Soap operas have long thrived on outrageous plot twists and awkward romantic entanglements, but this week’s Days of Our Lives managed to pull off a crossover nobody could have predicted: a casual reference to one of Nintendo’s most dedicated, if not always mainstream, RPG franchises. During the show’s 61st season, a scene between Salem University students Aaron and Arianna turned unexpectedly geeky when Aaron invited her into his dorm room with the promise of playing Xenoblade Chronicles on his Nintendo Switch.
At first glance, it looked like standard young-adult flirtation, with Aaron fumbling for a reason to get Arianna inside. 
But instead of suggesting Mario Kart or Smash Bros – Nintendo’s go-to party staples – he went straight for the heavyweights of Japanese role-playing. The moment Arianna nervously accepted his offer, fans watching at home knew they were witnessing one of the strangest cultural collisions daytime television has ever produced. And Aaron’s surprised face said it all: he hadn’t expected that line to work either.
The clip, shared widely on social media by fan account Nintendeal, instantly exploded among Nintendo devotees. For many, it wasn’t just the humor of a soap opera character leaning on a niche RPG as a flirting tool, but the sheer fact that Xenoblade got name-dropped at all. One commenter summed it up: “This show’s had 61 seasons and I never cared until they mentioned Xenoblade.” Others joked that using a JRPG to attract attention works about as well as wearing Axe body spray – but hey, at least it’s memorable.
For context, Xenoblade Chronicles has a devoted fanbase that has fought for its recognition ever since Monolith Soft’s original title launched on the Wii in 2010. Over the years, the series has grown into multiple sequels, spin-offs, and deluxe re-releases, each demanding hundreds of hours of gameplay. Its reputation as an expansive, story-heavy adventure makes it an unusual choice for small talk, let alone a pickup line, but that’s exactly why the moment resonated with fans. As one gamer quipped, inviting someone to play Xenoblade guarantees they’ll stick around – for at least a thousand hours if they’re a completionist.
The soap itself, meanwhile, has been airing since 1965 and is now streaming on Peacock, still embracing melodrama but now finding unexpected synergy with gaming culture. The crossover sparked broader debates online: was this organic writing, or sneaky product placement? Some viewers laughed it off as filler, others took it as a tribute to a beloved RPG that Nintendo once seemed unsure about supporting. Whatever the truth, it brought a burst of excitement into a show most gamers probably hadn’t thought about in decades.
Perhaps the best takeaway is the strange yet undeniable overlap of fandoms. Who would’ve guessed that in 2025, Nintendo diehards and soap opera faithful would be bonding over the same televised moment? It might not mark the beginning of a new golden age for Xenoblade, but at the very least, it gave fans a reason to celebrate their favorite series in a whole new context.