Nintendo Switch 2 Review | Xenoblade Chronicles

As a long-time fan of the Xenoblade series, I’ve spent countless hours exploring the worlds crafted by Monolith Soft, and only recently did I look at the developer’s work in our review of Xenoblade Chronicles X.

Published by Nintendo and developed by Monolith Soft, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 once again demonstrates why the franchise sits comfortably alongside genre heavyweights such as Final Fantasy, Persona, and Tales of Arise. While the original Definitive Edition was already regarded as one of the finest JRPGs ever made, this new version aims to push the experience even further with a range of technical upgrades and fresh content. Rather than simply increasing the resolution and calling it a day, Monolith Soft has introduced several meaningful additions that make revisiting Bionis and Mechonis feel worthwhile even for veteran players. Whether you’re returning for another adventure with Shulk or experiencing the story for the very first time, this Switch 2 upgrade offers the most complete version of the game to date.

Things I liked!

• Updated Visuals | The most immediately noticeable improvement comes in the form of the game’s visual upgrades. Running at up to 4K resolution while docked and 1080p in handheld mode, the world of Bionis has never looked sharper. Character models appear cleaner, environmental details are more pronounced, and cutscenes benefit enormously from the increased image clarity. Areas such as Gaur Plain and Satorl Marsh remain breathtaking all these years later, but the added sharpness gives them an extra layer of grandeur. Additional environmental enhancements, including denser foliage in certain locations, help make the world feel even more alive. While the art direction was already timeless, these refinements ensure that Xenoblade Chronicles continues to stand proudly alongside far newer RPGs.

• Traversal Update | Exploration has always been one of Xenoblade Chronicles’ greatest strengths, but the new Ether Jet significantly changes how players move through the world. This high-speed vehicle can be used throughout both the main adventure and the Future Connected epilogue, allowing players to traverse the enormous environments far more quickly than before. Revisiting previously explored regions is considerably less time-consuming, making side quests and collectible hunting far more enjoyable. The sheer scale of Bionis and Mechonis has always been impressive, but repeated journeys across the same terrain could occasionally become tiresome in the original release.
  
  The Ether Jet largely solves this issue without compromising the sense of scale that defines the series. For returning players especially, this addition is a surprisingly welcome quality-of-life improvement.
  
  
• Time Trial Races | Perhaps the most unexpected addition is the inclusion of new racing challenges built around the Ether Jet. Known as the Nopon Grand Prix, these time trial events add an entirely new activity outside of the traditional RPG gameplay loop. Racing across familiar landscapes at high speed feels delightfully absurd, yet it somehow fits the quirky charm that Xenoblade has always embraced. Multiple modes and courses provide a decent amount of replay value, encouraging players to chase faster times and experiment with different characters. While some may view the mode as little more than a novelty, it offers a refreshing distraction from questing and combat. It’s certainly not something anyone expected to see in Xenoblade Chronicles, but it proves surprisingly entertaining nonetheless.
  
  
• New Voice Acting | Another welcome enhancement comes in the form of fully voiced Heart-to-Heart conversations. Previously, these optional character interactions were presented entirely through text, meaning many players simply skipped over them. By adding voice acting to these scenes, Monolith Soft has made them feel far more engaging and emotionally impactful. The performances help strengthen the relationships between party members and add additional personality to an already memorable cast.
  
  Given how central character bonds are to Xenoblade’s storytelling, this upgrade feels long overdue. Veterans now have an excellent excuse to revisit these conversations, while newcomers will experience them in their best form from the outset.
  
  
• A Welcome 60fps Mode | Finally, the jump to 60 frames per second may well be the single most transformative improvement in the entire package. Xenoblade Chronicles was already enjoyable at 30fps, but combat feels noticeably smoother and more responsive at double the frame rate. Camera movement during exploration is significantly more fluid, while fast-paced battles are easier to read amid the chaos of Arts and visual effects. The increased performance also gives the world a greater sense of scale and immersion, particularly when exploring the game’s vast open environments.
  
  Although there are occasional dips in especially demanding areas, the overall experience remains dramatically smoother than on the original Switch. Once you’ve experienced Xenoblade Chronicles at 60fps, it’s difficult to imagine going back.

Mixed & disliked!

• A Expensive Ask | While the additional content and technical improvements are certainly welcome, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 is a difficult sell at full price for those who already own the original release. Existing players may find it hard to justify purchasing the entire game again when much of the core experience remains unchanged. Thankfully, Nintendo offers an upgrade pack for owners of the original Switch version, significantly reducing the cost of entry. In fact, if you don’t already own the game, it may actually be cheaper to pick up a pre-owned copy of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition and then purchase the upgrade pack separately rather than buying the Switch 2 Edition outright.
  
  It’s a pricing structure that somewhat undermines the value proposition of the standalone release, particularly for budget-conscious players. £60 is a lot to ask for a game that originally released on the Nintendo Wii.

• More of the same | Despite the new additions, this is still fundamentally the same Xenoblade Chronicles adventure that players have been enjoying for years. Those who didn’t connect with the original game’s combat system, quest design, or pacing are unlikely to have their opinions changed by the Switch 2 enhancements. The new traversal options and side activities are enjoyable, but they don’t dramatically alter the overall structure of the experience. Outside of the technical improvements and handful of fresh features, veteran players should expect a largely familiar journey from beginning to end.
  
  For newcomers, that’s hardly a criticism given the quality of the source material, but returning fans hoping for substantial new story content or major gameplay overhauls may leave wanting more.

Score: 70/100

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition for Switch 2 delivers the definitive way to experience one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, thanks to its sharper visuals, smooth 60fps performance, and welcome quality-of-life additions. Features such as the Ether Jet, Nopon Grand Prix, and newly voiced Heart-to-Hearts add extra value, even if the core adventure remains largely unchanged.

Aaron

Gaming is in my blood.  Be it handheld games, Xbox, PC, Switch or Playstation, I am all over it.
I make my own games as part of my profession and love playing co op games with friends in my spare time. Avid dog lover and camper van enthusiast.