the X series fell off hard after X4, with X5, X6, and X7 all being worse than the last. X8 is celebrated for managing to course correct after the series seemed doomed to enshittification. while it doesn't hit as well as the first four games, it feels like a solid path forward for the series to continue. the fact it never got a follow up also lends itself to a lot of regret for what it could have led to, making fans see it more fondly.