After 9 Years, This Underrated Nintendo Exclusive Remains One of the Best Games Ever Made

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Honestly, Nintendo has so many amazing games, especially on the Switch, that it’s hard to stay mad at them, even when they do stuff I don’t like. I’ve been a Nintendo fan for seven years now, and I jumped on the Switch 2 as soon as it came out, hoping for more of those incredible experiences. It’s not just blind faith, though. I fell head over heels for one of their exclusive games, and that’s why I trust their first-party teams to keep delivering something special.

I remember a time when video games hadn’t yet reached their full potential as truly moving works of art. Then I played one of Nintendo’s most overlooked gems, and it completely changed how I saw gaming. It raised the bar incredibly high and made me constantly search for similar experiences. While it’s received some criticism and is often considered the least impressive game in its series, I firmly believe Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a masterpiece. It’s a remarkable achievement from a top-tier studio, and something everyone should try at least once. What makes it special isn’t the type of game it is, but how it delivers its ideas, gameplay, and emotional impact.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Is A Genre-Defining Masterpiece

I actually cried during a powerful scene in Xenoblade Chronicles 2. The game’s famous song, Drifting Soul, was playing as a character made a selfless sacrifice. I’d been completely absorbed in the game for about 20 minutes, watching a beautifully animated cutscene that felt like the ending to a fantastic anime. I was mesmerized by the smooth animation and overwhelmed by the emotions the story had built up. It was the first time a video game had ever made me cry, and it happened several more times throughout the game’s long, epic story.

Even now, rewatching that scene or listening to the song “Drifting Soul” instantly brings me back to that moment and makes me cry. I don’t usually cry at all, so I knew right then that Xenoblade Chronicles 2, despite its imperfections, was something truly special. This is important because the game is often underrated, partly due to design choices common in its genre. Specifically, it includes a lot of fan service, which I don’t particularly like and has even affected my enjoyment of anime like My Hero Academia.

It’s understandable why some people might be turned off by the character designs in Xenoblade Chronicles 2, particularly the female characters. However, doing so would mean missing out on a truly special and moving adventure. Few games manage to deliver as many genuinely emotional moments as XBC2. Everything about the game – the fantastic music, incredible cutscenes, animation, voice acting, captivating plot twists, well-developed characters, and immersive world – comes together to create a unique story you won’t find anywhere else. Despite first impressions, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 tells a mature, often serious story that’s surprisingly well-paced and features characters who grow and change in meaningful ways.

The game isn’t all serious; it has plenty of funny and heartwarming moments, especially between the main characters. There are a few awkward nods to fan expectations, but overall, it feels as good as—or even better than—the best Final Fantasy games and other story-driven adventures. While Xenoblade Chronicles might be a bit challenging to get into, and not for everyone, I assure you the experience is worth it. It’s true that the game has some quirks with its character designs, but honestly, that just highlights how incredibly well-made the rest of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Needs A Lot More Love

While the story is a major part of what makes Xenoblade Chronicles 2 great, the game offers plenty of other exciting experiences. Exploring its huge, beautiful world is a real pleasure, from the high-tech desert of Mor Ardain, complete with a catchy jazzy soundtrack, to the colorful fields of Gormott and beyond. You’ll discover secrets, hidden items, tough bosses, and a wide variety of unique enemies, each requiring different strategies to defeat. The combat starts off simple, but quickly becomes much more complex and fun as you unlock new tactical options throughout the game.

Collecting Blades doesn’t just add variety to combat; it also opens up engaging side quests that reveal interesting story details and deepen your relationships with other characters. In a way, it’s like Pokémon, but with a better story, more diverse environments, a more complex connection with your collected companions, and battles that demand real strategy. Plus, the music is phenomenal – I can’t stop listening to it, and it might be the best video game soundtrack ever made, even compared to popular favorites. Check out the track Counterattack and see if you agree!

Look, I can talk all day about how technically impressive Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is, and the story is seriously amazing with an incredible soundtrack. But honestly, what really makes it special – what made it a game I won’t forget – is how deeply it connected with me emotionally. Everyone knows Monolith Soft are wizards when it comes to making games look and run great on Nintendo consoles, and yeah, they definitely do that. But they’re also incredible storytellers, and that’s what often gets overlooked. To me, only Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has even come close to hitting me in the feels the way Xenoblade Chronicles 2 did.

Few games compare to Xenoblade Chronicles 2, especially in terms of quality. It’s an experience like watching a deeply moving anime series such as Fullmetal Alchemist, exploring the world of Pokémon, and enjoying the story of Final Fantasy X, all while listening to an incredible soundtrack. If that sounds appealing, I highly recommend trying it. In my opinion, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 isn’t just the best JRPG or Nintendo Switch game – it’s the greatest game of all time, for all the reasons mentioned and many more I couldn’t include.

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2026-02-20 21:13