronicles-2-torna-organization |title=Tetsuya Nomura handling character designs for Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Torna organization |date=June 21, 2017 |author=Romano, Sal |publisher=Gematsu |access-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-date=June 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621102623/http://gematsu.com/2017/06/tetsuya-nomura-handling-character-designs-xenoblade-chronicles-2-torna-organization |url-status=live }} Takahashi had wanted to work with Nomura, but as he was busy with other games at Square Enix, he hesitantly approached the company with the hopes of letting him work as a guest artist. To Takahashi's surprise, they accepted the negotiation. Other guest artists also contributed, such as Xeno series veterans Kunihiko Tanaka and Soraya Saga, who designed some of the game's Blades, weapon-like life forms.{{cite web |author=Casey |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Director Says The Game Has 'An Enormous Amount Of Quests' |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/09/18/xenoblade-chronicles-2-director-says-game-enormous-amount-quests/ |website=Siliconera |date=September 18, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107005131/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/09/18/xenoblade-chronicles-2-director-says-game-enormous-amount-quests/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Introduces Its Elegant Water-Type Blade Yuuou, Designed By Soraya Saga |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/10/31/xenoblade-chronicles-2-introduces-elegant-water-type-blade-yuuou-designed-soraya-saga/ |website=Siliconera |date=October 31, 2017 |access-date=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171103073654/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/10/31/xenoblade-chronicles-2-introduces-elegant-water-type-blade-yuuou-designed-soraya-saga/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Blue-Haired Rare Blade Tokiha Reminds Us Of Xenosaga's KOS-MOS |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/10/23/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-blue-haired-rare-blade-tokiha-reminds-us-xenosagas-kos-mos/ |website=Siliconera |date=October 23, 2017 |access-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-date=October 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171024155911/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/10/23/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-blue-haired-rare-blade-tokiha-reminds-us-xenosagas-kos-mos/ |url-status=live }} Tanaka designed a Blade version of KOS-MOS, one of the protagonists of the Xenosaga trilogy.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/11/xenoblade-chronicles-2-adds-kos-mos-re-xenosaga-rare-blade |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 adds KOS-MOS Re: from Xenosaga as Rare Blade |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=January 30, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171214031410/https://gematsu.com/2017/11/xenoblade-chronicles-2-adds-kos-mos-re-xenosaga-rare-blade |archive-date=December 14, 2017}} The game's story was conceived by Takahashi, with assistance from screenwriters Yuichiro Takeda and Kazuho Hyodo.{{cite web |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Behind the story development |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/xenoblade-chronicles-2-behind-the-story-development |website=Nintendo.com |date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=November 22, 2017 |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207180015/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/xenoblade-chronicles-2-behind-the-story-development |url-status=live }} Takeda, who also worked as a writer on the last two Xenoblade games, stated that the writing techniques and workflow for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 was similar to that of a movie. While it is a sequel to Xenoblade Chronicles, it features a new world and cast of characters.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/14/e3-2017-xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-more-than-a-simple-sequel |title=E3 2017: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Is More Than a Simple Sequel |work=IGN |first=Joe |last=Skrebels |date=June 13, 2017 |access-date=June 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614025633/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/14/e3-2017-xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-more-than-a-simple-sequel |archive-date=June 14, 2017}}

File:Yasunori Mitsuda (2019).jpg.]]

The game's original score was written by Yasunori Mitsuda, Kenji Hiramatsu, and Manami Kiyota and the duo of ACE (Tomori Kudo and Hiroyo Yamanaka).{{cite web |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-13/monolith-soft-reveals-xenoblade-chronicles-2-sequel-game-for-switch/.110980 |title=Monolith Soft Reveals Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Sequel Game For Switch |work=Anime News Network |date=January 13, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114023353/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-13/monolith-soft-reveals-xenoblade-chronicles-2-sequel-game-for-switch/.110980 |archive-date=January 14, 2017}} Mitsuda, who was also in charge of the audio budget, musician booking, schedule management, and sheet music proofreading, was first invited to the project by Takahashi in December 2014.{{cite web |author=Casey |title=Composer Yasunori Mitsuda Says Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Is The Largest Production He's Worked On |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/07/composer-yasunori-mitsuda-says-xenoblade-chronicles-2-largest-production-hes-worked/ |website=Siliconera |date=April 7, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407204629/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/04/07/composer-yasunori-mitsuda-says-xenoblade-chronicles-2-largest-production-hes-worked/ |archive-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/xenoblade-chronicles-2-behind-yasunori-mitsudas-music |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Behind Yasunori Mitsuda's music |website=Nintendo |date=November 27, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207175913/https://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/xenoblade-chronicles-2-behind-yasunori-mitsudas-music |url-status=live }} Throughout the following year, Mitsuda and Takahashi held numerous meetings discussing the overall direction of the music, eventually inviting musical group ACE and Kenji Hiramatsu, who had also worked on the first Xenoblade Chronicles. At the meetings, each composer's contribution to the soundtrack was decided, with ACE primarily handling the field music, and Hiramatsu handling the battle music. According to Mitsuda, it was done in a way that would satisfy the fans, as they did not want to "ruin the image" that was set by the first Xenoblade Chronicles. With contributions from over 300 total musicians and 20,000 sheets worth of music, Mitsuda considered it the largest project he had ever worked on, with files and data from Pro Tools, his music production software, surpassing one terabyte in size.{{cite web |author=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Composer Says Its Massive Music Production Is Complete |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/08/10/xenoblade-chronicles-2-composer-says-massive-music-production-complete/ |website=Siliconera |date=August 10, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043454/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/08/10/xenoblade-chronicles-2-composer-says-massive-music-production-complete/ |url-status=live }} Overall, there were approximately 120 tracks recorded for the game, with around 25 of them being from Mitsuda.

The soundtrack features performances from the Slovakian Bratislava Symphony Choir, as well as the Irish chamber choir Anúna.{{cite web |title=Anúna |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/an%C3%BAna-mn0000222867 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-date=September 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926042543/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/an%C3%BAna-mn0000222867 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Composer Updates On Working With The Bratislava Symphony Choir |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/05/03/xenoblade-chronicles-2-composer-updates-working-bratislava-symphony-choir/ |website=Siliconera |date=May 3, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503195928/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/05/03/xenoblade-chronicles-2-composer-updates-working-bratislava-symphony-choir/ |archive-date=May 3, 2017}} Mitsuda, who had always wanted to work with Anúna after becoming a fan in the 1990s, claimed that their performances for the game made him cry. Two tracks, including the ending theme written by Mitsuda, were sung by Jennifer Bird of the English acoustic duo Tomorrow Bird. Before recording, Mitsuda and Bird corresponded so that she could properly convey the characters' emotions through her singing. While recording, Bird was able to improvise melodic elements of her singing, something that did not usually happen with Mitsuda's arrangements.{{Cite web |title=Jen Bird to sing two tracks for Xenoblade Chronicles 2 {{!}} Nintendo Wire |author=Brown, Tom |work=Nintendo Wire |date=23 July 2017 |access-date=18 March 2021 |url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2017/07/23/jen-bird-sing-two-tracks-xenoblade-chronicles-2/ |language= |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131513/https://nintendowire.com/news/2017/07/23/jen-bird-sing-two-tracks-xenoblade-chronicles-2/ |url-status=live }}

The game was announced in January 2017 as part of Nintendo's detailed reveal of the Nintendo Switch, with a gameplay trailer being released on the same day.{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-01-13-xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-for-nintendo-switch |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 announced for Nintendo Switch |work=Eurogamer |first=Jeffrey |last=Matulef |date=January 13, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114002208/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-01-13-xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-for-nintendo-switch |archive-date=January 14, 2017}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-for-nintendo-swit/1100-6446897/ |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Announced for Nintendo Switch |work=GameSpot |first=Michael |last=Higham |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116215719/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-announced-for-nintendo-swit/1100-6446897/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/01/13/xenoblade-2-is-coming-to-switch/ |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is coming to Switch |work=VG247 |first=James |last=O'Connor |date=January 13, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170114193041/http://www.vg247.com/2017/01/13/xenoblade-2-is-coming-to-switch/ |archive-date=January 14, 2017}} Similar to the original Xenoblade, the title was announced as Xenoblade 2 in Japan, but had Chronicles added to its name in English-speaking regions.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/12/14260960/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch |title=Xenoblade 2 coming to Nintendo Switch |work=Polygon |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |date=January 12, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113135322/http://www.polygon.com/2017/1/12/14260960/xenoblade-chronicles-2-nintendo-switch |archive-date=January 13, 2017}} The game was also a part of Nintendo's presentation at E3 2017, where it was reconfirmed for release by the end of 2017.{{cite web |last=Webster |first=Andrew |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive sci-fi RPG for Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/13/15782670/xenoblade-chronicles-2-trailer-nintendo-switch-rpg-e3-2017 |website=The Verge |access-date=June 13, 2017 |date=June 13, 2017 |archive-date=June 15, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170615214857/https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/13/15782670/xenoblade-chronicles-2-trailer-nintendo-switch-rpg-e3-2017 |url-status=live }}

Like the original Xenoblade Chronicles, Nintendo's European division took up the reins for the English localization, who regularly communicated with Nintendo's Japanese and American divisions about decisions that could prove controversial, something that was previously an issue with Xenoblade Chronicles X.{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Schreier |author-link=Jason Schreier |title=Xenoblade Chronicles X's Director On Localization Changes: 'I Didn't Mind Much At All' |url=http://kotaku.com/xenoblade-chronicles-xs-director-on-localization-change-1796157409 |website=Kotaku |date=June 16, 2017 |access-date=June 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616180417/http://kotaku.com/xenoblade-chronicles-xs-director-on-localization-change-1796157409 |archive-date=June 16, 2017}} Unlike the first two games, the localization process took place during development rather than after and was ready in time for a simultaneous worldwide launch on December 1, 2017.{{cite web |last=Knezevic |first=Kevin |title=Nintendo Switch Open-World RPG Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Gets Release Date, Special Edition |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-open-world-rpg-xenoblade-chronicle/1100-6453314/ |website=GameSpot |date=September 13, 2017 |access-date=September 13, 2017 |archive-date=September 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914035151/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-switch-open-world-rpg-xenoblade-chronicle/1100-6453314/ |url-status=live }} Days before the game's launch, a promotional music video featuring a vocal track from the game by Mitsuda, "Shadow of the Lowlands", was uploaded onto Nintendo's official YouTube accounts.{{cite web |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 gets a hauntingly beautiful music video |url=https://www.destructoid.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-gets-a-hauntingly-beautiful-music-video-475012.phtml |website=Destructoid |date=November 27, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |archive-date=June 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602035622/https://www.destructoid.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-gets-a-hauntingly-beautiful-music-video-475012.phtml |url-status=live }} The video features a performance by Anúna, and was filmed and directed by Michael McGlynn, leader of the group. An official soundtrack, consisting of over a hundred tracks, was released in both physical and digital formats on May 23, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Gallagher |first1=Mathew |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to receive soundtrack |url=http://www.vgmonline.net/xenoblade-chronicles-2-to-receive-soundtrack/ |website=Video Game Music Online |date=February 26, 2018 |access-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302104049/http://www.vgmonline.net/xenoblade-chronicles-2-to-receive-soundtrack/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author1=Sato |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2's Official Soundtrack Gets A Global Digital Release On May 23 |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2018/05/08/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-official-soundtrack-gets-global-digital-release-may-23/ |website=Siliconera |date=May 8, 2018 |access-date=May 8, 2018 |archive-date=May 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508163513/http://www.siliconera.com/2018/05/08/xenoblade-chronicles-2s-official-soundtrack-gets-global-digital-release-may-23/ |url-status=live }} Additional content was added through an expansion pass which released through 2018. Added content includes new items, quests, recruitable Blades, and a challenge battle mode.{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-expansion-pass-day-one-japanese-voice-pack-announced |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Expansion Pass, Day One Japanese Voice Pack Announced |last=Goldfarb |first=Andrew |website=IGN |date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210502194514/https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-expansion-pass-day-one-japanese-voice-pack-announced |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/07/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-worth-revisitingfor-a-price |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Is Worth Revisiting…For A Price |last=Juba |first=Joe |magazine=Game Informer |date=July 7, 2018 |access-date=May 2, 2021 |archive-date=January 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123014622/https://www.gameinformer.com/2018/07/07/xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-worth-revisitingfor-a-price |url-status=live }} New story-based content, Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country, was released digitally as part of the expansion pass on September 14, 2018, and as a standalone retail release a week later.{{cite news |last1=Wales |first1=Matt |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2's new story DLC is called Torna - The Golden Country |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-12-xenoblade-chronicles-2s-new-story-dlc-is-called-tora-the-golden-country |newspaper=Eurogamer.net |date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613060904/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-06-12-xenoblade-chronicles-2s-new-story-dlc-is-called-tora-the-golden-country |url-status=live }}

A costume based on Rex was added to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild a few weeks ahead of the game's launch.{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/xenoblade_chronicles_2_gets_expansion_pass_and_surprise_breath_of_the_wild_crossover|title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Gets Expansion Pass and Surprise Breath of the Wild Crossover|last=Whitehead|first=Thomas|website=Nintendo Life|date=November 7, 2017|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=May 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501163831/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/11/xenoblade_chronicles_2_gets_expansion_pass_and_surprise_breath_of_the_wild_crossover|url-status=live}} Characters from Xenoblade Chronicles 2 were considered for a position as a playable fighter in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate{{'}}s initial roster, but they were ultimately passed over due to poor timing, as according to director Masahiro Sakurai the game was announced to the public far too late in the development of Ultimate.{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/decidueye-nearly-made-it-into-smash-ultimate-over-incineroar-lack-of-arms-xenoblade-representation-is-due-to-bad-timing--539685.phtml |title=Decidueye nearly made it into Smash Ultimate over Incineroar, lack of ARMS/Xenoblade representation is due to 'bad timing' |website=Destructoid |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=January 21, 2019 |access-date=March 7, 2020 |archive-date=January 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123014303/https://www.destructoid.com/decidueye-nearly-made-it-into-smash-ultimate-over-incineroar-lack-of-arms-xenoblade-representation-is-due-to-bad-timing--539685.phtml |url-status=live }} Pyra and Mythra were eventually added to the roster as a 2-in-1 fighter via downloadable content in March 2021, along with a new stage and several music tracks.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/super-smash-bros-ultimates-new-dlc-character-is-pyra-from-xenoblade-chronicles-2|title=Super Smash Bros. Ultimate's New DLC Character Is Pyra From Xenoblade Chronicles 2|last=Dornbush|first=Jonathon|website=IGN|date=17 February 2021|access-date=17 February 2021|archive-date=March 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131456/https://www.ign.com/articles/super-smash-bros-ultimates-new-dlc-character-is-pyra-from-xenoblade-chronicles-2|url-status=live}} While Rex was considered, Sakurai deemed it unfeasible to control both of them at the same time, likening the situation to that of the Ice Climbers, so he was reduced to supportive roles in Pyra and Mythra's moveset.{{Cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/masahiro-sakurai-explains-why-rex-is-not-a-smash-ultimate-fighter/|title=Masahiro Sakurai Explains Why Rex is Not a Smash Ultimate Fighter|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=August 1, 2021|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801125323/https://www.siliconera.com/masahiro-sakurai-explains-why-rex-is-not-a-smash-ultimate-fighter/|url-status=live}}

Some critics called the initial reveal of the game "unexpected", with Jeremy Parish of USGamer favorably comparing it to Chrono Cross.{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/opinion-switch-isnt-for-everyone-but-its-definitely-for-me |title=Opinion: Switch Isn't for Everyone, But It's Definitely For Me |work=USGamer |first=Jeremy |last=Parish |date=January 14, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118042248/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/opinion-switch-isnt-for-everyone-but-its-definitely-for-me |archive-date=January 18, 2017}} At the Gamescom event in August 2017, the game received positive early hands-on impressions from gaming sites, being praised for its streamlined combat system and environments.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/25/gamescom-2017-xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-beautiful-confusing-and-captivating |title=Gamescom 2017: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is Beautiful, Confusing, and Captivating |work=IGN |first=Brian |last=Altano |date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825182153/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/25/gamescom-2017-xenoblade-chronicles-2-is-beautiful-confusing-and-captivating |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/xenoblade-chronicles-2-3050838149/test-switch.html |title=On a enchaîné les éléments sur Xenoblade 2 |work=Gamekult |author=boulapoire |date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |language=fr |archive-date=August 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825232247/https://www.gamekult.com/jeux/xenoblade-chronicles-2-3050838149/test-switch.html |url-status=live }}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/xenoblade-chronicles-2/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 for Switch Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=December 8, 2017 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204224110/http://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/xenoblade-chronicles-2 |url-status=live }}

|4P =90%{{Cite web |title=Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - Test, Rollenspiel |author=Bischoff, Jens |work=4Players |date=May 5, 2020 |access-date=22 March 2021 |url=https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/Switch/Test/41685/84387/0/Xenoblade_Chronicles_Definitive_Edition.html |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131507/https://www.4players.de/4players.php/dispbericht/Switch/Test/41685/84387/0/Xenoblade_Chronicles_Definitive_Edition.html |url-status=live }}

| Destruct = 8/10{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-xenoblade-chronicles-2-471885.phtml |title=Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |work=Destructoid |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204172529/https://www.destructoid.com/review-xenoblade-chronicles-2-471885.phtml |url-status=live }}

| Edge = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |magazine=Edge |issue=314 |publication-date=December 8, 2017 |pages=108–109 |issn=1350-1593}}

| EGM = 7/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 review |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |first=Emma |last=Schafer |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201004808/http://www.egmnow.com/articles/reviews/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |url-status=live }}

| EuroG = {{Rating|4|5}} {{Cite web |title=Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition review - gently re-touched, thoughtfully expanded take on a modern classic |author=Robinson, Martin |work=Eurogamer.net |date=May 29, 2020 |access-date=22 March 2021 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-05-27-xenoblade-chronicles-definitive-edition-gently-re-touched-thoughtfully-expanded-take-on-a-modern-classic |quote= |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809063359/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2020-05-27-xenoblade-chronicles-definitive-edition-gently-re-touched-thoughtfully-expanded-take-on-a-modern-classic |url-status=live }}

| Fam = 35/40{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/11/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1512 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1512 |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=November 20, 2017 |access-date=November 20, 2017 |archive-date=November 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121113409/https://gematsu.com/2017/11/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1512 |url-status=live }}

| GI = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/30/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-game-informer.aspx |title=Depth And Sacrifice - Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Switch |magazine=Game Informer |first=Joe |last=Juba |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201141802/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/xenoblade_chronicles_2/b/switch/archive/2017/11/30/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-game-informer.aspx |url-status=live }}

|GTM=80%

| GameRev = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/358207-xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-a-titantic-journey |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review — A Titanic Journey |work=Game Revolution |first=Jason |last=Faulkner |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202194639/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/358207-xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-a-titantic-journey |url-status=live }}

| GSpot = 7/10{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review/1900-6416821/ |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review |work=GameSpot |first=Peter |last=Brown |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035450/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review/1900-6416821/ |url-status=live }}

|HCG = 3.5/5{{Cite web |title=Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Hardcore Gamer |author=Back, Adam |work=Hardcore Gamer |date=December 11, 2017 |access-date=22 March 2021 |url=https://hardcoregamer.com/2017/12/11/review-xenoblade-chronicles-2/282880/ |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131503/https://hardcoregamer.com/2017/12/11/review-xenoblade-chronicles-2/282880/ |url-status=live }}

| USG = 4.5/5

| IGN = 8.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/30/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review |work=IGN |first=Leif |last=Johnson |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201211710/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/11/30/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |url-status=live }}

| NLife = {{Rating|9|10}}{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/xenoblade_chronicles_2 |title=Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |work=Nintendo Life |first=Thomas |last=Whitehead |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130230051/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/nintendo-switch/xenoblade_chronicles_2 |url-status=live }}

| NWR = 9.5/10{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45913/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review |work=Nintendo World Report |first=John |last=Rairdin |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-date=November 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171130181414/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45913/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |url-status=live }}

}}

Upon release, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 received "generally favorable reviews" according to review aggregator website Metacritic, which gave it an overall score of 83% on 93 reviews. The game's story, characters, complex combat system, soundtrack, amount of content, and the beauty and size of the environments were largely praised. John Rairdin of Nintendo World Report considered the game "one of the finest JRPGs of the generation and perhaps of all time" and was highly praising the music, "diverse world", "fresh and engaging combat", and "thrilling storyline". He also expressed doubt that there would be a better JRPG for the Switch.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45913/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review |work=Nintendo World Report |first=John |last=Rairdin |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=February 11, 2019 |archive-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212230554/http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/45913/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |url-status=live }} Game Revolution{{'}}s Jason Faulkner called the game "a joy to review", stating that it was "full of wonder, exploration, and character". Hiroshi Noguchi writing for IGN Japan gave a very positive review, stating that it "offers a timeless tale of adventure and an incredibly deep battle system." Alex Fuller for RPGamer was enthusiastically supportive of the game, saying "2017 has been one of the greatest years in RPG history; Xenoblade Chronicles 2 caps that off in mesmerising fashion by being one of the finest titles of the year".{{Cite web |title=RPGamer > Review > Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |author=Alex Fuller |work=archive.rpgamer.com |date= |access-date=26 March 2021 |url=https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/xeno/xenoblade2/reviews/xenoblade2strev1.html |language= |quote= |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423191948/https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/xeno/xenoblade2/reviews/xenoblade2strev1.html |url-status=live }}

Nadia Oxford of USgamer stated that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 "captures nearly everything that made the first game great, borrows the best elements from Chronicles X, and then improves on much of it. Though Blades change up how you fight in Chronicles 2, the game spills over with the traits that make the first Chronicles game a stand-out experience. More story, more enemies to scrap with, more landscapes to tread across. Chronicles 2 is a dialogue-heavy game, but there are many points where Monolith Soft lets its environments narrate the seriousness of Alrest's plight." She highly praised the game's story, stating "The narrative explores patriotism, war, environmental decline, refugees, and examines the little people who get caught in the crush when big powers scrap with one another. There are also a number of moral and philosophical questions raised about Blades [...] Are Blades humanity's partners, or their slaves?"{{Cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-an-rpg-with-the-heart-and-soul-of-a-titan |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review: An RPG With the Heart and Soul of a Titan |work=USgamer |first=Nadia |last=Oxford |date=November 30, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-date=December 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213204749/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review-an-rpg-with-the-heart-and-soul-of-a-titan |url-status=live }} GamesTM called the game the "apex of open-world design", and the exploration made up for any minor issues.{{cite magazine |magazine = GamesTM |date=Jan 25, 2018 |issue= 196 |page=82 |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 review}}

Leif Johnson of IGN praised the game and called it a "standout RPG that manages to keep its story, combat, and exploration interesting over the course of at least 70 hours of adventure through an impressively varied and rich world", though conceded a few frustrations with the game, including a confusing minimap that sometimes led to the reviewer getting lost. Shubhankar Parijat of GamingBolt called it ""A must-play for all Nintendo Switch owners"" and "one of the best JRPGs of this generation" and calling its world "vast and beautiful", its story "complex and layered", and its combat "intricate and addictive", while also noting that the game was occasionally held back by "obtuse design choices" and "a simple lack of polish".{{Cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Review – Unbridled Ambition |work=GamingBolt |first=Shubhankar |last=Parijat |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 14, 2017 |archive-date=February 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201144145/https://gamingbolt.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-review |url-status=live }}

However, the game did have its criticisms. Jason Schreier of Kotaku, who had also disliked the original Xenoblade Chronicles, gave a largely negative review, calling the game "dull, dreary, overly complicated, and unconcerned with wasting the player's time". He heavily criticized the writing, technical issues, pacing, as well as the gameplay, which he considered overly extensive and complicated as well as the "clunky" menus. He was also critical of the story, calling it "an unsubtle script that stomps all over even the most interesting story scenes". However, he praised the "spectacular" music and "beautifully realized" environments.{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-the-kotaku-review-1820903229 |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2: The Kotaku Review |work=Kotaku |first=Jason |last=Schreier |author-link=Jason Schreier|date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201195918/https://kotaku.com/xenoblade-chronicles-2-the-kotaku-review-1820903229 |url-status=live }} Noguchi of IGN Japan criticized some of the game's mechanics not being well explained and the amount of bugs found in the game at launch, but was looking forward to the early patch of the game to fix many of these issues.{{Cite web |title=「ゼノブレイド2」レビュー |first=Hiroshi |last=Noguchi |work=IGN Japan |date=December 19, 2017 |access-date=6 January 2021 |url=https://jp.ign.com/xenoblade2/20306/review/2 |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131504/https://jp.ign.com/xenoblade2/20306/review/2 |url-status=live }} Jed Pressgrove, however, writing for Slant Magazine was highly critical of the large amount of tutorials found in the game, stating "It's very difficult, if not impossible, to feel like you’re in a different world, much less experiencing a story, when such elements call attention to the contrived nature of the whole shebang."{{Cite web |title=Review: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 |author=Pressgrove, Jed |work=slantmagazine.com |date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=23 March 2021 |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/xenoblade-chronicles-2/ |quote= |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109023645/https://www.slantmagazine.com/games/xenoblade-chronicles-2/ |url-status=live }} Pressgrove did approve of the game's "rousing soundtrack", however. Washington Post{{'s}} Harold Goldberg found the "intricate, unfriendly gameplay" inaccessible, saying "A wondrous game lies in there somewhere.. it's too often too difficult to swim through", and that he wouldn't play the game again after completing it.{{Cite news |title=Review {{!}} Xenoblade Chronicles 2: A great game is in there … somewhere |author=Goldberg, Harold |newspaper=Washington Post |date=5 December 2017 |access-date=26 March 2021 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/12/05/xenoblade-chronicles-2-a-great-game-is-in-there-somewhere/ |quote= |archive-date=January 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230117053548/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/12/05/xenoblade-chronicles-2-a-great-game-is-in-there-somewhere/ |url-status=live }}

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 won awards for excellence at both the 2019 Japan Game Awards and the 2018 Famitsu Awards.{{cite web |url=http://awards.cesa.or.jp/2018/en/prize/year/07.html |title=Awarded games Games of the Year Division |work=Japan Game Awards |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041829/http://awards.cesa.or.jp/2018/en/prize/year/07.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Famitsu Announces Famitsu Award 2017 Winners! {{!}} Game News {{!}} TOM Shop: Figures & Merch From Japan |author= |work=otakumode.com |date= April 29, 2018|access-date=22 March 2021 |url=https://otakumode.com/news/5aea6ec227e44c033a435a70/Famitsu-Announces-Famitsu-Award-2017-Winners! |language= |quote= |archive-date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210322131456/https://otakumode.com/news/5aea6ec227e44c033a435a70/Famitsu-Announces-Famitsu-Award-2017-Winners%21 |url-status=live }} The game was also nominated for "Best RPG" at IGN's Best of 2017 Awards,{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_RPG |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best RPG |work=IGN |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=February 19, 2018 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20171206221506/http://uk.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_RPG |url-status=live }} and a nomination for game engineering at the National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewer Awards in 2018.{{cite web |url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/ |title=Nominee List for 2017 |work=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers |date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=February 16, 2018 |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180215172210/http://navgtr.org/archives/3351/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/ |title=Horizon wins 7; Mario GOTY |work=National Academy of Video Game Trade Reviewers |date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-date=March 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180314070824/http://navgtr.org/archives/3365/ |url-status=dead }}

The game sold nearly 98,000 copies in its first week in Japan, and 168,000 after a month.{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2017/12/media-create-sales-11-27-17-12-3-17 |title=Media Create Sales: 11/27/17 – 12/3/17 |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206201442/https://gematsu.com/2017/12/media-create-sales-11-27-17-12-3-17 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://gematsu.com/2018/01/media-create-sales-1-1-18-1-7-18 |title=Media Create Sales: 1/1/18 – 1/7/18 |work=Gematsu |first=Sal |last=Romano |date=January 11, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |archive-date=January 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111190726/https://gematsu.com/2018/01/media-create-sales-1-1-18-1-7-18 |url-status=live }} In the United Kingdom, the game positioned itself at number 19 overall in its first week, which made it debut 9 places higher over Xenoblade Chronicles X.{{cite web |url=https://ukie.org.uk/news/2017/12/call-duty-wwii-bunkers-down-fifth-week-top |title=Call of Duty: WWII bunkers down for a fifth week at the top |work=UKIE |first=Luke |last=Hebblethwaite |date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206210153/https://ukie.org.uk/news/2017/12/call-duty-wwii-bunkers-down-fifth-week-top |url-status=live }} In the United States, it charted at number 16 for the month of December.{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/18/december-npd-2017-nintendo-switch-leads-the-hardware-pack-in-a-3-29-billion-month/ |title=December NPD 2017: Nintendo Switch leads a $3.29 billion month |work=VentureBeat |first=Stephanie |last=Chan |date=January 18, 2018 |access-date=February 2, 2018 |archive-date=February 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203005906/https://venturebeat.com/2018/01/18/december-npd-2017-nintendo-switch-leads-the-hardware-pack-in-a-3-29-billion-month/ |url-status=live }} Within a month, the game had sold over a million copies worldwide.{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-01-31-nintendos-revenue-rockets-as-switch-nears-15m-sold |title=Nintendo's revenue rockets as Switch nears 15m sold |work=GamesIndustry.biz |first=Matthew |last=Handrahan |date=January 31, 2018 |access-date=January 31, 2018 |archive-date=January 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131201131/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2018-01-31-nintendos-revenue-rockets-as-switch-nears-15m-sold |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html |title=IR Information : Sales Data |work=GamesIndustry.biz |date=March 31, 2018 |access-date=April 26, 2018 |archive-date=November 1, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191101014747/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/software/index.html |url-status=live }}

By April 2018, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 had become the best selling game in the Xeno franchise, and the best-selling game of Monolith Soft altogether.{{cite web |url=https://gamingbolt.com/xenoblade-2-sales-reach-1-31-million-becomes-monolith-softs-highest-selling-game-ever |title=Xenoblade 2 Sales Reach 1.31 Million, Becomes Monolith Soft's Highest Selling Game Ever |work=Gaming Bolt |author=Pramath |date=April 26, 2018 |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613184142/https://gamingbolt.com/xenoblade-2-sales-reach-1-31-million-becomes-monolith-softs-highest-selling-game-ever |url-status=live }} In September 2018, Takahashi stated: "Xenoblade Chronicles 2 exceeded my expectations. We really saw more people pick the game up and experience it in the North American and European territories than we thought would do so... the sales of the Torna DLC are exceeding our expectations as well."{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-sales-outside-japan-far-exceeded-monolith-softs-expectations |title=Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Sales Outside Japan Far Exceeded Monolith Soft's Expectations |work=USgamer |first=nadia |last=Oxford |date=September 28, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2019 |archive-date=October 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002102302/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/xenoblade-chronicles-2-sales-outside-japan-far-exceeded-monolith-softs-expectations |url-status=live }} In an interview with 4Gamer, Takahashi revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 had sold 1.73 million units worldwide as of March 2019.{{Cite web |url=https://mynintendonews.com/2019/06/07/monolith-soft-announces-xenoblade-chronicles-2-has-sold-1-73-million/ |title=Monolith Soft Announces Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Has Sold 1.73 Million |last=Admin |first=My Nintendo News |date=June 7, 2019 |website=My Nintendo News |access-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608070707/https://mynintendonews.com/2019/06/07/monolith-soft-announces-xenoblade-chronicles-2-has-sold-1-73-million/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Izutsu |first=Kazuyuki |date=2019-06-08 |title=「ゼノサーガ」の紆余曲折が「ゼノブレイド」を生んだ――不定期連載「原田が斬る！」，第7回はゼノシリーズ総監督の高橋哲哉氏にモノリスソフトの今を聞いた |url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/368/G036837/20190416018/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608012107/https://www.4gamer.net/games/368/G036837/20190416018/ |archive-date=June 8, 2019 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |website=4gamer.net |language=ja}} The 2023 CESA Games White Papers revealed that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 had sold 2.70 million units worldwide, as of December 31, 2022.{{cite book |title=2023CESAゲーム白書 (2023 CESA Games White Papers) |publisher=Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association |year=2023 |isbn=978-4-902346-47-3}}

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://xenobladechronicles2.nintendo.com/}}

{{Xeno series}}

{{Monolith Soft}}

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