Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition - Nintendo Switch

Xenoblade Chronicles X, first released for the Wii U in 2015, is a spiritual successor to the original Xenoblade Chronicles that pivots from a fantasy-driven narrative to a hard sci-fi, open-world epic. Developed by Monolith Soft, the game emphasizes seamless exploration and massive-scale combat, featuring a world roughly five times larger than its predecessor. While a Definitive Edition was released for the Nintendo Switch in 2025, the game remains unique for its non-linear structure and deep mechanical complexity. 

Details:

Japanese Title: ゼノブレイドクロス (Zenobureido Kurosu, literally Xenoblade Cross)
Genre: Open-World Action RPG / Sci-Fi
Developer: Monolith Soft
Publisher: Nintendo
Players: 1-4 (online co-op) (36-Player guilds)
Release Year: 
Wii U: 2015 (Japan: April 29; NA/EU: December 4)
Nintendo Switch: 2025 (Worldwide: March 20) 


The Last Hope for Humanity: Set in 2054, Earth is caught in the crossfire of an intergalactic war and destroyed. Survivors on the ark ship White Whale crash-land on the alien planet Mira, where they establish the colony of New Los Angeles (NLA). 

Custom Protagonist: Unlike other entries, players create their own avatar (Cross). As a member of the BLADE organization, you choose from eight divisions—like the combat-focused Harriers or exploration-based Pathfinders—to aid in the reconstruction effort and locate the "Lifehold". 

Skells (Weaponized Mechs): After earning a license, players can pilot Skells—giant, transformable mechs used for combat and traversal. These units can transform into vehicles for land travel and eventually gain a flight module to explore Mira’s vertical landscapes. 

Asynchronous Multiplayer: The game features a "loosely connected" online system where up to 32 players can form a squad. Squad members share information, trade items, and participate in "Global Nemesis" boss battles, while four players can directly team up for specific co-op missions. 

Mira’s Ecosystem: The world is divided into five massive, distinct continents: Primordia, Noctilum, Oblivia, Sylvalum, and Cauldros. Each features unique weather patterns and "Tyrants"—extra-powerful monsters that require strategic use of the "Soul Voice" and "Overdrive" combat mechanics to defeat.