By Adam Roffel
Xenoblade Chronicles as a franchise took a while to reel me in, but after really enjoying Xenoblade Chronicles 2 on the Nintendo Switch, I went into a deep dive on all the other games in the franchise. While none of them were as impressive to me as Xenoblade Chronicles 2, they all brought solid gameplay to the table that made them stand out in their own right.
With the game now available on the Nintendo Switch 2, with a specific version just for this console, the only question to answer is whether or not this is worth another look if you’ve played it before.
If the Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game is going to be your first foray into the world of Xenoblade Chronicles then it is an easy recommendation for any Japanese RPG fan. Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the best JRPG franchises of all time, with consistent quality across all titles.
The catch with Chronicles is the automatic battle system. While you have the ability to run around the circular battle arena as you fight, your attacks are automatic. Your only control is over your Arts, which you can trigger after cooldowns, and any team attacks that might pop up.
It’s a very simple battle system which originally turned me off to the games, but one that I’ve come to really enjoy with time. While I don’t think this should be a deal breaker for RPG fans, it’s worth noting nonetheless. That said, the story here is incredibly impressive, and will drive players forward until the very end.
If you are looking to play Xenoblade Chronicles again on the Nintendo Switch 2 with the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrades, don’t expect anything that will blow your mind. Having the game play at an almost perfect 60 FPS is outstanding. The promised graphic improvements? Those might be hard to tease out.
When you put the Nintendo Switch version and the Nintendo Switch 2 version side by side, you can see that there are definitive improvements in the Switch 2 edition of the game. That said, when on its own, you could be left wondering whether you purchased the right edition in the first place. There is a lot of blur in the image, and character models aren’t as crisp as you might hope they would be.
To be fair, we are talking about a game that is already pretty old, so can we really complain that much about the price? Personally, I think there is enough other stuff included to justify the ask.
As I noted off the top, if this is going to be your first foray into Xenoblade Chronicles I cannot recommend picking this up enough. There is a fabulous story here with a really nice progression system. If you already own the game on Nintendo Switch and you are wondering if it’s worth spending 9.99 USD on the upgrade, I would suggest considering if all the in-game additions are worth going through this experience again.
The biggest change is a brand new world traversal option. The game introduces the Ether Jet vehicle, which allows you to move across the world on a high-speed hovercraft. This is great for making your way around the world after you’ve finished exploring areas. Xenoblade Chronicles is a massive game, and anything that makes getting from A to B more efficient is a win in my books.
With the new Ether Jet comes a new racing mini-games that allow you to earn some in-game rewards. This wasn’t really my cup-of-tea, but it’s a nice addition for those looking for a little something different.
The game also introduced new voice acting to the heart-to-heart moments. These are text scripted stories that are optional but provide some additional character development. I generally skipped these in previous play sessions because I was too lazy to read, but I’m enjoying them now completely voice acted.
Other improvements include HD rumble, new equipment for your characters, and improved visuals and framerate.
The ultimate answer is yes.
If you love Xenoblade Chronicles enough to have purchased it on the Nintendo Switch, the measly 9.99 USD isn’t too much to ask for what has been improved. I still find the visuals to be incredibly disappointing, but that’s the reality of playing older games in 2026.
The Upgrade Pack for Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition Nintendo Switch 2 Edition is 9.99 USD.
No, each game has a unique set of characters and a unique story that works well on its own, apart from the other games.
Adam has been writing about video games since 2014 and board games since 2018. If he's not rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs or Toronto FC, he definitely has a controller in his hand - probably playing on a Nintendo platform - or is sitting at a table playing a board game. Adam also has firm opinions on a few key topics: there are much better board games than Settlers of Catan, and Nintendo doesn't need to compete with Sony and Microsoft.
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