Xenoblade Chronicles X sees out the Switch generation in style, while pushing the 2017 system to new heights read our full review of the Definitive Edition for moreTech15:29, 24 Mar 2025Xenoblade Chronicles X Definitive Edition is one of Switch's best-looking titlesIts quite telling that so many of the Wii Us best games have found whole new audiences on the Nintendo Switch. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker and so many more are testament to Nintendos rise in the hardware stakes ahead of the Switch 2 release this year.In that sense, its probably quite fitting that one of the Switchs last first-party titles should be one of the most ambitious RPGs from the last generation, giving Nintendo fans a technically staggering port of a great-looking game that deserved better. Xenoblade Chronicles X not only completes the series on Nintendos hybrid system, but it arguably stands tallest among them.Article continues belowYou can explore Mira from the ground of the skiesAs with many of you reading this, I didnt own a Wii U, so Xenoblade Chronicles X had always felt somewhat of a mystery to me. A huge, open-world RPG with the ability to pilot mechs, it always felt right up my proverbial street but I never thought Id get the chance to play it.After playing the other three Xenoblade titles on Switch, however, Im thankful to have finally had that opportunity and if youre curious about jumping in having not touched the original or others in the series, fear not because theres no direct link other than a sense of scale thats simply not seen in other Switch RPGs.Picking up in cheerful fashion where Earth has been decimated by a war with aliens, humanity has hopped on The White Whale, a colossal ship thats crashlanded on Mira a lush, impressively vertical playground to explore.Xenoblade Chronicles X is an impressive technical achievement on Switch 1Its sci-fi 101, and while the initial plot beats arent necessarily going to draw you in, the size of Mira might. It truly feels gargantuan in a way that feels like some kind of dark magic has been called upon to get it running on Switch. This is a console from 2017, after all, and while 30fps may not be the compliment I intend it to be, it is solid throughout.Youll get to see plenty of it, too Xenoblade Chronicles Xs story may start slower, but once you get yourself a mech suit (Skell), youll be flying, transforming into a motorcycle and engaging in combat throughout Mira. In fact, Id wager a decent portion of my time reviewing the game was just flying from vista to vista, taking in the colourful majesty of the world.The game really opens up once you gain access to SkellsThroughout your adventures (and there are plenty of them), youll come into contact with native species of Mira as well as other extraterrestrial life. While Xenoblade as a series has a very MMO-like structure of managing cooldowns and auto-attacks that some might find too passive, I appreciated the way Xenoblade Chronicles X mixes things up.Triggering Battle Arts that match the setup move of your teammates in battle makes things feel a little like a tag-team match, and less like youre just wailing on foes ad nauseum. Matching that process with status effects that floor big enemies for follow-up damage, for example, makes fights feel dynamic and, at times, a little more challenging than others in the series.Combat is more dynamic than it first appearsIf you thought getting into your Skell would make things too easy, then trust me when I say the bigger you are, the bigger your foes can get, too. Enemies you did your best to sneak past early on become a worthy opponent, and from the moment you get your Skell, it really does almost feel like a different game.This Definitive Edition has also learned from prior entries, too. Its world is huge, yes, but it avoids the spaghetti-like map frustration of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 by making it much easier to be guided along to your next objective, while keeping things optional for those that want to explore at their own pace.There's a dizzying amount of content hereWhile I havent played the Wii U original, those that have will still find a lot to like here. Not only is the game better looking than the 2015 version, but the UI has been drastically cleaned up and retooled.You also no longer need to head back to town to swap party members, and they level up regardless of whether theyre with you or not something thats a godsend given how often youll mix and match your squad.Theres also additional story content, too, making it an ideal time to replay.Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition is another fantastic RPG on a console absolutely chock full of them, but perhaps has the honour of being one of the most visually impressive.Article continues belowFrom Skell exploration to enjoyable combat and a wide open world, Im so glad it flew the coup from the Wii U and crash-landed on Switch. Now, about that next console, NintendoReviewed on Nintendo Switch. Review code provided by the publisher.