Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition Review

Back in 2015, I picked up Xenoblade Chronicles X on the Wii U. Like a lot of JRPG fans at the time, I was drawn to its massive open world, deep systems, and ambitious scale. I had a blast with it, but to be honest, I never finished it. Life got in the way, and Xenoblade X was the kind of game you really had to commit to. Fast forward to now, and Monolith Soft has brought it back in a big way with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for the Nintendo Switch. Packed with quality-of-life improvements, enhanced visuals, and new content, it gave me the perfect reason to return to Mira—and this time, I was determined to see it through.

Xenoblade Chronicles X drops you into a distant future where Earth has been destroyed in a war between alien civilizations. Humanity, now scattered across the stars in massive ark ships, ends up crash-landing on the planet Mira. You play as a customizable member of BLADE, a group tasked with exploring the world and protecting the remaining survivors.

From the very beginning, the game sets a tone of mystery and wonder. Mira is an alien world in every sense—strange skies, unfamiliar creatures, and massive continents teeming with danger and discovery. Even though I had touched on all this nearly a decade ago, it still managed to pull me in all over again. And thanks to the Definitive Edition’s improvements, everything is smoother, easier to navigate, and simply more enjoyable.

One of the first things you’ll do is create your character, and the level of customization is solid. There’s a good variety of faces, hairstyles, and body types to choose from, and I appreciated how detailed it let me get with the look. I do wish the protagonist was fully voiced in cutscenes—that remains a bit of a letdown, especially when the rest of the cast is fully voiced and well-acted—but the character still felt like mine.

The cast of companions you can recruit is one of the game’s real highlights. From Elma’s calm leadership to Lin’s enthusiasm for giant mechs (Skells), there’s a wide range of personalities and motivations. Getting to know them over time—through main story beats, side missions, and Heart-to-Heart conversations—made me care about who I had in my squad. The writing doesn’t just skim the surface; it digs into their pasts, their doubts, their ambitions. These people feel like real crewmates in a sci-fi survival story, and that emotional investment carries the narrative.

Let’s talk about Mira. It’s huge. Like really huge. Spanning five massive continents, the game gives you a sense of freedom and scale that still feels unmatched. Each biome has its own vibe—from the dense jungles of Noctilum to the burning magma flows of Cauldros—and all are packed with secrets, monsters, and breathtaking views. Exploration here isn’t filler—it’s the heart of the game.

The world feels alive. You’ll stumble upon massive beasts that tower over your party, clearly way above your level, and it forces you to stay alert. You’re never quite safe, and that sense of danger makes every new region feel meaningful. The world’s design encourages curiosity. There are caves to uncover, bases to infiltrate, and ancient alien ruins that beg for interpretation. The fact that it’s a joy just to walk around in Mira is a testament to how well it’s built.

Eventually, you get access to Skells—massive mechs that change everything. They take a while to unlock, but once you have one, exploration and combat both get a massive upgrade. Suddenly, areas that were out of reach become accessible. Travel becomes faster. Combat becomes flashier. And yeah, flying through the skies of Mira in a Skell is as cool as it sounds.

Combat in Xenoblade X is real-time with a cooldown-based system centered around “Arts.” You auto-attack by default, but your Arts let you heal, taunt, debuff enemies, or unleash powerful attacks. There’s a satisfying rhythm to fights—positioning matters, timing matters, and combining abilities with your party’s strengths leads to some genuinely strategic encounters.

Weapon combinations matter too. You can swap between melee and ranged weapons, and each comes with its own set of Arts. The synergy between your chosen setup and the rest of your team can make or break certain encounters. The variety here is impressive and encourages experimentation.

And those creatures roaming the world? They’re not just background noise. Some of them are absolutely massive, and fighting them is like taking on mini-bosses in the wild. The level of danger they present adds real tension to exploration and makes even low-stakes moments feel thrilling.

I’ll be honest—most RPGs treat side quests like busywork. Not here. Xenoblade X’s side missions are often filled with meaningful character moments, worldbuilding, and hidden lore. Many offer significant rewards, not just in terms of XP and gear, but in story depth. Some of my favorite character interactions came from optional quests, and they’re essential if you want to build deeper bonds with your squad.

Increasing affinity with characters not only unlocks new story scenes, but it also improves combat performance and gives access to unique “Heart-to-Heart” conversations. These are some of the most personal moments in the game, where characters open up in ways that really stick with you.

This new release isn’t just a remaster. It’s a full-on upgrade in almost every department. The visuals have seen a noticeable boost. Character models are cleaner and more expressive. Environments pop more, and lighting effects give the world a real sense of scale and atmosphere.

But the real stars are the quality-of-life improvements. You can now swap out party members on the fly, even in the open world—no more hunting them down in New Los Angeles. Even better, characters not in your party still gain XP, which means you don’t end up with a wildly under-leveled crew. This cuts down on grinding significantly and lets you experiment with different builds without being punished for it.

There’s also new content. New recruitable characters, additional story segments, and even an entirely new ending. For returning players like me, that’s huge. It made the whole journey feel fresh again. And if you’re jumping in for the first time, you’re getting the best possible version of this game from the start.

Performance on the Switch? Solid. I didn’t run into any major framerate drops or bugs during my playthrough. Everything loaded quickly, and the transitions between zones were smooth. Handheld mode holds up pretty well too, though the screen size does make some UI elements a bit cramped.

Despite all the praise, there are still a few things I wish had been addressed. First, the silent protagonist. I get the idea of letting players project themselves onto their character, but in a game this narrative-heavy, a voiced lead would’ve gone a long way in helping them feel part of the world.

Then there’s the soundtrack. While serviceable, it’s not nearly as memorable as it could be. The battle themes lack the punch I expected, and some tracks loop too often or feel a bit too repetitive for long sessions. Considering the pedigree of the Xenoblade series when it comes to music, this one feels a bit underwhelming by comparison.

Final Thoughts

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is the kind of game that reminds you why you love RPGs. It’s massive, ambitious, and deeply rewarding. The enhancements brought to the Switch version smooth out many of the rough edges from the original release, and the added content gives even veterans a reason to return.

For newcomers, it’s an excellent entry point into one of the most unique and expansive RPGs Nintendo has ever published. For returning players, it’s a second chance to fully experience a game that deserves the time it asks of you.

Whether you’re in it for the exploration, the combat, the characters, or just to fly around in a giant mech while blasting aliens—Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition delivers.

A Nintendo Switch review code was provided by Nintendo for the purpose of this review.

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