After years of denials, denials and claims that it would require more effort than would be financially viable, Xenoblade Chronicles X was released from the chains of the Wii U to launch on the Nintendo Switch. Almost a year later, Nintendo and Monolith Soft developed the game for the final time on Switch 2 with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition.
In addition to updating how often the word ‘edition’ appears in the title, the team also made sure that the game was properly rendered on Nintendo’s next-generation hardware. It’s not an expensive upgrade, coming in at just $5, but considering how dedicated the game is, it only makes the upgrade necessary for die-hard Xenoblade fans.
Thank you, I count myself among them. After putting almost 50 hours into last year’s Switch version, and then another 50 into the new development, I think it’s fair to say that while this new iteration is smarter than before, there’s not much to say if you’re someone who’s already poured a week’s worth of work and extra time into it.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: The Ultimate Edition Review
Returning to Mira could not have been better.
Xenoblade Chronicles X stands alone from the rest of the series, and doesn’t even take place in the same universe as the other games. To that end, X is a great place to start for anyone interested in the series and who haven’t touched the other games. This new upgrade gives you access to some of the best RPG action ever, as well as a significant performance boost to 60FPS and 4K.
If, however, you’ve already played this game on the Wii U or last year’s Switch re-release, there’s not much to entice you beyond the performance improvements. It’s still the same game, no new content. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the game is pretty good, but this is an adventure that requires your fair share of time if you have the cash to spare.
The World Beyond
Xenoblade Chronicles X was first released on the Wii U back in 2015, and while I didn’t play the game back then due to my lack of access to the hardware, its large and expansive world was always very appealing. After being hopelessly confused by the sequel to the 2020 anniversary of Xenoblade Chronicles on the original Switch, I stand by the faithful in our collective hopes that X gets the same treatment.
Taking place on the planet Mira, Xenoblade Chronicles X tells the story of humanity’s desperate escape from Earth into a new, uncharted world. It really is one of those games that will attach itself to your soul if you let it. There is something about its world, characters and story that feels very relatable despite its massive science fiction setting.
Xenoblade Chronicles X was first released on the Wii U back in 2015, and while I didn’t play the game back then due to my lack of access to the hardware, its large and expansive world was always very appealing.
The Switch 2 update doesn’t add any new content, so if you’ve already played the game on Wii U or Switch in the past year, there’s nothing here you haven’t experienced before. To that end, it’s hard to recommend logging in again unless you really want to see new performance improvements or want to play this timeless masterpiece again.
Honestly, this is one of those games that I have added to my annual playlist. That’s not a long list, but I firmly believe that this is one of the greatest action RPGs ever made and a strong contender for one of Monolith’s best games. It’s really cute, with psychedelic music, and the combat is as smooth as ever.
I Really Feel It
The most important part of this iteration of the Switch 2 comes in the form of performance and graphics improvements. As mentioned, the base game has absolutely no new content to speak of and is the exact same release we saw on the Switch 1 in March 2025. When it comes to those performance improvements, Monolith Soft has done a lot of work to improve the game in line with its next-gen competition.
Image quality is improved, albeit slightly. That said, the game looked great on the Wii U and outstanding on the Switch, so the increased expansion is a touch disappointing. On the big 4K display, it looks brilliant, and looks incredibly sharp in portable mode. This is a game that looks great no matter what, and it’s all the proof you need that good art direction will take you farther than powerful hardware ever will.
Performance wise, Xenoblade Chronicles X on Switch 2 is targeting 60FPS. The good news is that usually, it hits and keeps it that way. Back on the Wii U, it meant 720P and 30FPS, so we’ve come a long way. However, without a stable 60FPS lock, it can dip during some busy scenes. That’s not entirely unexpected, and I believe that should be considered normal for open-world 3D games, but you should know that the framerate can be affected a little negatively at times.
On the big 4K display, it looks brilliant, and looks incredibly sharp in portable mode.
In the end, whether the Switch 2 upgrade for Xenoblade Chronicles X is one you dive into depends on what you’re into. If you are someone who has already poured hours upon hours into the game on Wii U or the OG Switch, then it is difficult for me to give you my full recommendations, especially when the game runs very well on the original Switch, even targeting 30FPS. It’s incredibly stable.
On the other hand, if you haven’t played this game for even a second, this is a great introduction to the series. It’s disconnected from other games, so there’s no myth or lore you need to know, and its standalone nature has been a consistent strength of the game for years. It also has a pretty unique layout compared to other games, and by completing this one first, your experience with every game will feel very similar from game to game.
Personally, I feel like this game is one that any fan of sci-fi, open world 3D RPGs should at least check out. The world is beautiful, the combat is excellent, and the exploration is second to none. The development itself is unusual, but not entirely without merit.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: The Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition may have a negligible impact on the notoriety of video games, but it’s still a great experience. Unfortunately, it’s hard to recommend it to series veterans, as there’s nothing here other than performance improvements with new content. The performance improvements are great, and come at a reasonable price of five bucks, but unless you get another 50 hours to kill, you’ll be doing exactly the same playing it on the original Switch.
- Released
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February 19, 2026
- The ESRB
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Youth / Animated Blood, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence, In-Game Purchases
- Publisher
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Nintendo
- Many players
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Online Co-Op
- Performance improvements and fixes are appreciated
- The base game remains a classic action RPG
- A decent price upgrade for five dollars
- Good experience for newcomers
- The image quality is good, but the upgrade feels a little too high
- You are good at playing the Switch 1 version
- Promotion is good, but ultimately it doesn’t help once you’ve played the game
The Xenoblade Chronicles: 10 Best Fans Theories
The Xenoblade Chronicles games are full of wild speculation and well-crafted fan theories. This list ranks the best.
