Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Game
Game2016
Xanadu Next
Developer Nihon Falcom
Xanadu Next is a 2005 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom for Microsoft Windows. The game is a spin-off of the 1985 game Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu. Xanadu Next was released worldwide in English by Xseed Games in 2016. An N-Gage version was developed by ScriptArts and published by Nokia a few months prior to original Japanese release. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
75 reactions from 1 source (Bluesky) · newest Sep 27, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
—
No Data
Sentiment labels for these sources are still being hand-checked; no score yet.
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
75 newer reactions are still waiting for a label.
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
899 of 975 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
A written summary appears once the title has a score.
Reactions
60 of 75 · most liked firstGames I wanna make: - Metroidvania with Kingdom Hearts combat - Open-world expressive platformer - Multiplayer A-RPG like Phantasy Star Online - Spellcasting soulslike - A-RPG/Farming/Alchemy sim - A game that's literally just Xanadu Next - Monster-catching RPG with a fucked up story
unlabelledView post →Xanadu Next (2005, PC) Saw this in a @humblemudgames.bsky.social vid the other day and had to check it out. Kinda scratches that Ragnarok Online itch that I often get. Combat is similar to RO or Diablo, but with some positional stuff where you deal more damage from behind/side, very fun game!
unlabelledView post →It's like the PSP port this game never got. 🥹 Took a little extra fiddling to get running compared to the Deck, which more or less runs it perfectly as is after you use the config executable, but by god, it runs like a dream. Xanadu Next rules so much as a portable game, dude. Love it to bits. 😌
unlabelledView post →Xanadu Next is an incredible game, you've got to play it!
unlabelledView post →Xanadu NEXT is a fantastic little action RPG from a time when action RPGs were RPGs with real-time action, and not action games with mild RPG elements. It's a modern (at least for 2005) game in body, but in heart & soul, it's a classic RPG from the 80s & early 90s. The game's strengths are less in sheer complexity, and more in its consistent execution of simple ideas, all of which come together to make for an incredibly engaging action RPG from beginning to end. Dungeon crawling?…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →(it's late and she feels like being annoying about a random game) Hey did you know??? Xanadu Next is 70% off on Steam right now??? store.steampowered.com/app/312560/X...
unlabelledView post →I like this game, but I don't like one core game design thing that is "No, you can't kill this boss, warrior, you have to reroll your stats, learn magic and kill it as a mage".
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What a relief it is to play a game that doesn't blast hours of cutscenes in your face.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's time to wrap up this month-long celebration of Dragon Slayer, and what better game to do it with than Xanadu Next, an underappreciated action RPG and dungeon-crawler gem that lets you make literal skeleton keys out of monster bones, and has an enemy that can reduce your level if it hits you.
unlabelledView post →I do not Steam game much. Still, I finished Visions of Mana, Silent Hill 2 Remake and Xanadu Next on it. All great games.
unlabelledView post →pretty graphics + beautiful art + wonderful ost + good story + addictive gameplay + ratio + take care + love you
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Absolutely timeless. Any game where you start off in a back alley killing bats and goblins and by the end you've got a sacred sword in your hand standing on top of an ancient castle in the middle of a storm fighting a dragon who waxes poetic at you is a 10/10 in my book.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Anyway, true courage would be re-releasing Xanadu Next on modern platforms because that game rules and more of you should get to know Falcom's library beyond Trails and Ys already. It'll be like $5 when it's on sale again before long and the Steam version offers support for modern pads. Play it! 😎
unlabelledView post →This game triggers something on me. A sensation of nostalgia for these old graphics and this style. I love it. The story reflects it's time and I highly recommend if you're looking for a great rpg to play!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Required reading for anyone that's a fan of the Souls series. So much of the non King's Field DNA of those games originate here. Frustrating, at times. Not always too clear why you're suddenly going from doing 1 damage per hit to 300. Filled with a lot of that crusty Falcom gunk so many of us have come to love. Cool game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is secretly Falcom's best game, and it's a crying shame that more people don't know it exists.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →To play in 1920x1080p, click Play from the Steam app, then you can launch the Configuration Tool app to set your resolution. (I'm saying this 'cause not everyone uses the Steam app for starting their games. I was using my desktop shortcut which bypasses the configuring thing.)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Vagrant Story beaten, easily a top 100 game for me. Xanadu Next tomorrow
unlabelledView post →The mouse control takes some getting used to, but the game makes it worth your while with a classic JRPG storyline and absolutely nailing the core loop of exploring rooms, killing monsters and collecting loot. Hard yes from me, they don't make 'em like this anymore...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A great game that is more like a tragic fairy tale or a legend or just something like Ys
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →immaculate vibe, need some indie game to be a spiritual successor asap
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Xanadu Next is an ARPG developed by Nihon Falcom that originally released in 2005. I was expecting a clunky mess of a game, but it’s surprisingly modern with a tight gameplay loop. The game can be described as a mix of Diablo without the loot and grind and a slower-paced Ys. It also implements a few systems and level design choices that would later be popularized by the Souls games. You start the game with some exposition about the world and the reason for why you are setting out towards…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tips for playing: - Use a controller, but have a mouse next to you for navigating shop menus (its much quicker) -Uncheck "use system mouse cursor" in the config menu or the in game cursor won't move (very odd this is on by default) Great game, great lore, great world. I got through it in about 20 hours which is the perfect length for me. There's no dodge or roll button so combat can feel a bit like constantly running in circles around the enemy to try to get a back attack for more damage. You…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game does look like a good time but I do wish we could get something like Xanadu Next again that would be pretty sick nasty with it
unlabelledView post →Great RPG with less of a regular action focus like YS, it instead feels closer to something like an MMO without any sort of fat, less than 15h long and rather tasteful storyline, lean, mean and full of heart
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →played a little bit of Xanadu Next that game might have the sauce. really reminded me a lot of Vagrant Story. Why was it an N-Gage game
unlabelledView post →I think all good games need an enemy you legitimately hate, like these Liches (? Lichs? Lychees?) from Xanadu Next, who drain your levels. In the context of this game, de-leveling the player may completely void their current equipment (which is level dependent) leaving you defenceless mid-dungeon!
unlabelledView post →I felt the Xanadu series went in strange random directions with it's story & releases. Bought Xanadu Next on Steam and couldn't figure out how to play the game properly 😅 When I got Tokyo Xanadu eX+, I didn't realize it was part of the series until later. They should make a proper collection
unlabelledView post →#18 - Xanadu Next. Falcom would never make a game like this again, but I'm glad that it happened to begin with. 2001-2012 was probably Falcom's Golden Age; I wish we could go back.
unlabelledView post →Xanadu Next is a classic old ARPG from a time when authorship is still valued by game developers. A real gem deserves more attention.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Maybe I just don't "get" Xanadu since the only ones I've played have been Tokyo Xanadu and Xanadu NEXT and those seem like pretty big departures from the outside looking in and maybe it was also the stream quality but Kyoto Xanadu did nothing for me man. Game looked kinda ugly
unlabelledView post →I am not far in but I am already in love. It has the rpg systems and art style of a Fina Fantasy game, the combat on Diablo, with the dungeon delving/puzzling of Zelda. It might not tie it all together perfectly but what's here is delightful.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Interesting game from a historical perspective, highly influential but rarely known outside of Japan.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →On today's episode, our #RetroEncounter panelists return to discuss the second half of dark fantasy action RPG #XanaduNext! Why is this game regarded as a Falcom all-time classic? Listen to this podcast below to find out 🎧 Listen: www.rpgfan.com/2026/07/02/r...
unlabelledView post →Impressive and streamlined ARPG that doesn't waste your time, sitting around 15-ish hours to thoroughly complete. Lovely music and environments, simple yet engaging combat, an above-average story / setting the game doesn't force you to engage with, and enough secrets / eccentricities to add a unique charm throughout the experience. There are a few issues here and there with this port (e.g. achievements not unlocking when they should, your mouse cursor not always being visible alongside a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is a gamer's game. An action RPG dungeon crawl with any extra cruft stripped out. We have a minimal plot, and a whole lot of stats, skills, and secrets. I got done in about 12 hours in-game, and had a grand time rolling credits.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Incredible dungeon crawler/3D metroidvania, one of the last in the classic style of Dragon Slayer, Hydlide, Tritorn, Tower of Druaga, Brandish, and the like. Where there's just as much adventure game puzzling as there is hacking and slashing and leveling up. It's often compared to Falcom's Ys games from the same era (Oath in Felghana, Origin, VI) and while that's true I think the closest games are actually the King's Field games, and of course, the common comparison is often Dark Souls, which I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A criminally hidden gem of a game. The graphics are charming, the world is interconnecting, the mechanics are deeper than expected, equipment is visually different and the 2D art adds perfectly to the world's atmosphere.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game is just fun. It has a wonderful aesthetic and the plot is simple but draws you in. I just kept wanting to dive back in just to get to the next weapon or armor upgrades. I kept wanting to know more of the story through the tablets and memoirs too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gave up trying to get my controller to work with this, but plays surprisingly well with just a Mouse. Has some low points somewhere in the middle (my chief complain: fixed camera angles in tight spaces w/ mob spam rooms...), but picks right back up again and finishes strong. Was fully expecting to have to have to execute some gimmick for the end of the game, but everything is played straight. Great music, as usual from Falcom. gg.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Xanadu Next is next to review! Link: almagaming.wolfpack.xyz/gameblogP13.... We look at both the PC version AND N-Gage version of this game today! What happens when you take Diablo and Zelda and mash them together? You get this game! Is this mix of games a good mix though? Lets find out!
unlabelledView post →Xanadu Next is an isometric action RPG that blends dungeon-crawling structure with a melancholic, folklore-inspired narrative. The story centers on a former knight who investigates the mysteries surrounding Harlech Island and the legendary Xanadu, uncovering a tale rooted in loss, ambition, and ancient power. The plot is understated but effective, giving the exploration a quiet sense of purpose without overwhelming the gameplay. Combat is deliberate and methodical. Instead of fast-paced…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the most *computer* modern Falcom game for your computer it's really cool, an alluring mystery surrounds Castle Strangerock and it gives it such a unique atmosphere compared to so many other action games, even from Falcom. The gameplay is also a bit interesting, it reminded me a bit of a more responsive old click to attack MMO, slow xp curve and very specific targeting requirements to swing your sword compared to most action RPGs that let you attack anywhere. You'll either love or you'll hate…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Like it’s so crazy that this game came out now, it literally feels like they did it just for me, someone who just spent the last year or so taking in everything Ys and Trails related with a splash of Xanadu on top. I pogged when they started playing Xanadu Next music in the story mode.
unlabelledView post →It was literally THE BEST GAMING EXPERIENCE I EVER HAD, I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT, STORY WAS PEAK, EVERY SINGLE LOCATION WAS PEAK, EVERY SINGLE BOSS FIGHT WAS PEAK, EVERY SINGLE MUSIC TRACK WAS PEAK. THIS GAME IS PERFECT PLAY IT NOW (maybe i overreacted a little but still damn good game pls give it a try)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →the best game you've never heard of, with an absolutely stellar vibe and beautiful music. please give this a try if it looks at all interesting to you!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Insanely good game - even in 2026. Falcom jdk OST, excellent combat, inter-connected map with shortcuts before that was in style, equipped weapon and armor shown on character. Gets you right into the gameplay. Kind of makes you remember that this game was made in the heyday of gaming where design this impeccable and forward looking was just a common thing back then.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tight controls, tight mapping, tight progression, tight mechanics, this game is absolutely what you imagine video games look like from 2005 on the Nokia N-Gage!! Play as Xanadude, save the Xanadudes, and beat the crap out of everything! Everything has a level, from your swords to you! Skip every cutscene because you forgot your inputs, which you got from a random Steam controller profile because you can't be bothered to play a PC game on your PC anymore, and get pulled directly through item…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Gonna play a weird one tonight. I'm gonna try out Xanadu Next a 2005 game that's a spin off of a 1985 game.. So ancient history. If it wasn't digital it would probably be played on 15 stone tablets. loaded into a henge of some sort. Anyways, stream at 8:15! www.twitch.tv/cranag
unlabelledView post →Thanks to everyone who dropped by! Awakening was super fun and I am a terrible tactician. Game hard (it was on hard). I will see you guys on Saturday w/ Xanadu Next!! We raided @desmonddracula.bsky.social who's streaming Retro Rewind!
unlabelledView post →WE LOVE WINDOWS ERA YS GAMES YEAHHHHHHH and Xanadu Next which I group in with those games (and is also my favorite Falcom game)
unlabelledView post →I don’t really go out of my way to look for discussion on a game ever but I feel like the past month or so I’ve stumbled across a fair number of people talking about Xanadu Next, which is really great to see. I only played it earlier this year myself but it’s genuinely so good, one of my faves.
unlabelledView post →27. I wouldn't call it underrated, but definitely underexplored, Xanadu Next is a great game with a lot of depth, just a bit more challenging than your usual fare. Gurumin is definitely underrated, classic banger.
unlabelledView post →Had a good time last night, so I'm itching to get back in there and play a little more Xanadu Next. I wanna get into those tunnels, grind some monstas and see what's going on in the game. Surprisingly solid for a 2005 game, so far. The sea calls to me.. www.twitch.tv/cranag Stream at 8:00!
unlabelledView post →First you kill the monsters, then you get the bones, then you can buy the keys and then... then you can kill the monsters.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Bad First Impressions: The biggest problem is that I want to play on controller. It's gonna sit in my library until I get decide to trudge through it without one. Good First Impressions: I love Vagrant Story and it sorta reminded me of it. So, I'ma keep it in my library and hope the controls get a fix. I will give the thumbs up when it does.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Loved teh music. the combat system did remind me of the first diablo or ragnarok online. the story is simple but is decent. often in discount. had some visual bugs a couple of times which were solved with restarting the game. can be played with controller but the setup is a bit weird, easier to play with mouse.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A truely mystifying game. There is no doubt in my mind that this game inspired dark souls. Gameplay is best compared to diablo but with custom built levels that loop around into shortcuts. Through the game you'll get new weapons with unique movesets and special abilities.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Несмотря на то, что лично мне игра понравилась, ни в коем случае не советую. Этому проекту нужен полноценный ремейк, поскольку история имеет потенциал. Особенно видно, как некоторые элементы будут использоваться в будущих играх Фалкома. Но уже переработанные и улучшенные. Видно, что проект делали параллельно Ys Origin. Здесь помимо визуального сходства, у нас даже арена финальная одинаковая. При этом в Юс играть веселее и приятнее. Но что же у нас имеется здесь. Забавно, что видел на форумах…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Excellent, classic game with varied environments, fun mechanics, good music, and an interesting plot! It's fun to collect items, learn the skills off them, and keep them forever. They each have their own "MP" so having more is never a bad thing. Disaster of a localization attempt. Recommended only for the very patient. Graphical glitches, a few crashes, several broken achievements, and very sketchy controller support. Not unplayable, but set your expectations accordingly. I'm sad because this…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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