Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition has landed on the Nintendo Switch, bringing with it one of the best Wii U exclusives to a modern platform.
With a massive and expansive open world, there is a lot to talk about in regard to Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Still, its arrival on Nintendo’s hybrid console addresses an issue I had with its initial 2015 release that I hadn’t even realized until playing it on the Nintendo Switch.
The jump from a tethered experience on the Wii U gamepad to a truly portable experience on the Nintendo Switch alone is enough to warrant Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition’s release. The previous statement might sound like hyperbole, but simply put, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a massive game that, at times, feels closer to an MMORPG than a traditional JRPG experience, making its debut on the Nintendo Switch that much more palatable, as it now allows players to digest the game without committing themselves to the TV or play area.
“The jump from a tethered experience on the Wii U gamepad to a truly portable experience on the Nintendo Switch alone is enough to warrant Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition’s release.”
Of course, even beyond the portability factor, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on the Switch earns its definitive subtitle. It brings with it all of the DLC of its Wii U counterpart, adjusted art and better-looking assets, a reworked UI and some genuinely solid quality-of-life improvements and additions that (mostly) give the game a modern feel, more indicative of a new game than one that is from nearly a decade ago.
On the topic of QoL improvements, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition introduces several changes to the game, such as being able to more easily change the time of day, which makes completing time-sensitive objectives less RNG-dependent. My favourite addition to the game, however, is the option to be now able to swap out party members from a quick menu any time during gameplay (outside of story or side content that specifically calls for a particular squad) instead of having to find them on the overworld, which previously halted the experience with unnecessary tedium.
New recruitable characters also flesh out the roster of the already staggering cast of characters in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, which, for the most part, fit organically into the base experience. As mentioned in my preview for the game, Xenoblade Chronicles X and, in turn, its re-release on the Nintendo Switch, as a JRPG experience, is unlike the numbered entries in that the title tends to skew towards and favour its gameplay loop and world building over its narrative.
Not to say the story in Chronicles X is terrible, but compared to the laser-focused narrative and tight cast of characters found in the series proper, X, instead, employs a shotgun approach that peppers the player with interesting vignettes and tropes that fuels your drive to explore the game world and come to grip with its robust combat system.
Speaking of combat, battles in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition may seem similar to the numbered entries of the series, but taking a deeper dive will highlight what, arguably, might be the best combat in series history. Multiple classes that gradually unlock higher tiers, dual weapons that the player can switch between on the fly, breakable appendages on enemies, and powerful Soul Voice conditional battle augments only begin to scratch the surface of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition’s appeal.
In fact, one of my most significant issues with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, one that persists from the base game, is its poor attempt at properly teaching the player its wealth of mechanics and systems, something made worse by a slow start, one that doesn’t really get going till at least roughly around the 25-30 hour mark.
“New recruitable characters also flesh out the roster of the already staggering cast of characters in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition…”
Thankfully, the game does offer a well-documented in-game glossary. And in virtue of it being a re-release, there exists a wealth of content that still is relevant to the definitive edition of the game on the internet, which has helped me get out of more than a few instances where I was left scratching my head, during the early hours of the game.
Outside of its fun and engaging battle system, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition highlights what Monolith Soft does best: creating awe-inspiring worlds that feel lived-in and staggeringly full of life and excitement. It can’t be said enough just how impressive the nearly 10-year-old world of Chronicles X still is, polished to a finer sheen like a Skell ready to take off on the Nintendo Switch.
Even my minor gripes with the game, particularly its slow start, may not be an issue for series veterans or the larger player base. During the review period for Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, I was naturally unable to experience the online aspect of the game, something that unlocks fairly early on in your adventures (Chapter 03), which may expedite the often arbitrary grind of meeting certain level and quest-based requirements in order to proceed further in the story.
Ultimately, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is a must-play for RPG or Xenoblade die-hards. Even if you’re someone like me, who played the game back in 2015, having the game on the Nintendo Switch alone is enough to warrant another look, as it is now free from its gamepad prison and made better than ever thanks to a deluge of both small and large additions and changes to the base experience.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition releases on Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2025 for $59.99 USD/$79.99 CAD.
- Discover the origins of Shulk as he and his companions clash against a seemingly-unstoppable mechanical menace; wield a future-seeing blade, chain together attacks and carefully position your party members in strategic, real-time combat as you journey across a massive world
- During an attack from the mechanical invaders known as the Mechon, Shulk discovers that he can tap into the full power of a mysterious blade known as the Monado; with the mighty Monado in hand, Shulk sets out to defeat the Mechon once and for all
