It’s been nearly a decade since Xenoblade Chronicles X first launched on the Wii U. Now, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition brings Monolith Soft’s RPG to the Nintendo Switch with visual upgrades, gameplay refinements, and new content.
Set on the alien world of Mira, Xenoblade Chronicles X features a huge open world filled with a variety of landscapes and powerful enemies. Its deep combat system and focus on exploration made it one of the most ambitious titles in the series. With this Definitive Edition, longtime fans and newcomers can experience Xenoblade Chronicles X in a more polished and accessible way.
Thanks to Nintendo Canada, I’ve been playing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition for this preview on Nintendo Switch. With improved graphics and smoother gameplay, this version keeps the large world and open-ended exploration that defined the original. Here are my early impressions of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition and what stands out so far.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition details
Platform(s): Nintendo Switch
Developer(s): Monolith Soft
Publisher(s): Nintendo
Genre: Role-playing
Modes: Single-player, multiplayer
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
A vast and unforgiving world
From the moment you step onto Mira, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes its scale immediately clear. The world stretches in every direction, filled with locations to explore and powerful enemies to avoid. Even early on, the sheer size of Mira is overwhelming in the best way possible.
Each region offers something different, making exploration feel rewarding. The improved resolution and refined UI make it easier to track landmarks and objectives. The addition of an on-screen guide for navigation helps streamline travel, letting you focus on the journey rather than digging through menus.
Despite these improvements, Mira remains just as unpredictable. Enemies far beyond your level roam freely, making it easy to wander into danger. More than once, I moved too close to an enemy who was levels ahead of me and had to runaway fast. This keeps exploration exciting, as every new area feels like both an opportunity and a challenge.
Even in the early hours, I’ve enjoyed exploring beyond the main path just to see what’s out there. The freedom to travel without restrictions remains one of the game’s strongest aspects. With so much left to uncover, I’m eager to see how exploration evolves as the game progresses.
Combat and Class progression
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition keeps the original’s real-time combat, blending auto-attacks with cooldown-based skills. Battles require positioning, timing, and strategy to maximize damage and support allies. You can freely change between melee and ranged attacks, letting you adjust your strategy based on the situation.
One of the biggest additions to gameplay is Quick Recast, a new mechanic that lets you instantly refresh skills after filling a charge meter. This speeds up combat by allowing key abilities to be reused instead of waiting for cooldowns. In one fight, I was facing a tough enemy that resisted my usual attacks. I had just staggered an enemy, but my strongest skills were still on cooldown. With Quick Recast ready, I reset Ultra Slash and struck again before it could recover, keeping the pressure on.
The Soul Voice system returns, allowing party members to call out attack or healing opportunities. Responding correctly boosts effectiveness, making battles feel more dynamic. As you level up, you can pick different skill paths, letting you customize your playstyle to suit your preferences. Early on, you start as a Drifter, but completing battles and missions unlocks advanced classes with specialized playstyles. Whether focusing on heavy-hitting melee attacks, ranged precision, or support abilities, your build evolves based on choices rather than rigid restrictions.
Enemy encounters remain unpredictable, with powerful creatures roaming the world freely. Stronger enemies can appear without warning, forcing you to stay aware of your surroundings and avoid fights you’re not ready for. These updates make Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition’s combat feel faster and more responsive while keeping its original challenge intact.
Exploration and world design
Mira’s scale remains just as impressive in Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, but now, the world feels more inviting. Each continent offers distinct environments, from the rock formations of Oblivia to the glowing alien terrain of Noctilum, giving every region its own atmosphere. With the game’s improved visuals, details like the sand dunes in Oblivia, the glowing plants in Noctilum, and the rock formations in Primordia stand out more than ever. Water reflections look sharper, weather effects feel more dynamic, and distant landmarks are clearer, making Mira’s environments feel more alive.
One of the most useful quality-of-life changes comes in how objectives and travel points are managed. The map interface is now smoother to navigate, and the Follow Ball is a new feature that provides clearer guidance. Fast travel also benefits from reduced load times, letting you jump between locations with minimal downtime.
While exploring, I wanted to set up a new FrontierNav probe site in a remote part of Oblivia. In the Wii U version, I often second-guessed my route and sometimes ended up in dangerous areas. With the new Follow Ball, I had a clear path that adjusted in real time, guiding me through narrow pathways and around hostile creatures. Instead of wandering off course, I got to where I needed to without unnecessary backtracking.
Beyond navigation, the reduced pop-in makes spotting landmarks that are far away easier, helping you plan routes more effectively. Whether searching for hidden caves or climbing cliffs for a better vantage point, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition makes exploration feel more intuitive while preserving the sense of discovery that defined the original.
Early impressions of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on Switch
After spending more than 20 hours with Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, it’s clear this version makes meaningful improvements while keeping the original’s scale and ambition intact. The enhanced graphics, refined UI, and new navigation tools make exploration more accessible, while combat updates like Quick Recast keep battles flowing smoothly.
These are just my early thoughts in this Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition preview, and there’s still plenty more to experience. With Skells, expanded customization, and streamlined gameplay mechanics, I’m excited to see what’s still to come.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition launches on March 20, 2025 on Nintendo Switch. Look for my full review in the days leading up to launch. Are you excited to return to Mira? Let me know in comments what you’re most looking forward to!
Pre-order Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch today!
