Review: Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition Feels Stronger

Xenoblade Chronicles X ended up often being the “odd one out” prior to the Definitive Edition Switch debut. It was the one that wasn’t a numbered sequel. It didn’t seem to have a place in the overall timeline. Aside from the Nopopon, it didn’t feature familiar races. It focused more on gameplay and exploration than a story. While a number of those things are still true, there are a lot of positive additions and changes in this latest version of the game. So much so that while it does still feel different from the three other entries, it is now even more appealing.

Alien assaults forced humans to flee the Earth. We headed out into the stars in the hopes of surviving and maybe even thriving. However, things aren’t always that easy. Another altercation meant the USS White Whale, one of the last beacons of hope, crash-landed on a new world. While we didn’t plan for Mira to become home, folks are adjusting. Among them is the player, whose avatar is discovered a few months after that incident. After being discovered by Colonel Elma and working alongside an engineer named Lin, we join BLADE in a search for the missing Lifehold Core while also assisting the residents of the New Los Angeles settlements and peaceful aliens. 

In general, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition plays similarly to other entries in the series, though there is a bit more of a focus on exploring the open world of Mira than traversing places on a grand journey. There’s still a substantial story that gets quite fascinating, but I always felt this entry came down to seeing every place you could reach, fighting opponents, and testing yourself as you got to learn more about Mira. New Los Angeles is your hub, with BLADE missions sending you around the planet as you help humans get settled and survive. As you head out, you’ll go on foot and via Skell mechs to reach new places. You’ll take on major and minor assignments. You recruit new allies. You’ll head into combat, which again feels inspired by MMOs due to standard attacks being automated and skills triggered. You’ll develop your avatar by picking your character’s classes, adding abilities to a palette to create a a customized hero who suits your needs. 

As you’d expect from a definitive version of a game on a more modern console, the Switch take on Xenoblade Chronicles X absolutely looks better. I found this most noticeable when it came to character and enemy models. Everything looks more natural than it did before, and I also feel like the designs seem more in line with ones for humanoid beings in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 3. The sense of consistency is great, of course, but it also just generally looks better. Environments still look impressive as well, though I noticed I started to see more of the enhancements and upgrades after leaving the Primordia region. The updates, especially texture improvements, seemed more evident in the other biomes on Mira. 

Many of the changes also involve quality of life adjustments. There are a ton of these. My favorite is being able to swap characters who are in your party on the fly in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. Partially, this is because I found it was invaluable when deciding to alter my allies to suit different combat situations in the field. However, it’s also great for triggering heart-to-heart events! It’s so convenient! The same can be said for being able to change the time of day via the main menu. 

Which can be said for a lot of similar changes. It could be discouraging to miss bonuses for not performing certain skills in a fight due to constantly waiting on cooldowns, and the Quick Cooldown helps! It doesn’t feel like cheating, since you can’t spam it. It’s just there to help facilitate fights. The recommended paths from the Follow Ball you eventually unlock is something I think newcomers to either this game or the series in general may find handy. It doesn’t make it “easy” or “handhold” you, but instead feels like an option to offer a bit of a nudge so you don’t get too befuddled or sidetracked when going between points. The BLADE Level system being absent is huge, since it means not needing to worry about Division Points and if you can access certain missions. It’s so freeing and in line with being able to enjoy the open world and do what you want, when you want to. 

Like other Xenoblade Chronicles games that reappeared with updated releases, there’s also some new content here as well. Much of it is gated away at the end, so it’ll take some time until you really get to analyze and appreciate it. (You know, beyond the trailer teases.) In the case of much of it, it’s just really a fun bonus. For example, ahead of launch Nintendo specifically mentioned a new Skell. (By the way, Skell controls and flight still feel great.) And while what was here originally is all fantastic, I liked getting the extra options and other lore-related insights from such additions.

Now, I’m not going to get into any spoilers for the later parts of the game. However, I will say that I felt satisfied after getting through Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, and I think most of the additions in the Switch version tied to the story felt reasonable and well-integrated into what I originally experienced so many years ago. It largely seemed natural and plausible. Can you tell certain elements are new to this release? Honestly, yes. Even if you haven’t played it before, I think you’d be able to pick out the story changes. My only criticisms are minor and I'll wait to discuss thoughts on the ending until after launch, but I'm generally pleased. I am curious to find out what comes next, especially when Monolith Soft reveals the next installment in the series. 

I will say that this time around, I think I cared more about Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition's story than I did when the game appeared on the Wii U. Part of that might have been due to my searching for hints and possible new additions early on. But also, it might have come down to my caring more about that years later than I did when I hopped into the original release eager to explore a new world. I will say that it does require a bit more thought and investment on the part of the player than the numbered entries. There are still mysteries here. Yet, I also felt like that extra investment on my part paired with the additions helped me enjoy it more.

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition feels like a stronger game on the Switch. The quality of life adjustments make it so much more enjoyable to play. It looks fantastic on the system. Also, the new elements sometimes feel like a fun treat since it means new insights and options for players. While I do wonder what this means for what comes next, it’s a delight to play and I’m glad the game is no longer trapped on the Wii U.  

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition will come to the Nintendo Switch on March 20, 2025. The original version of the game is available on the Wii U. 

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