Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is €20 off — the best time to finally play this epic RPG

Why this sale actually matters for Switch owners

This caught my attention because a €20 cut on a modern, heavyweight JRPG is the kind of nudge many players need to commit to a 50‑plus hour adventure. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 – the Monolith Soft epic I rated 18/20 – just dropped from €59.99 to €39.99 on the Nintendo eShop, which is a genuine bargain for what you’re getting: a sprawling, mature story, deep class‑based combat, and an Expansion Pass (A Future Rewritten) that ties the trilogy together.

• Price: was €59.99 → now €39.99 (≈‑33%) on Nintendo eShop
• Platform: Nintendo Switch (exclusive)
• Why it’s worth it: rich narrative, complex combat, and long playtime (50+ hours)
• Watch out: UI clutter and occasional resolution dips – typical Switch era tradeoffs

Breaking down the deal

At €39.99 you’re getting the base game — the sale makes Xenoblade Chronicles 3 one of the best value JRPGs currently on Switch. There’s also the Expansion Pass content, A Future Rewritten, which adds substantial story beats and links all three numbered Xenoblade entries; check whether any bundle you buy includes the pass or if it’s discounted separately. Either way, the core narrative alone justifies the price for most players who love story‑driven RPGs.

Why this game still matters

Monolith Soft has become synonymous with massive, layered JRPGs, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is arguably the studio at its clearest creative stride. Where the second game leaned lighter at times, this third entry goes darker — war, death, existential questions — and does so without becoming needlessly grim. The cast of six, anchored by Noah and Mio, gives you an intimate perspective inside a world called Aionios, torn between the techno‑nation Keves and the ether‑wielding Agnus. The political stakes feel earned; the emotional moments land.

The gameplay reality: deep systems, real demands

Combat in XC3 keeps the series’ real‑time core but tightens up the responsiveness. The return of the feint system rewards precise timing and gives skill use a satisfying weight beyond simple cooldowns. Layer a flexible class system on top — you can configured roles across your six characters, switch loadouts, and borrow temporary Heroes — and you end up with fights that reward planning as much as reactions. If you like character builds and role synergy, this will scratch that itch repeatedly.

That said, the game isn’t flawless. I flagged a cluttered HUD that sometimes makes reading battle information harder than it should be, and the Switch’s power limits show in occasional resolution stutters across XC3’s gorgeous, vast vistas. Those are real annoyances, but they rarely undermine the core joy of exploration and combat — consider them friction, not dealbreakers.

What gamers should know before buying

• This is a commitment: expect 50+ hours for the main story; side content pushes that much higher.
• It’s Switch‑exclusive: if you don’t own a Switch, the sale isn’t helpful.
• Expansion content matters: A Future Rewritten weaves together the trilogy — worth it for lore fans.
• Technical tradeoffs are present but typical of ambitious Switch titles.

Also: sales like this matter for the ecosystem. Nintendo’s platform still thrives on word‑of‑mouth and discounted premium releases to pull new players into deeper franchises. A discounted Xenoblade 3 is an opportunity for players who missed it at launch to catch up before any future Monolith releases or series retrospectives arrive.

TL;DR — Should you buy it now?

If you’ve been curious but hesitated because of price or playtime, €39.99 is an easy “yes.” Xenoblade Chronicles 3 remains one of the most accomplished JRPGs on Switch: a mature story, satisfying combat depth, and long, rewarding exploration. If technical hiccups or HUD clutter bother you more than a few frame dips, wait for a bundle that includes the Expansion Pass — but for most players, this sale is the right moment to jump into Aionios.