Games similar to this?

[FireShark]

I loved how this game world was a nice little slice of what we typically see in a larger JRPG. A length of around 15-20 hours is perfect for me.

[Debrel]

Check out the Ys games on steam, they're made by the same developer.

[Mopey bloke]

Yes, but they don't play like Xanadu.

[Seiya]

The answer so far seems to be that there isn't anything else like this

[it's a gabe]

Xanadu Next is kind of unique in a lot of ways, especially in its contained world that's still full of lore. I totally get what you're saying but yeah, unfortunately there's nothing quite like it. There might be other slice-like medieval worlds out there, but they're still quite big compared to XN.

Grim Dawn comes to mind, where the core of its story takes place along the coast (I think it might be around a lake, but don't quote me on that). One expansion takes you somewhere else, but that's mostly it. Although the areas are very large, the explorable world as a whole is quite linear, so not at all as interconnected and interesting as XN.

I never played much of it, but I hear Vagrant Story might have the kind of world presentation you're looking for. It's not as sprawling as Squaresoft JRPGs tend to be, which is one of the many aspects that set it apart, so it isn't a necessarily long game. Besides, Ivalice is one of the richest game worlds out there, and it seems VS's version is quite detailed.

[ɴᴀᴏᴍᴀꜱᴀ]

I've been trying like crazy to find something similar to this as well, it really is a unique game in many ways. What a gem. Anyhow, if you havent played it already I'd reccomend Dragons Dogma, quite different style of game (third person action rpg), but i found many parallels (beside the obvious Dragon Slaying theme), If you loved Xanadu Next i think you can definitely enjoy it

[FireShark]

Dragon's Dogma is indeed a great game. Already played on both PC and console. Yes, it's very hard to find a similar game. I've been playing Persona 5 Royal. It's fun for now. Right now I'm just hoping that Ys IX gets a release date announced for the West. Not that it's exactly alike, but it looks good.

[korytoombs]

The closest is probably

Ys: The Oath in Felghana

And if you can emulate PS games

Vagrant Story

[Lightwarrior11]

There were Action JRPGs by Neversoft published around the same time as Xanadu Next (2005, in Japan) that are very similar to this. Try Record of Lodoss War (Dreamcast, 2000), Shining Force Neo (PS2, 2005), and Shining Force EXA (PS2, 2007). I would not be surprised if some members of Falcom were influenced by these.

[EKAY!]

Sands of Aura

[El Fuerte]

Baldurs Gate: Dark Alliance plays similar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xfd8LZySTw&list=PLeRuPmU0krZ8iqDFqEN928QDZV9rS6a5P&index=15

Its a western game though so it won't have that "eastern flavour" if you know what i mean. There aren't many single-player isometric camera western styled ARPG made in Japan like Xanadu Next.

You can also play Final Fantasy XII in isometric camera angle if you tilt your camera stick all the way down. I don't know why but Xanadu Next gave me strong FFXII vibes while i was playing it (maybe its the blond kid with a sword, sister-like support, medieval kingdom affairs, beautifully designed sewer systems...) and thats before FFXII was even released.

[Outsider]

Astlibra?
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1718570/ASTLIBRA_Revision/
Feels like this is a direct precursor to Astlibra, in more ways than one.
-Hub town
-Almost exactly the same gear skill system (only weapons in Xanadu, all gear in Astlibra)
-Silent blond protagonist with troubled past and ability to whack gods with a stick to death
-ALL equipment is honestly physically shown on character's model
-Smash enemy get coin super satisfying simple combat with nuance and positioning being key factors
-Every [new] chest feels like a reward, and not nothing burger like in most games
-Harem
-Multi-layered progression
-Similar aesthetic style (except portraits)

Basically Astlibra is Xanadu Next 2: side-scrolling boogaloo
Except Astlibra is 70 hours rather than 20.

[AlienJay]

Xanadu next is a Jrpg with Diablo Arpg style gameplay . For that there is
Shining force Neo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC1dslAy0UY
And also Shining force Exa plays the same .You will need a ps2 emulator to play both of these.

Aside from that there is the Ys series as others have mentioned

For other games that are not exactly Arpg but are ''slice like'' as you mentioned, there is Alundra, and Ico, both Japnese games with small worlds that have interconnected areas that you unlock bit by bit . These are more adventure style games than Diablo though.

Xanadu Next is a pretty unique game tho and its hard to scratch the itch exactly

[SiskoMishima]

Vagrant Story for sure, very similar feel, specially when it comes to the dungeons and the box puzzle mechanics.

[Outsider]

Originally posted by SiskoMishima:

Vagrant Story for sure, very similar feel, specially when it comes to the dungeons and the box puzzle mechanics.

You can't be serious. Vagrant Story is almost direct opposite of Xanadu next with its counter-intuitive mechanics, grim dark narrative and stop-motion or whatever would you call it combat system.

[SiskoMishima]

I said similar feel, not the same combat mechanics. The box puzzles do feel almost rip off from Vagrant.