[REVIEW] Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition | NINTENDO SWITCH 2

Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores, but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, all whilst including some lengthy gameplay, to give you, the reader, the chance to form your own impressions and views while reading and watching.

In this explanatory review, we’re covering Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition by developer, Monolithsoft:

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Nintendo Switch 2)

Earlier this year, we got to see Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition get the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition treatment. It came with improved visuals and boosted performance, allowing it to run at 4K and 60 fps for supported TVs. It seems that Nintendo is not quite done with the Xenoblade Chronicles series just yet, as the core trilogy of games is also getting the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition treatment, as revealed during a recent Nintendo Direct that aired on June 9th, 2026. The first of which introduced Shulk and the Bionis to the world, Xenoblade Chronicles, had already seen a Definitive Edition released for the Nintendo Switch in 2020, but now, it too is the first in the trilogy to get an NS2 Edition. Better yet, it is available now digitally with a physical edition on the way! For those who have the Nintendo Switch version of the game, there is an upgrade pack valued at £7.99 / $9.99/ €9.99 that you can also purchase and download from the Nintendo Switch eShop. Bear in mind that the upgrade pack will only work on the Nintendo Switch 2 console, but you can still play the physical Switch cart on your OG Switch/Lite/OLED console.

For the sake of this Explain & Play review for Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, we will be revisiting a lot of things we discussed in our original review. This is mainly for those who have not yet played a Xenoblade Chronicles game. If you are a seasoned fan and would like to know what is new in the Nintendo Switch 2 version, please check the contents to skip ahead to the section where we will focus solely on that. With that out of the way, let’s get straight into the review.

The story of Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition follows a young hom called Shulk and his friends who find themselves caught up in a fierce battle against mechanical foes known as Mechons. Long ago, a battle was waged between two colossal entities the size of continents: the Bionis and the Mechonis. The battle was long and arduous, but eventually so much time had passed that they turned into frozen, dormant husks. As eons passed since the battle of the Bionis and Mechonis, lifeforms began to settle upon their remains. The Bionis became home to organic life like the human-like Homs, Potato-shaped Nopons, and the long-living High Entia. The Mechonis, on the other hand, reside mechanical humanoids called Machina and sentient machines known as Mechon.

Upon losing his childhood friend in a recent raid on their colony, Shulk and his friend Reyn leave their colony behind to exact revenge against the Mechon. Along the way, they make valuable allies who share the same disdain for their oppressors and want to do something about it. This is just a taste of the story, and it only gets deeper and more intricate from here. Straight from the get-go, you are introduced to some interesting characters that each have their own reasons for fighting against the Mechon. Over time, you will learn more about each character and their motives, and see their affinities grow with one another. I found myself really endeared to the game and had trouble putting the controller down, as I just wanted to see where the story goes next and what lies around the corner for Shulk and his friends. 

In terms of gameplay, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a JRPG with real-time combat. When engaged in battle, your party will attack the enemy automatically, but you can use special skills called Arts that deal additional damage. Arts can’t be spammed over and over, though, as they each have their own cooldown timers before they can be used again. They also have specific perks and advantages that come into effect depending on status effects inflicted on your opponent and your position in relation to theirs. This includes status effects like Break, Topple, and Daze, or hitting the enemy with a specific move from behind or at their side.

Once you get the hang of the basic combat, more mechanics will be introduced, like the Monado’s ability to see into the future to predict dangerous attacks from tough enemies. This allows you to buff and prepare your party accordingly to withstand the inevitable onslaught, or better yet, topple the opponent before they can unleash their otherwise deadly attack. You will eventually gain the ability to use Overdrive, which will temporarily give you the chance to administer a barrage of skills to deal heavy damage to your enemies.

The biggest draw of this game is the exploration. The world of the Bionis and Mechonis is huge, with many hidden areas and side quests to entertain yourself with and discover. Many of the game’s locales are spacious, exotic, and awe-inspiring. I really couldn’t get enough of travelling all over the vast world, and what I might find. It could be a Unique Monster Battle, a secret container with some cool loot, or a secret location with some amazing vistas.

When you want a break from exploring the large, open environments, there are also settlements and towns you can visit on both the continents of the Bionis and Mechonis, respectively. These populated areas provide a welcome respite from fighting giant monsters and provide ample opportunity to acquire helpful items and equipment, as well as take on side quests from NPCs to earn rewards like money and gear.

To say that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is a large game in terms of scale and story would be underselling it. The story alone is well over 50 hours long, and there are another 15 hours in the Future Connected Epilogue story that can be played directly from the main menu, as it is separate from the main game. If you aim to go for 100% completion, you can easily double the length of play time, if not more.

When it comes to the game’s difficulty, there are Casual, Normal, and Expert modes at your disposal. Casual is great for those who want to fight weaker enemies and enjoy the story. Expert mode, on the other hand, provides much more challenging enemies, and the EXP that you earn in battle is stored instead of instantly distributed to your party members. This means you can level up or level down your characters whenever you want more challenge for yourself. Upon beating the game once, you will gain access to New Game+. This mode retains all EXP, Skills, Weapons, Equipment, Money, and Affinity from the previous run.

Other features that were introduced in the Definitive Edition that are also available in the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition are cosmetic gear that allows you to use gear abilities and buffs from certain pieces of equipment you have equipped, without sacrificing the appearance of your party’s apparel. The Future Connected expansion, which is a continuation of Shulk’s and Melia’s story and takes place one year after the events of the main game, and the Events Theatre, where you can find and rewatch all of the game’s cutscenes that you have encountered so far during your playthrough.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Features

Now, it’s time to discuss what is new about Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. What features does it have that set it apart from the Nintendo Switch version, and is it worth upgrading for? Well, for starters, the game is now fully playable in 4K resolution, with full HD supported in Handheld mode, and at 60 fps to boot. The Xenoblade series is known for looking absolutely amazing with its expansive and immersive worlds, but they were always limited to lower resolution as a trade-off for running on the system they were on, as well as drops in frame rate when it came to intense combat. The NS2 Edition, though, is now fully capable of running at 60 fps and looking even more gorgeous at 4K resolution. Granted, you will need to have a 4K TV to enjoy this benefit, and trust me, it makes all the difference.

The new sidequest to acquire the fast-moving Aether Jet is truly a welcome addition. The Bionis and the Mechonis are huge and can take an incredible amount of time to traverse, even with fast travel. Once you have completed the Aether Jet quest for the inventor Nopon, you can ride those bad boys day and night til your heart’s content and at impeccable speeds too. Better yet, the Aether Jets can also be used in the Future Connected expansion. You will need to unlock them in the main game first before they can be carried over to FC. You can also obtain special gear via the Nopon Grand Prix that becomes available after finishing the Aether Jet quest by beating the Score Attack and Battle Modes with each party member.

Lastly, all of the Heart-to-Heart moments in the game, which help build affinity between party members, are now fully voiced. I am so grateful that they did this, as it gives so much more depth to these moments and makes them feel all the more meaningful. It was always a little weird for me when playing the game on Switch and having fully voiced cutscenes during the main story, but these little moments between characters were completely silent. Now, however, I can enjoy each and every moment with a new appreciation.

Wrapping Up

I could honestly go on and on about Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, but at some point, I do have to wrap up this Explain & Play review. I honestly thought that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition on the Switch was the best it was going to get with this game. It looked amazing, the gameplay was a lot of fun, and its story took you on a journey full of ups and downs. How MonolithSoft could improve upon it with a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, I didn’t think it was necessary… until I tried out the upgrade pack for myself.

Just for visuals and performance alone, paying less than a tenner was more than worth it. The game looked amazing before, but now, oh my, it is absolutely gorgeous in 4K and the framerate. The Aether Jet sidequest is rather short, so you aren’t wasting too much time completing it, and the Nopon Grand Prix is actually quite fun and a nice change of pace when you want a break from all the exploring and combat.

If you have yet to play a Xenoblade Chronicles game, you really are missing out. Sure, it is a lengthy RPG that you will need to invest a lot of hours into, but it is an experience well worth it for the emotional ride it will take you on, and the grind never really feels like a grind. A lot of the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions have felt like a bit of a shameless cash grab, but with Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, I can honestly say that I’m Really Feeling It!

Game Specifications:

Developer: Capcom Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Capcom
Platform: Nintendo Switch 2 (Physical)
Genre: Adventure, Role-Playing
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: June 9, 2026
Price: $69.99 (Upgrade Pack: $9.99)
File Size: 33.8 GB
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