A more mature narrative following the events of the first game, with meaningful choices and a distinctive lead. Requires playing Tales of Xillia first for full narrative impact. Rewards patient players with a compelling story.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
Sequel by Namco Tales Studio extending Xillia a year later around Ludger and Elle. Published by Bandai Namco, released in August 2014 in Europe, North America and Japan. Ludger Will Kresnik Spirius Corporation agent contracted to colossal debt traveling between parallel dimensions with young Elle, over nine playable characters including returning Jude and Milla and newcomers Ludger and Elle, action JRPG gameplay mixing real-time four-active-character party combat and extended interconnected zone exploration, Cross Soul mechanic to switch between weapon and style and Chromatus for Ludger transformation, over seventy hours of narrative campaign with multiple endings according to moral choices, over a hundred fifty side quests, anime cel-shading aesthetic by Kosuke Fujishima and Mutsumi Inomata, English and Japanese voice-over with Yuuki Kaji as Ludger.
Tales of Xillia 2 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Luminous cel-shading, expressive anime characters and colourful worlds: the Tales series transposes Japanese animation into a warm 3D. The fluidity of the combat and the vividness of the hues compose a welcoming, living universe. This visual direction, polished and energetic, charms well beyond fans of the genre.
From the pen of Motoi Sakuraba, the music gains in orchestral breadth, from nervy battle to the theme song signed by Ayumi Hamasaki. Each theme underlines the dual story of Jude and Milla with a polished emotion. This sonic richness, mature and inspired, extends the Tales series' grand musical tradition with brio.
In debt and bound to a destructive power, a young man must make heartrending choices between parallel worlds doomed to vanish. Darker and more adult, the tale confronts the player with decisions of painful consequence. Its intimate tragedy and shattering finale powerfully extend the universe of the first entry.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
A direct sequel, this entry blends a moving narrative with a debt system that frames a host of missions and side quests to clear between chapters. Multiple endings, gear farming and post-story content invite you to extend the adventure well beyond its conclusion. Its careful writing secures a lasting place in the fans' pantheon.
A direct sequel from Bandai Namco, Tales of Xillia 2 extends the first entry's world with a silent hero, choices and a debt to repay, a darker tone for the series. Still common in the West, its interest lies in this status as the sequel to a beloved Tales rather than scarcity. A piece valued by fans of action JRPGs wanting the conclusion.
Is Tales of Xillia 2 still worth playing in 2026?
Tales of Xillia 2 extends the universe of the first chapter with a markedly more mature narrative, built around significant moral choices and a debt that weighs on the hero. The combat system, a direct heir to Xillia, gains in richness and briskness, and the ability to steer the story lends weight to decisions. The downside is that you need to have played the first game to grasp the full reach of the story and its characters. The recycling of some environments shows. But for the Xillia fan or the lover of darker-themed action JRPG, this sequel offers a dense and moving conclusion.
