PLAY ORDER ↑

See the bottom of this section for a TL;DR, alternative methods to consume the series, and some quick Zohar Emulator facts.

The Xeno series is loosely connected. The games tend to reference each other with callbacks, themes, music, and lore.
There is a somewhat loosely connected and overarching timeline, especially since the games deal with multiverses and alternate dimensions. What this truly means, who can say? You'll need to discover that for yourself.

Play order will mostly depend on what it most accessible to you. As of 2023, Xenoblade is the most recent entry in the series and all of its numbered games are avaliable on the Nintendo Switch.

Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition is a wonderful waypoint into the series. The game also had a Wii release and a New 3DS port of the Wii version - both are lovely and have a more classic feel to them. Definitive Edition features new models and a few new game options, such as being able to change the difficulty.

From there, I would recommend playing Xenoblade Chronicles 2. Technically, you can play 2 first if it seems more appealing to you, but there are some cool callbacks that you might notice with knowledge of the first game.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 also features a DLC named Torna ~ The Golden Country (Lovingly referred to as just 'Torna' or 'TTGC' by fans). I highly recommend playing this after finishing the base game, despite it being a prequel. You also can play Torna after Chapter 8, but due to the different gameplay mechanics, it may be jarring to adjust back and forth.

After you have finished 1 and 2, you can play 3. I will note that 3 is wonderful at being a standalone game, and yes, you can play it first, but it combines elements of 1 and 2 that hit a bit harder if you have played its predecessors.
Just like Xenoblade 2, this game features a DLC as well, which is called Future Redeemed. Do not play this until you have finished 1, 2, and 3. I suggest not looking up anything about this DLC if you can help it, keep yourself in the dark as much as possible.

Xenoblade X is highly disconnected from the numbered Xenoblade entries and a bit of an oddball. However, it's still an absolutely delightful game to play. It had a single release for the Wii U, and has yet to recieve a port.
You can play X whenever you like, it's a wild card! However, due to its inaccessibility, it's tougher to recommend where to fit it in. A lot of fans have high hopes for it getting a rerelease on the Switch, so it is possible to wait it out and see if this comes to fruition. Here's hoping!

Now, I did just say you can start with the Blade series, but I also want to suggest starting with the root of the series - Xenogears.
If you prefer older games, or just feel like experiencing something a bit more unconventional, this is where you should begin. It is where the series began in 1998, and you cannot go wrong by starting here.
It originally released for the PS1 and had (digital) rereleases on the PSP, PS3, and PS Vita. As of 2023, Xenogears can still be digitally purchased on the PSP and PS3 US Stores.
After finishing Xenogears, check out Perfect Works (TEXT TRANSLATION, SCANLATION)! It answers lot of unanswered questions and adds additional context to the story.

If you've gone through Xenogears, you should check out Xenosaga next. While one could dive right into Xenosaga, I recommend playing at least one Xeno game beforehand, as Xenosaga is very heavy in the lore department and you'll be more accustomed to it if you've gone through one game before. It has a lot of callbacks to Gears, as it was supposed to be a send off for the Xeno series thus far, hence why I think it's better to put Gears before Saga. It's up to you though!
Xenosaga is my personal favourite of the trilogy, and I do implore people to give it a chance. It's not for everyone though, and it can be rather difficult to follow due to it having not only three entries with completely different gameplay, but also Japan only content and an extreme amount of supplementary material.
Xenosaga Episodes I, II, and III are for the PS2 and have not recieved any rereleases. It's also notable to mention that Europe only saw the release of Episode II, with neither Episode I nor III properly releasing there.
Aside from the PS2 games, a Japan only mobile phone game titled Xenosaga: Pied Piper was released. It covers the backstory of a few various characters and has thankfully been fantranslated and archived here. I recommend checking it out after Episode II but before Episode III.
Note: There is a single playthrough of it uploaded on Youtube. Original Japanese text and low quality due to this thing practically being lost media...
As a celebration for the 19th Anniversary of Pied Piper, ValakTurtle has subtitled Keju's playthrough. The playlist can be found here! It references Chaoslace's translation from Zarathustra, but also refines it and adds some previously untranslated details. This would be my recommended way to experience Pied Piper for the first time.
Recently, Cyclonefox has made a fan-recreation of Pied Piper! It is currently in the works, but you can find the demo for free right on itch.io! This is the closest possible way to currently play Pied Piper, unless you somehow own an extremely old Vodafone phone with the game installed...? While the project does take some creative liberties, they are made with the original games in mind. There's a lot of love put into it, so please support it!
Xenosaga II to III: A Missing Year is a flash animation that was once again, Japan exclusive. As the name implies, it covers the gap in time between the end of Episode II and the start of Episode III. A few projects have been in the works in order to make it more accessible, such as the Re:Mastered project and Verdant Studio's rips. For now, the best way to view it is simply on Youtube.

As I mentioned, there is a lot of extra (but relevant) content for Xenosaga. Here are a few links that you should check out. You shouldn't deep dive into them yet, as they contain spoilers. Bookmark them for now!

• English translations of exclusive content from the DS game.
• Xenosaga Outer File, a drama CD with three parts. There are multiple translations, such as this playlist and these (recent!) compilations of 01, 02, and 03. They were released in between Episodes I and II and introduce relevant characters - notably Richard and Hermann.
• Xenocomi from Xenosaga Freaks. This is a lighthearted visual novel that is a very silly experience... but then they fling it upon you that yes, catgirl KOS-MOS is canon. Check it out! The site linked - Xeno Underground - is a top tier resouce in general for Xeno content. I highly recommend it.
• A lot of these are included in the backup of XenoTensei, as well as some extra goodies!

TL;DR ↑

Don't have time for an extended explanation and just want to jump in? Here's a few paths I recommend.

Wondering where Xenoblade X is? You can play it at any time! If going by release order, you can play it after the original Xenoblade. However, keep in mind that it is not on the Switch currently. I can also suggest playing it after Xenogears, since there are some tiny references and similar vibes.

THE BLADER

XENOBLADE (1 ➡ FUTURE CONNECTED* ➡ 2 ➡ TORNA* ➡ 3 ➡ FUTURE REDEEMED*) ➡ XENOGEARS (DISCS 1 + 2) ➡ XENOSAGA (EPISODE I ➡ OUTER FILE ➡ EPISODE II ➡ PIED PIPER + A MISSING YEAR ➡ EPISODE III)

RELEASE ORDER

XENOGEARS (DISCS 1 + 2) ➡ XENOSAGA (EPISODE I ➡ OUTER FILE ➡ EPISODE II ➡ PIED PIPER + A MISSING YEAR ➡ EPISODE III) ➡ XENOBLADE (1 ➡ FUTURE CONNECTED* ➡ 2 ➡ TORNA* ➡ 3 ➡ FUTURE REDEEMED*)

OUTLANDISH?!

XENOBLADE (1 ➡ FUTURE CONNECTED* ➡ 2 ➡ TORNA* ➡ 3 ➡ FUTURE REDEEMED*) ➡ XENOSAGA (EPISODE I ➡ OUTER FILE ➡ EPISODE II ➡ PIED PIPER + A MISSING YEAR ➡ EPISODE III) ➡ XENOGEARS (DISCS 1 + 2)

ALTERNATIVE PLAY ↑

Don't own these consoles or don't want to go on a hunt for the games? No problem!
A wonderful way to experience the series for the first time is by watching the cutscenes. I do recommend sitting down and playing them at some point, since there is so much characterisation to be found in the gameplay, but if you're in a rush or unable to play them for whatever reason, check out Helsionium on Youtube!
If you prefer LPs, I recommend Bloom Plays for Xenogears, Xenosaga Episodes I + II + III and Xenoblade X.

HOW ELSE? ↑

Want to play on your cool gaming computer? I can't help with that too much, but Google and Youtube are your friends, just be careful please. Ask a knowledgable friend for help if you must.
I will warn that while Xenogears and Xenoblade (Wii + 3DS) are less demanding, the other games are going to be taxing on your computer. A lot of this does depend on what settings you use, but if your computer is older and doesn't have a good graphics card you're going to have some trouble. Honestly, even if you do have a good graphics card, you might struggle a bit. That's how it is with these games (Heck, they even push the consoles to the limit).
So what can I help you with? I can send you my personal settings for Xenogears and Xenosaga Episodes I + II + III. It's not much, but hopefully it can give you a clue. I personally do not require much upscaling, even if my PC can handle it, so change the resolution to whatever floats your boat.
Remember that emulation is not perfect. Graphics will not render sometimes and your game can crash at any moment. Please use save states as often as possible in addition to regular saving.
Click on the images to view them in a new tab at a higher resolution.

ePSXe

Notes: I use the ePSXe pack. This video and its comments can help with settings as well. Be sure to set CPU Overclocking to 1x and CPU Mode to Interpreter (Slow)! I would also recommend installing RyleFury's Xenogears Undub patch due to the fact that it fixes a major gamebreaking glitch at the final boss.

PCSX2 v1.7:

In v1.7, all game fixes are automatically applied with the Game Databse. You do not need to change any settings aside from your desired upscaling preferences.
Notes: Episode I has a glitch where sometimes certain save points will crash your game. It has been patched in v1.7, but please be careful as it can still slip through the cracks. This is why I personally am not listing settings for v1.6, since it is still present in that version.

If you are playing Reloaded, create a .ini file titled SLPS-29005_885094D2. Copy the text below and then put the file in the 'gamesettings' folder. These are region specific; this example is for Reloaded ONLY, which is a JP version of the game.
[EmuCore/GS] pcrtc_antiblur = true UserHacks = true UserHacks_HalfPixelOffset = 2 UserHacks_round_sprite_offset = 2 UserHacks_AutoFlushLevel = 2 upscale_multiplier = 3 CropRight = 0 UserHacks_Disable_Safe_Features = true UserHacks_merge_pp_sprite = true MaxAnisotropy = 16 See the PCSX2 Wiki entry for more options.

PCSX2 v1.7:

Create a .ini file titled SLUS-20892_EB39ABEC for Disc 1 and one titled SLUS-21133_EB39ABEC for Disc 2. Copy the text below and then put the files in the 'gamesettings' folder. These are region specific; this example is for the US versions of the games.
[EmuCore/GS] UserHacks = true UserHacks_HalfPixelOffset = 2 UserHacks_round_sprite_offset = 2 CropBottom = 1 UserHacks_Disable_Safe_Features = true UserHacks_AutoFlushLevel = 2 UserHacks_merge_pp_sprite = false UserHacks_align_sprite_X = false pcrtc_antiblur = true UserHacks_TextureInsideRt = 1
Notes: The battle transitions and shadows should be rendered properly from what I have tested with these settings.
See the PCSX2 Wiki entry for more options.

PCSX2 v1.7:

Create a .ini file titled SLUS-21389_2088950A for Disc 1 and one titled SLUS-21417_2088950A for Disc 2. Copy the text below and then put the files in the 'gamesettings' folder. These are region specific, this example is for the US versions of the games.
[EmuCore/GS] UserHacks_TextureInsideRt = 1 UserHacks_Disable_Safe_Features = true UserHacks_merge_pp_sprite = true UserHacks_HalfPixelOffset = 2 UserHacks_round_sprite_offset = 2 accurate_blending_unit = 3 MaxAnisotropy = 16 pcrtc_antiblur = true preload_frame_with_gs_data = true UserHacks = true CropBottom = 2 CropRight = 2
Notes: Sepia filters are a bit glitchy, they can be fixed but result in other glitches. Since it is a very tiny line, I personally do not mind it. If it bothers you, feel free to experiment more.
When the screen goes white due to flashing, the outlines of models are often visible. It is possible to fix this, but it causes other glitches in the overworld. It doesn't matter to me since it is a very specific glitch that only happens in cutscenes and lasts for 2 seconds.
See the PCSX2 Wiki entry for more options.

---

I recommend PCSX2 v1.7 nightly. You can apply different settings for different games in this build, which means you won't have to switch between these settings constantly and worry about them breaking the other games.
To access individual game settings, as well as the manual hardware renderer fixes (important!), right click on the game before opening it and select properties. From there, navigate to the Graphics tab and apply the settings you need. If you want to access it while running the game, simply click on settings -> game properties.
If you are using my .ini files, these will all be applied automatically. However, I do feel it's important to know how to access this menu in case you wish to edit your own settings.

My settings are not absolute, you will need to fiddle with things to get them to work to your specifications. Consider my settings a simple quickstart guide.
These settings are only necessary if you are upscaling the game. Nearly all graphical glitches will cease if played at the original resolution.
I personally don't play with widescreen hacks/patches and instead use the original/automatic aspect ratios. If you enable them, be aware that you may see some "behind the scenes" content, such as models loading in offscreen. Some 2D and 3D assets may also stretch out if you do not set up widescreen correctly.
I will not help with troubleshooting, sorry.

CONTENT WARNINGS ↑

A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE GAMES ↑

⚙ XENOGEARS ↑

Xenogears is the first game in the series, and it's often considered a classic PS1-era game. Not many stories come close to telling the tale that Gears harbours. The protagonist, Fei, is suffering from amnesia but works his hardest with citan to live as normal a life as possible. A series of unfortunate circumstances lead to fei destroying the village he was staying in, and he sets off to figure out more about himself and the world surrounding him.
Xenogears is arguably the most sci-fi of the Xeno series, the setting involves mechs and other plot devices that fuel the theming. Originally, Xenogears was proposed to be an idea for final fantasy VII, and later a sequel to Chrono Trigger (Although both ideas obviously fell through). It truly does have the vibes of Chrono Trigger, so if you are a fan of that I recommend Xenogears for sure.

🖊 XENOSAGA ↑

Xenosaga follows the story of Shion Uzuki, a scientist working on an android known as KOS-MOS. The setting involves the future of humanity and our technological advances. Humans have branched out into space and live within star systems at this point. The game heavily references Judaism, Gnosticism, and Zoroastrianism.
The party is lovable but also very tragic, everyone has heavy baggage and the story often revolves around one party member's backstory at a time. But turns out everyone is more connected than they think, with some protagonists' stories overlapping with another's. Its gameplay is the most similar to Xenogears and can be considered a spiritual successor, although there are other implications about the games' connections that you will just have to figure out yourself!

⚔ XENOBLADE ↑

XENOBLADE 1

Xenoblade (1) is about Shulk - our nerdy and beloved protagonist - and his friends setting off on a journey to defeat robots known as Mechon. It gets tragic pretty fast, and soon they even realise that fighting the Mechon... might not be the best option. There's themes of Gnosticism throughout the game, and it's really cool to see how it plays out. In 2020, the game was remastered for the switch under the title Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition.

XENOBLADE X

Xenoblade X is about how the inhabitants of Earth were forced to leave and find life elsewhere due to alien forces having a war right next to the planet. Long story short, the survivors are pulled into a planet's gravitational field and become stuck there. As time goes on, they find out the aliens responsible for humanity's abandonment of Earth are also there, and they're less than happy to see humans. It's really a great game for exploration and while its story is a little weak, you'll find out there's a ton of storytelling done via sidequesting..

XENOBLADE 2

Xenoblade 2 is about a boy named Rex. He starts off as a normal kid but then awakens a legendary blade known as the Aegis. Blades are artificial lifeforms that have elemental powers. The story is about Rex trying to get Pyra to Elysium - her home. The game focuses a lot on the power of friendship, and its theme is "finding your purpose in life". It does have some questionable choices in direction, so the experience can be a bit bumpy. Overall, the good does outweigh the bad though. Also, there's DLC (Torna ~ The Golden Country) and it is a prequel that gives additional context to various story elements and worldbuilding.

XENOBLADE 3

Xenoblade 3 takes place in the world of Aionios, a land that is in complete disarray and struggling to support itself. Not only is it plagued by the mysterious "Annihilation Events", but its two nations, Keves and Agnus, have been in a constant state of war since their inceptions. Keves is a nation that focuses on mechanical technology while Agnus relies more on Ether (Essentially the Xeno games' form of magic, although it is much more than that). As different as the two nations are, they have some strange similarities, which will be explored as time goes on within the game. Noah and Mio are the protagonists of Xenoblade 3 - although they start off as enemies fighting each other in the war. The game has beautiful scenery and a wonderful musical score (special flutes were created just for the OST), it is very fast paced and action packed, which is notable because most of the other Xeno games take a while to pick up.
Like Xenoblade 2, it features a lovely DLC prequel - Future Redeemed. Unfortunately, due to its nature, I cannot discuss much about it. It is very important to the entire Xenoblade series as a whole and was described as giving us an idea of where the series is heading in the future. Although I mentioned it in a previous section, I will once again warn that you should not play this DLC until you have finished the other numbered Blade games, and please do not look into any details about this DLC. It will hit better if you're spoiler free.

FINAL NOTES ↑

Thanks so much for reading until the end! I hope this was helpful. It can be very daunting to get into the Xeno series, so I wanted to make a guide that could help make it a bit easier.
Sure, video guides are everywhere, but it can be a bit hard to sit through them or click through them if you missed something. I think a text guide is a lot easier to follow and revisit. Not that video guides aren't helpful! They're wonderful too.
I made an old version of this guide in 2021, but there were a lot of things I wanted to elaborate on and touch up. I never got a chance to, and when Xenoblade 3 released, I kept telling myself I'd do it to no avail.
The cataylst to all of this was the release of Future Redeemed. But even then, it took me a bit to get to things... Regardless, here it is! There is a lot of love thrown into this guide and I truly think it can be a big help.
Whether you're a friend of mine that was personally linked this, or by chance a complete stranger, I sincerely hope you had a favourable experience with my write-up and left with some new knowledge. May it serve you well.
- Calico

PS - I do have some additional ideas cooking, I may not be getting to them right away, but feel free to bookmark this page and check back in the future.