‘Xenoblade Chronicles 2′ Expansion Review – Standing on the Shoulders of Titans

Alan Wen
Game Reviews Games
Game Reviews Games Nintendo
3.5
of 5
Review Essentials
  • Substantial story expansion giving you control over previously unplayable characters.
  • Excellent - albeit messy- new combat system adds the ability to swap control between Drivers and Blades.
  • Despite tweaks, still retains many annoying aspects from base game.
  • Side quests are mandatory to progress the main story, and not very interesting.
Reviewed on Switch

The Switch has seen no shortage of JRPGs of late. But since its launch last December, it’s Monolith Soft’s Xenoblade Chronicles 2 that has offered the most epic and imaginative world to explore. It’s also the most generous game on Nintendo’s system, too, boasting an impressive 100+ hours of adventuring with the base game and a ton of small but regular content drops courtesy of its expansion pass.  Now Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has just got a little bigger. Entitled Torna – The Golden Country, this new adventure tells a brand new story, making it the first Nintendo DLC to match the scale and duration of The Witcher 3’s Blood & Wine. Sadly though, it’s an expansion that pales in comparison to CD Projekt Red’s bewitching offering.

Set 500 years prior to the events of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, The Golden Country puts us in the shoes of Lora, an important character that until now, players had only seen glimpses of in flashbacks. In a nice nod to fans of the series, Lora’s Blade – a sentient being that also acts as a living weapon – is Jin, one of the chief villains in the original game. In other words, it’s very much fan service, as The Golden Country helps flesh out Jin’s backstory, revealing how he became the leader of the shadowy organisation Torna, which in this timeline is still also a real place that’s built on the back of a living Titan.

Standing alone

While this would make this a prequel then, the contrast of character’s relations to one another is something that you only really get to understand and appreciate if you’ve played through the base game’s story. It’s an add-on that’s very much preaching to the converted, as despite being available as a stand-alone retail release, its referential story beats mean that The Golden Country isn’t particularly newbie friendly.

Ironically though, the more focused structure and welcome refinements to the battle system actually make this expansion a far more accessible experience than the base game. Especially if the thought of a 100-hour RPGs sounds too daunting. Rather than exploring the whole of Alrest, you’re limited to just the titular kingdom of Torna as well as a younger version of the lush green Gormott.

The sense of scale as you run on the backs of these Titans are incredible, as all creatures great and small roam the wild lands, with clearly indicated levels hovering above them so you know whether or not you can take them down. That said, the greens, sands and waters of Torna look a bit too unremarkable compared to the Titans we’ve explored in the base game – fans might be a bit disappointed to see that there’s nothing here that’s quite as breathtaking as the vistas from Uraya.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion
Party members don’t have their own side quests to pursue though you can chat to them at camp.

This time around, party management has also seen some welcome streamlining. Instead of managing a huge roster of Drivers and Blades (with the latter wildly varying in aesthetics and unlocked via an infuriating, randomised system) The Golden Country sees your party quickly comprised of core characters who will stay with you for the duration. That might feel like a limitation for those who like their customisation options, but at a shorter play length, this more streamlined approach is welcome.

Switch Art it up

What also mixes things up is that your Blade is no longer just a fancy buffer for your Driver. Thanks to the all-new ‘Switch Art’, you can now also take control of them by swapping them into the ‘vanguard’ role, which also gives them different abilities. This essentially gives you nine playable characters, though you are limited to only swapping between the Driver and Blades of the same team, while you can only switch the Driver to control out in the field.

These preset party compositions also make it easier to trigger the battle system’s rhythms of chain combos that had previously been much more confusing and elusive. For The Golden Country, these prompts also feel better communicated from an improved UI to help maximise your damage output – if you’re just mashing the first Art to come out of its cool-down, you’re doing it wrong. Whether it’s following QTE-style prompts or watching an animation closely to trigger a cancel, timing button presses are of utmost importance.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion
Battles still look - and sound - very noisy, but has nonetheless improved over the original.

But even with these tweaks, there’s a fair bit of nonsense carried over from the base game that you’ll still need to put up with: how a boss collapsing after a lengthy battle inevitably fades into a dramatic cutscene of a whole other fight which feels completely disconnected from your gameplay input; how you need to rest at night in order to level up; how your Blades’ Affinity chart doesn’t upgrade unless you visit the page first and finally, the number of intricate systems that are buried in menus that you’re not likely to find much use for until you’re forced to later down the line.

Sides become Mains

There’s also the many side quests you’ll come across from the NPCs, which are all collated on a new Community diagram for you to keep a hold of. Content-wise, there are plenty of these, but unfortunately, most of them are little more than uninspired fetch quests, with their only saving grace being that you might occasionally have already gathered the necessary materials, allowing you to clean up some of these tiresome quests right away. Another disappointment is that Blades don’t have their own unique side quests — and there’s no heart-to-heart bonding with them either — meaning that these anthropomorphised weapons never truly get fleshed out as characters.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Expansion
Just so many people’s problems to solve…

While the story, on the whole, isn’t particularly long, it ultimately ends up taking a backseat to these generic side quests, which turn out to be mandatory if you want to progress through the main narrative. For players already happily stopping to talk to every NPC with a quest to dole out and getting sidetracked to complete them, this may not be a problem, but for a se the lack of freedom here

However, if you just want to get on with finding out what happens next, it’s hard not to resent having the next plot point gated until you raise your Community level to an arbitrary standard, not to mention kill the pacing. Ironically, the need to grind in the late-game that tends to plague JRPGs feel less of an issue here. Even without deliberate detours, leveling up in this expansion is relatively quick – we were already at Level 40 in about 10 hours.

Is Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country any good?

Despite being available to buy as a separate stand-alone experience and packing content that could easily fill an entirely new RPG, Xenoblade’s idiosyncrasies make The Golden Country an experience you’re only going get the most out of if you’ve already played the base game. For fans, this is a substantial expansion providing new characters, a new continent to explore and plenty more to comfortably fill your boots. Considering the retail copy includes a downloadable code for all the expansion pass content, it’d be a waste not to.

Another caveat: We reviewed The Golden Country using the digital Expansion Pass, which will not run without already having the base game installed. If you do want to play this particular story and are short on storage space for your Switch, then you will definitely need to buy this retail copy with the physical game card. If you’re after some solid (if unremarkable) portable adventure-ing,  you could do far worse.

Alan Wen
Games writer, critic, the Japanese games liker. As seen in Kotaku UK, TechRadar, Wireframe, VGC, Eurogamer and more.
Here's When Netflix's Sakamoto Days Returns for More Action and Comedy
The Netflix action-comedy anime following a retired assassin is a hit
Copied to clipboard
There's an Actual, Legitimate Chance Mindhunter Will Come Back
Star Holt McCallany has been talking to David Fincher about it
Copied to clipboard
Here's What Book You Should Read Based On Your Favorite Game
Looking to shave down your screentime? Here are some books that pack the same punch as your favorite games.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World's Vibes-Based Free Roam Is Perfect
Mario Kart World isn't an open-world racing game and I love that it isn't.
Copied to clipboard
Here's Why HDR Might Look Worse On Your Switch 2
There are a few issues with the way Nintendo has implemented HDR on the Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
Donkey Kong: Bananza - Everything We Just Learned About The Switch 2 Exclusive
From the surprise appearance of a fan-favorite Super Mario character to powerful transformations, here's everything we just learned about Bananza.
Copied to clipboard
Donkey Kong Bananza Raises The Possibility Of A DK Multiverse
Hear me out: Cranky Kong and young Pauline should not coexist.
Copied to clipboard
Borderlands 4 Adds Long Requested Features, Like Mission Replay, Seamless World
Being able to heal whenever you want is a game-changer for longer boss battles.
Copied to clipboard
Here's What Book Reacher Season 4 Will Be Based On
Star Alan Ritchson confirmed where we're headed next
Copied to clipboard
NCIS: Tony & Ziva Has a Premiere Date!
The spin-off featuring the franchise's most famous couple is coming to Paramount+
Copied to clipboard
Here's Why The Witcher 4 Is Being Developed With A Console-First Approach
CD Projekt Red has explained why it is focusing on developing The Witcher 4 for consoles first instead of PC.
Copied to clipboard
Red Dead Redemption's John Marston Actor Teases "Exciting News" Coming Soon
Rob Wiethoff is teasing news amid reports of RDR 2 coming to Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World Tips And Tricks To Help You Cross The Finish Line
The first brand-new Mario Kart game in over a decade changes up the formula in exciting ways.
Copied to clipboard
MindsEye Review - Not Like This
MindsEye is a stringent and relentlessly dull video game, wasting its impressive world on formulaic mission design that's both archaic and uninspired.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 Review - It's A Switch, Too
The successor to one of Nintendo's most popular pieces of hardware is a refined, premium version of what lots of gamers already loved.
Copied to clipboard
Dandadan Season 2: Release Date, Movie, How to Watch, and More
Momo and Okarun are back for more adventures with the occult
Copied to clipboard
FX's Alien: Earth Gets Its First Extended Trailer
'We don't lock them down, it will be too late'
Copied to clipboard
Steam Next Fest June 2025: 25 Of The Best Demos You Can Download Right Now
From literal walking simulators to paranoia-fueled mysteries, here's a look at some of the best demos we've seen in the June Steam Next Fest.
Copied to clipboard
Splatoon Raiders Spin-Off Game Announced For Nintendo Switch 2
A Switch 2-exclusive Splatoon spin-off has players in the role of a mechanic exploring a mysterious set of islands with the members of Deep Cut.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World Review - A Worthy Marquee Launch Game
Mario Kart World expands on almost everything that made Mario Kart 8 such an enduring success, laying the foundation for years of raucous racing.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Showcase Was Missing All These Major Games
Microsoft's showcased packed in a lot of announcements, but a lot of previously announced games were totally absent.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Showcase 2025: All The Biggest Announcements
Here's a closer look at everything announced during this year's big annual Xbox Games Showcase.
Copied to clipboard
The Expanse Returns And All The Cool New Games Just Revealed At This Showcase
Here's a closer look at the biggest game reveals from the Future Games Show Summer Showcase.
Copied to clipboard
After Silent Hill 2, Cronos Might Complete Bloober Team's Redemption Arc
The team's follow-up to the Silent Hill 2 remake is looking impressive in its own right.
Copied to clipboard
Xbox Games Have Started Appearing On The Xbox App On PC, And No One Knows Why
After branding for Xbox PC started appearing, several Xbox games have started popping up on the Xbox app for PC.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3 Battle Pass: All Skins And Rewards
It's the first battle pass with DC Comics characters in four years.
Copied to clipboard
Everything New In Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 3: Super
It's the first time DC Comics has been on the battle pass in four years.
Copied to clipboard
Resident Evil 9 Announced At Summer Game Fest With Trailer And Release Date
After teasing fans earlier in the show, Capcom dropped a bombshell with a trailer announcing Resident Evil Requiem.
Copied to clipboard
Summer Game Fest Live 2025: All The Biggest Announcements And Games
Here's every major announcement from Geoff Keighley's video game showcase.
Copied to clipboard
Marvel's Deadpool Brings The Merc With A Mouth To Virtual Reality
This new Marvel VR game will let you find out what it's like to be Deadpool IRL.
Copied to clipboard
Amazon Prime Members Get These 9 Free Games In June
It's a light month for Prime Gaming subscribers, but there are hidden gems available this month.
Copied to clipboard
Best Nintendo Switch 2 Games At Launch
Here's an early look at the best games to play on Nintendo's new hybrid console on launch day.
Copied to clipboard
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls Roster - Every Character Revealed (So Far)
The next Marvel game is being developed by Arc System Works, and it features an all-star cast of heroes and villains.
Copied to clipboard
New Game Pass Titles For June 2025
The Game Pass library welcomes genre-blending survival, Crash Bandicoot, and the next big game from Remedy Entertainment in June.
Copied to clipboard
Revival Review: The Dead Return to Life, and Melanie Scrofano Returns to Syfy
They're not quite zombies, but they're causing mayhem in a Wisconsin town
Copied to clipboard
Final Fantasy Tactics Remake Is Happening: Trailer And Release Date Announced
Square Enix revealed the return of Final Fantasy's tactical spin-off with enhanced graphics and fully voiced character dialogue.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation State Of Play June 2025: All The Biggest Announcements And Games
Over 40 minutes of game debuts and updates kicked off the summer gaming season.
Copied to clipboard
I Played Madden 26 On Switch 2 And It Didn't Suck
Madden is returning to Nintendo platforms after a 13-year absence, following EA's former abandonment of the platform as an American football space.
Copied to clipboard
Love Weird Lil Guys? Mario Kart World Is The Game For You
Cow was the eureka moment that opened the floodgates to all kinds of unconventional Mario Kart racers, and I love them.
Copied to clipboard
Destiny 2: The Edge Of Fate Draws On Metroidvanias To Bring You Back In
After previewing The Edge of Fate for 8 hours, I am excited to continue uncovering the mysteries of Kepler.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 GameChat Feels Better Than It Looks
GameChat definitely isn't a marquee game-changer for Switch 2. But it's smartly designed enough to justify its existence as a nice-to-have feature.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2 Welcome Tour Is A Surprising STEM Showpiece (But Should Be Free)
The Switch 2 Welcome Tour could be a neat, approachable way for students to learn concepts of industrial design--but only if they see it.
Copied to clipboard
The Witcher 4: Check Out 30 New Screenshots From The State of Unreal Tech Demo
The Witcher 4 is continuing to look graphically impressive.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation State Of Play Announced For June 4
Sony's latest State of Play presentation comes during the busy period that used to include E3.
Copied to clipboard
007: First Light Is Hitman Dev's James Bond Game, Will Be Revealed This Week
IO Interactive is gearing up to reveal more information about its new James Bond adventure.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Patch Notes Include Promised Improvements For Solo Play
Here's how Elden Ring Nightreign is improved for solo players with its newest update.
Copied to clipboard
Don't Remove Switch 2's Protective Film, Nintendo Says
Nintendo placed a protective film over Switch 2's screen, and the gaming company strongly recommends leaving it alone.
Copied to clipboard
The Madden NFL 26 Cover Star Is Exactly Who You'd Guess It Is
After the Eagles' title run and his incredible season stat totals, Saquon Barkley is your Madden 26 cover star.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch 2 Launch Week Restocks - Where To Buy The Console On Launch Day
If you weren't able to secure a Switch 2 console preorder, you'll have chances both in stores and online during launch week.
Copied to clipboard
The Last of Us Season 3: Everything We Know
'We haven't seen the last of a lot of people who are currently dead in the story'
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign - Guides Hub
Elden Ring Nightreign is a game jam-packed with content, and we have you covered with dozens of guides to help you survive the Living Lands.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Tips You Need To Know Before You Play
Elden Ring Nightreign can be a complex experience, so we have compiled a list of beginner tips to help get you started in the Living Lands.
Copied to clipboard
The Biggest Game Releases Of June 2025
From new Nintendo hardware to the return of Sam Porter Bridges, here’s a closer look at the biggest highlights of June 2025.
Copied to clipboard
Trump's Tariffs Blocked By Court With Refunds Possible
A panel ruled that Trump has overstepped his authority.
Copied to clipboard
To A T Review - A Sweet-Natured Fable Without Much To Do
To A T is a quirky and charming story about an underexplored topic; if only the act of playing it were a little more fun.
Copied to clipboard
CFB 26 Officially Unveiled With Reveal Trailer And First Details On What's New
Here's everything new and improved for this year's College Football game from EA.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Players Warned Of PC Performance Issues In Patch Notes
Elden Ring Nightreign's day-one patch notes are here and indicate that the game may have performance issues on PC.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign And Twitch Release Exclusive Launch-Event Rewards
If you're diving into Nightreign, watching or streaming the new Elden Ring title on Twitch could bag you more than just a fun time.
Copied to clipboard
EA Cancels Black Panther Game, Closes Its Developer, And Lays Off More Staff
EA is cancelling Black Panther and closing its developer, Cliffhanger.
Copied to clipboard
Elden Ring Nightreign Review - Distilled Souls
Elden Ring Nightreign successfully condenses the ER experience, cramming challenging combat, exploration, and more into a multiplayer game.
Copied to clipboard
Nintendo Switch System Update Out Now, Here Are The Patch Notes
The new 20.1.0 update makes some small tweaks to the interface to better match the upcoming Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
The PS5 Pro Has Received Its First Discount For Days Of Play 2025
PlayStation's high-powered PS5 Pro is available for $50 off alongside deals on more hardware, accessories, and games until June 11.
Copied to clipboard
F-Zero Is Going Through A Quiet Resurgence
Between F-Zero 99's updates and a regular stream of re-releases, Nintendo's forgotten racing series is suddenly more prominent than it's been in years
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4 Battle Pass Adds Stitch And Two New Guns In BO6 And Warzone
New weapons, operators, and cosmetics arrive with the Season 4 battle pass.
Copied to clipboard
Switch 2 Consoles Seem To Already Be In People's Hands
Check out an early unboxing video for the Switch 2.
Copied to clipboard
PlayStation's DualSense Edge PS5 Controller Is On Sale For Its Best Price Yet
PlayStation's Days of Play 2025 sale includes $30 discounts on the pro-style PS5 controller and $20 off all regular DualSense controller colors.
Copied to clipboard
The Handmaid's Tale Series Ending Explained
All the farewells, reunions, and major moments from Hulu's Emmy winner
Copied to clipboard
Sirens Boss Reveals Where She Thinks Devon, Simone, and Michaela End Up
Netflix's miniseries ends with a twist and many question marks
Copied to clipboard
More PlayStation Plus Premium/Extra Games Revealed And Coming Very Soon
PS Plus subscribers can look forward to a diverse selection of games this month.
Copied to clipboard
The Last Of Us Showrunners Tease Season 3's New Direction
Following the Season 2 finale, The Last of Us Season 3 is shifting perspectives turning back the clock.
Copied to clipboard
Pokemon Go Delightful Days Starts June 3, Adds More New Gen 8 And 9 Pokemon
Several new Pokemon from the Galar, Paldea, and Hisui regions are making their debut during Pokemon Go's summer season.
Copied to clipboard
Fortnite Is Giving Away A Free Skin To Celebrate Return To US App Store
You can get this free skin through Fortnite Mobile for a limited time.
Copied to clipboard
Challenge Accepted | ‘Game of Thrones: Kingsroad’
Johnny Chiodini and Luke Westaway battle for the throne in 'Game of Thrones: Kingsroad'
Copied to clipboard
Squid Game and More New Netflix Shows and Movies Coming in June 2025
The light is turning green one last time in Squid Game Season 3
Copied to clipboard
CoD Season 4: Start Date, Ana De Armas Operator, Return Of Zombies Grief Mode
Here's everything we know and what we've heard so far about Black Ops 6's Season 4 update.
Copied to clipboard
Game Pass Now Has A Retro Games App, Including A PS1 Game
The new Retro Classics app on Xbox will let you access dozens of classic games from a variety of platforms.
Copied to clipboard
Catch These Five Games Before They Leave Game Pass At The End Of May
Remnant 2 is among the games leaving Game Pass on May 31, but there's still time to play them or keep them.
Copied to clipboard
Mario Kart World - 14 New Details Nintendo Just Revealed
Nintendo has revealed a boatload of new information about Mario Kart World.
Copied to clipboard
More New Game Pass Titles For May 2025 Include 2024's Best And Day-One Releases
Metaphor ReFantazio, Stalker 2, and To a T lead the second wave of titles coming to Game Pass this month.
Copied to clipboard
You Could Be Playing Battlefield 6 Playtests Very Soon, Here's How
As DICE announces an invite-only pre-alpha playtest for the new Battlefield game, here's how to access it.
Copied to clipboard
2025's Best-Selling Games So Far In The US
Here are the best-selling games of 2025 so far.
Copied to clipboard