Monolith Soft is one of the most active developers on the Nintendo Switch. They’ve basically built a trilogy of Xenoblade Chronicles games for Nintendo’s hybrid console, and now the final piece of the puzzle, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, is out on Switch. It comes with new content, gameplay tweaks, and visual upgrades that make it the best version of one of the best Wii U exclusives. While it’s part of the Xeno universe, it’s thematically different from the other games—it has a more serious, mature tone, online multiplayer, and lets you create your own avatar as the main character instead of following a set protagonist.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes a lot of gameplay changes, and even though the visuals only got minor touch-ups, they still hold up better for modern players. Some low-res textures and aliasing remain, but the game can look stunning, especially in handheld mode, thanks to its massive open world. The world itself is seriously impressive, often feeling alive with its diverse biomes, wildlife, and flora. The game doesn’t hold you back—not only can you jump crazy far, but you can also cruise around in giant mechs called Skells. Just don’t expect to explore everything right away.
The original Xenoblade Chronicles X was a Wii U exclusive and used the GamePad for some mechanics, but the Switch version handles the transition well. Quests are easier to navigate now thanks to a new guidance feature, and the gameplay is more streamlined, making it friendlier for beginners. Exploration lets you run around as a human or pilot customizable, transforming mechs—the Skells.
The game’s story is set in the distant future, where humanity makes its last stand against an advanced alien race. After barely surviving an all-out war, their ship crash-lands on a planet called Mira, which resembles Earth. The main story focuses on the White Whale—the vessel carrying the last survivors—and finding the humans aboard its lifehold. With humanity on the brink of extinction, the survivors band together and establish a new settlement called New Los Angeles. Like a functioning society, they build cities, businesses, and industries while searching for other survivors from the White Whale.
The protagonist is a human recruited into BLADE (Builders of the Legacy After the Destruction of Earth), an organization with different divisions handling tasks like resource gathering, rescue operations, harvesting, expeditions, and combat. At the start, players choose one of these divisions, which determines the missions they receive.
Mira has five distinct continents, each with unique ecosystems and creatures. The game makes it clear that not all wildlife is hostile—only those that interfere with missions pose a threat. That said, nothing stops you from fighting everything in your path, which is exactly what I did during exploration. Fast travel and mapping are easily accessible through the in-game menu, and quality-of-life improvements now let the whole party gain experience and level up more smoothly.
The combat system will feel familiar to fans of the series. It plays like an MMO, with cooldown-based abilities called Arts and a new Soul Voice system—basically QTEs that trigger during battle to heal or buff party members. These mechanics keep players engaged in what is otherwise an auto-battle system. Once you target an enemy, your party (including your avatar) attacks automatically, leaving you to manage Arts and react to QTEs. It might sound simple, but it’s surprisingly fun, especially since success depends heavily on gear and character customization.
The game is packed with side content and character relationships. Beyond the main story, there are always side objectives to tackle—like placing probes to reveal the map or helping characters with their personal missions. These activities boost your rank with them and often uncover interesting lore about the world or their backstories. While the main plot can feel underwhelming at times, the character interactions and development shine, and the side content really brings the world to life.
One standout feature is the ability to switch classes seamlessly. You can adjust the difficulty to suit your playstyle, and while the game isn’t overly hard, it warns early on that wandering into uncharted areas might pit you against deadly creatures. Of course, that’s part of the fun if you’re up for the challenge. The affinity system unlocks new side stories and deepens relationships, but it also impacts combat—characters with higher affinity perform better, giving you a reason to bond with them.
The best part of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is how it refuses to hold your hand. The joy comes from organically discovering the world’s wonders. Monolith’s open world is enormous and filled with secrets, rewarding players who explore deeper—whether for better loot, side quests, or the thrill of stumbling into a new biome with its own dangerous species. Skells give you even more freedom to move around, and placing probes unlocks fast travel points, making resource management smoother during your adventures.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition delivers an expansive, immersive sci-fi epic with jaw-dropping scale and rewarding exploration. While its story occasionally falters and visuals show their age, the game’s deep customization, thrilling mech combat, and boundless open world make it a must-play for JRPG fans. A triumphant port that finally gives this Wii U gem the audience it deserves.
