Time (XC1)

In Xenoblade Chronicles, the time of day is an important aesthetic and gameplay element. Every second of real time advances one minute of in-game time, but the player can set the time to whatever they wish (to the nearest hour) whenever the main menu is accessible. Time does not pass during cutscenes, dialogue scenes, or NPC conversations.

Many NPCs, enemies, and collectables only appear at certain times of day. NPC behaviour is controlled in blocks three hours long, while enemy and collectable behaviour is split into four distinct phases: "morning", "day", "evening", and "night". In addition, some battle mechanics and many aesthetics (such as music) only care about whether it is "daytime" or "nighttime". While each map in the game has independently-set values for the boundaries of these phases, they all agree on the same numbers.

Some maps, such as the Ether Mine, are entirely underground, indoors, or similarly unable to see the sky. While there is no visible effect on the time of day in these regions, all its gameplay mechanics still apply.

Fixed plot times
Certain plot events set the time of day.

Trivia

 * The game's title screen uses an accelerated time cycle, starting at 5:30 and proceeding at somewhere near 6-8 times normal speed. Each maps' demo mode flythgouh has its own times and speeds.