Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Switch 2 Upgrade Pack Reviewed

A Classic Gets Another Look

Nintendo Life has republished its original 2017 review of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to coincide with the release of the game’s Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, this time folding in fresh impressions of the Upgrade Pack’s performance enhancements. The review, originally written by Thomas Whitehead at the game’s launch, carries an 8.6 score and has now accumulated ratings from over 1,100 users on the site.

The timing feels right. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 first shipped in November 2017 as one of the Nintendo Switch’s early marquee RPGs, and Monolith Soft’s ambitious follow-up to the beloved Wii original made a strong case for the hardware right out of the gate. Nearly nine years later, it’s getting a second wind with upgraded Switch 2 support.

What the Original Review Said

According to Nintendo Life, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is firmly positioned as the true narrative sequel to the Wii original, distinct from the more open-ended Xenoblade Chronicles X on Wii U. The game follows Rex, a young scavenger, and his Blade companion Pyra on a sweeping quest to reach the promised land of Elysium. The review describes the story as a bildungsroman at its core, with Rex growing from plucky kid to powerful hero across dozens of hours of play.

The world of Alrest is built across massive creatures called Titans, each home to distinct nations with their own cultures and conflicts. Beneath the grand plot about ancient wars and god-like beings, Nintendo Life notes, sits a more grounded story about nations, friendship, and isolation. The review calls out some “goofy” and occasionally “toe-curling” moments of humor, but ultimately rates the broad narrative as another high point for Monolith Soft.

Systematically, the game layers deep menus and micromanagement underneath its story-driven structure. Cutscenes can run longer than 10 minutes at a stretch, and the review describes a kind of time-warping quality to long play sessions. According to Nintendo Life, this is a game built for extended sofa sessions rather than quick portable bursts, though portable play remains an option for those who prefer it.

The Switch 2 Upgrade

The republished review adds new impressions of how Xenoblade Chronicles 2 performs with the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition’s Upgrade Pack. Nintendo Life does not yet detail the full specifics of those enhancements in the excerpt provided, but the outlet notes the discussion appears just above the review’s conclusion, suggesting the performance improvements warranted dedicated coverage rather than a brief mention.

The game’s original 2017 presentation had notable limitations on Switch 1, a common talking point in discussions of the title. The Switch 2 Upgrade Pack appears aimed squarely at addressing those concerns for returning players and newcomers alike.

A Franchise with Deep Roots

The broader context Nintendo Life provides is worth keeping in mind. Xenoblade Chronicles itself only reached Western shores after fans launched “Operation Rainfall,” a campaign to push Nintendo into localizing three Japan-only Wii titles. The franchise has since become a reliable pillar of Nintendo’s first-party RPG output, never again requiring a fan campaign to cross the Pacific.

With over 1,100 user ratings logged on the Nintendo Life page and a critic score sitting at 8.6, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has clearly held its place in the conversation long after launch. The Switch 2 Edition gives both longtime fans and players who missed the original run a reason to return to Alrest, and the performance Upgrade Pack suggests Monolith Soft and Nintendo see continued value in keeping one of the Switch era’s biggest RPGs looking and running its best.