![Best Rpgs](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/647a157003f66/best-rpgs.900x.jpg)
It's getting close to three years since Nintendo Switch launched and in that time the console has collected a huge number of quality titles across almost every category, and the RPG genre is certainly no exception. The following is a selection of the console's essential role-playing games - in no particular order - which will evolve over time as Switch's library expands even further.
There are certainly debates to be had over stratified categories, sub-genres, side-genres, -likes, -lites, -like-lites, etc, when it comes to RPGs. Those granular discussions are fun, but given Switch's ample library, we feel that spreading out the genres a little gives games across the spectrum more room to breathe. So, this collection steps away from the 'action' prefixed branch, instead embracing a more traditional role-playing flavour. Those who prefer real-time combat will want to peruse our selection of the best action-RPGs on Switch. If you're a fan of strategy RPGs then check out our picks of the best strategy games on Switch.
The titles below are a standout selection of games with more traditional RPG mechanics. Be sure to dive into our reviews via the appropriately titled 'Our Review' button for detailed breakdowns on each and every one.
So sit back, relax and get ready to enjoy some sweeping epics...
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Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)
![Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/5f5e43bf67d3c/xenoblade-chronicles-2-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/4c08b3ab1227b/xenoblade-chronicles-2-cover.cover_small.jpg)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a massive, sprawling RPG built by Monolith Soft, who developed the previous two entries and the Baten Kaitos games on the GameCube. The team also helped Nintendo design the world of Breath of the Wild, so there's no doubting the pedigree. You'll explore a massive open world made up of Titans – enormous living creatures that house entire civilisations on their bodies. Along the way you'll meet a wide variety of characters, solve a bunch of quests, and save the world. It's Monolith Soft doing what it does best, albeit without shaking off the occasional flaws of the series. This is another Xenoblade gem, though, and a must-have on Switch.
Honourable Mention:
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has a huge standalone DLC, Torna: The Golden Country, that's also well worth playing through. It serves as a prequel to the events of 2, so you can play it before or after.
Undertale (Switch eShop)
Undertale is a brilliant and smartly designed game that understands well what makes a good RPG work; so much so that it can upend expectations and deliver something that’s almost a satire of the genre. You fall into the underworld and explore a humour-tinged world full of fun things to do. You'll date a skeleton, dance with a robot, and cook delicious dishes with a woman who's part-fish. Or, you can do none of those things – Undertale delights in letting you decide what to do.
It manages to surprise you in so many unique ways, and even if it doesn’t look like much, Undertale has way more going for it under the surface. Excellently written characters, a genre-bending battle system and a solid soundtrack make this one an easy recommendation. Do yourself a favour and give this one a download.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Switch)
![Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/d0038f479dec3/tales-of-vesperia-definitive-edition-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/f7b27fdccb59f/tales-of-vesperia-definitive-edition-cover.cover_small.jpg)
While Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition doesn’t make any major changes to the original game, it does combine practically every piece of exclusive content into one wholesome package. With the benefit of some improved visuals in both cutscenes and gameplay, it’s very difficult to recommend this JRPG classic on any other system than Nintendo Switch thanks to how well it performs in both docked and handheld modes. If you’ve missed out on this classic, there’s never been a better way to rectify that error.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)
![Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/28c3c08673b51/battle-chasers-nightwar-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/037a23925aed2/battle-chasers-nightwar-cover.cover_small.jpg)
Despite a title that suggests it came out of a name generator, Battle Chasers: Nightwar is a satisfying slice of JRPG with visuals inspired by the likes of World of Warcraft, Divinity: Original Sin, and classic Diablo adventures. It forges a confident, colourful character of its own from formulaic ingredients. The approachable comic style, plus a couple of neat mechanics that encourage experimentation, give it a freshness that belies the age-old systems at its core, and it doesn’t waste your time with filler. Ultimately, it’s the same old story – numbers go up! – but it’s shot through with an infectious exuberance and attention to detail that reinvigorates old tropes.
Child of Light: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)
Child of Light is an absolutely gorgeous RPG developed in the same UbiArt Framework that gifted us Rayman Origins and Legends. You play as Aurora, who's on a quest to save her ill father and former kingdom. It also features co-op, with one player taking on the role of Igniculus, the shiny little ball of light.
The ‘light’ in the title sums things up nicely – you get game mechanics usually reserved for massive RPG epics in a concise package that’s as beautifully refreshing as when it was first released. It’s a shame to see framerate hitches – however occasional they may be – but they’re not enough to cast a shadow on this delightful adventure.
Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)
![Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/ab331a15a7c8d/final-fantasy-vii-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/f344487b844dd/final-fantasy-vii-cover.cover_small.jpg)
Final Fantasy VII is the sort of game that speaks for itself, a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come. It goes without saying that you should give Final Fantasy VII a shot if you consider yourself to be a fan of RPGs, as this is an experience unlike any other in many ways. With that being said, it’s also the sort of thing that has since been surpassed in almost every manner by games that took the concepts it introduced and expanded upon them in plenty of new and more interesting ways. Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time, but that doesn’t mean it’s to be respected any less; if you can look past the obviously antiquated elements, this is a well-paced, engaging RPG that’s still fun to play today.
Earthlock (Switch eShop)
![Earthlock (Switch eShop)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/5f4613653a19e/earthlock-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Earthlock (Switch eShop)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/249470cf68112/earthlock-cover.cover_small.jpg)
An indie adventure with a lush world, fun characters, and enjoyable battles, Earthlock brings the soul of PS1-era JRPGs to the Switch with excellent results. Inconsistent dialogue and notable load times are among its few missteps, but as a package, it captures the appeal of the epoch wonderfully. If you’re looking for a fresh-feeling JRPG that still calls back to the classics, this is a lovely choice.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)
![South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/1e92bc822e776/south-park-the-fractured-but-whole-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/22de4d009c90c/south-park-the-fractured-but-whole-cover.cover_small.jpg)
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a direct sequel to The Stick of Truth, and once again places you in the shoes of the New Kid. You'll fight alongside your favourite South Park characters in the superhero group Coon and Friends against the villainous Professor Chaos who is trying to eliminate them.
Don't be fooled by the cartoon visuals, as this is not one for the kids. The humour – while hilarious – is offensive and adult in nature. You'll create your own super hero, complete with costume, origin story, and superpowers as you explore South Park at night to save it from evil. While it’s no great leap from the mechanics of the first game, it still offers an ideal introduction for players looking to try out a turn-based RPG and would make a worthy addition to any genre fan's collection.
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Switch)
![Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/5c5d01bf9e5de/pokemon-lets-go-pikachu-and-lets-go-eevee-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/a74f6edfbe9e9/pokemon-lets-go-pikachu-and-lets-go-eevee-cover.cover_small.jpg)
Pokémon: Let's Go, Pikachu! and Let's Go, Eevee! are beautiful reimaginings of a video game classic, updating a 20-year-old game in ways which make it infinitely more accessible and user-friendly for a modern audience, while keeping the magic first discovered all those years ago. On the downside, the newly-introduced motion control mechanic is fun but flawed, forcing us to shift from one play style to another to get the best experience, and while efforts have been made to bring the game up to the standard of more recent entries when it comes to depth and complexity, hardcore fans may consider the whole experience too much of a cakewalk.
Still, the game does a superb job of striking a balance between being an easy route of entry for newcomers to the series and offering just enough post-game challenge and competitive play elements (and nostalgia, of course) to please series veterans; as a result, these new titles really do offer something for everyone, which can't always be said of the mainline Pokémon entries. They might not be an absolute masterpiece, but we’d urge any Poké-fans out there to give these ones a go – if a Let’s Go Johto sequel is on the cards, we’ll happily be there waiting in line.
The World Ends with You: Final Remix (Switch)
![The World Ends with You: Final Remix (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/0d66be7ef563d/world-ends-with-you-final-remix-artwork.900x250.jpg)
![The World Ends with You: Final Remix (Switch)](https://web.archive.org/web/20191226144503im_/http://images.nintendolife.com/c63506c820f94/world-ends-with-you-final-remix-cover.cover_small.jpg)
Over ten years on from the Nintendo DS original, The World Ends With You has lost none of the fun or style that made it such a cult classic. Although the controls leave something to be desired, the chaotic battle system, catchy soundtrack, and engaging storyline all combine to make this an unforgettable RPG that hits all the right points. We’d give this one a high recommendation to anyone that hasn’t yet experienced this gem in some form; there’s plenty here to make it worth your time. If you’ve experienced the game before, however, we’d advise that you think hard about how badly you want it for your Switch. If this is the last we see of this property, then The World Ends With You: Final Remix feels like a fitting send-off, even if it isn’t perfect.
Comments (84)
The only real Zelda is Ocarina Of Time!
Sorry mate, the best Zelda (maybe best game ever) is Breath of the Wild.
I’m kinda surprised YIIK is on this list, considering how many things I’ve heard about people hating that game. I guess somebody at Nintendo Life likes it, which, good for them.
I’m also surprised Final Fantasy IX is the only FF on this list. IX is great, but I’d argue that it’s the weakest of the four FF games on the Switch. I’m playing through XII for the first time, and oh my goodness, that game is every bit as good as people have been telling me for the past 13 years. I’m very surprised it’s not on this list.
Interesting list, I own quite some of them. Think Diablo III (campaign) fullfills my RPG wants the most though. I love the levelling and gearing, and the seasons keep it replayable.
Great stuff!
Skyrim, Ys VIII, Dark Souls, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, Dragon Quest Builders, Disgaea, etc. The rpg genre is already pretty deep on Switch and it's only going get deeper now that Switch is #1 in Japan.
Disgaea 5, a beautiful game, is kinda of an RPG in my opinion and I greatly advice anyone that likes turn based strategy rpg to try it out.
@Cissero I really couldn't get on with Diablo. I put about 12 hours into it but it was just so easy. I had it on the hardest setting that you can choose initially, and I don't think I died once. I was playing a wizard and there is an energy beam attack which is so overpowered that I never used a single other attack. All I had to do was walk around holding down a single button while doing a bit of mana management. I really don't get the love for it. I sold it and bought Civ 5 though so I'm not too fussed
I love that Golf Story is on here! That is a hilarious game but it also is a little challenging with mechanics and strategy.
If I can ever get rid of my backlog, I want to play Octopath!
@jcvandan Nice yeah Diablo isn't for everyone. The game turns different at max level though, but it's mostly just a gear grind at that point haha. I do enjoy it as I can do it solo and get my competetiveness from the leaderboards. The beam will not feel that overpowered anymore then haha. Still good that you tried and build your own opinion Civ 5 is a great game too!
Surprised at the lack of Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana and FF7
"Unless you’ve not got a humorous bone in your body." I've got a humerus bone in my body. It's connected to my shoulder..
Stardew valley? ,dark souls?, mario + rabbids, ff 7,10,12 , and cosmic star heroine are much better picks than some of the other games on the list
Dragon's Dogma is missing! ...imho
For me its up there with skyrim and dragon age
No more FFs, really?? Not even VII, considered as one of the best games ever made? And what about Ys VIII? And Dragon's Dogma?
I don't know, I would change several indie games from the list for these ones in a heartbeat... But this is not my list, of course.
Anyway, regarding the new ones (no ports), I can't recommend Xenoblade 2 enough, along with its expansion. In my top 3 of Switch games (just after Zelda and Smash).
@Ryan_Again ok, I'll cut you a deal: if you can find an underwater temple in BOTW, or a well that you can go down and fight zombies, I'll admit that BOTW is as good as OOT.
Not sure how many of these really qualify as RPGs.
Found myself disappointed by Octopath which is a shame because I wanted to love it. And the art style and music can't be faulted to be fair to it... but the story was severely lacking or engaging.
@AndreaF96 It's a strategy game, not an RPG.
I am Setsuna over Lost Sphear for sure my god!
"I’m kinda surprised YIIK is on this list, considering how many things I’ve heard about people hating that game."
@LunarFlame17 The game sure is bad (too pretentious), but stop listening those Resetera dumba***s.
@Crono1973 It is a SRPG though.
Disgaea 5 have more "RPG" than Diablo III.
@the_beaver How they can coun't Yiik but not FFVII or XII is beyond me. IX isn't as good as either of them.
@Tirza Agreed but it is a strategy RPG. I think it's important to separate RPG's like mainline Final Fantasy games with games like Final Fantasy Tactics. People looking for a Final Fantasy type RPG probably aren't interested in an SRPG.
@aznable FF9 benefits from hype.
@the_beaver Oh man, I forgot about Ys VIII! That game definitely deserves to be on this list. And why aren’t there more Falcom games on Switch?
@Tirza Huh? I don’t even go to ResetEra...
@Crono1973 they are Tactical RPGs considered RPGs at their core. That’s where people look for them. And unless they are making separate list for strategy/tactical RPGs, which I doubt. It does harm to separate them because no one would find them. They are smaller subset of RPGs. Where would you put them?
@Crono1973 Really? Even when it came out back when I was never hyped about it. I recall first seeing it and thinking "Well that's a regression."
West of Loathing and Darkest Dungeon, but no Dark Souls.
@aznable Yes, it didn't do too well in 200 but since then many people have decided it's the best FF. It's not.
Steamworld Quest is incredible. I haven’t finished it yet, but I’m enjoying it thoroughly.
Dragon's Dogma should be on this list.
Definitely would've put YS VIII on this list; it's a bit cookie cutter, but it pulls everything together really well. Also, I'd put FFX (and maybe XII) over FFIX
LOLWUT
Yeah, how about Skyrim, Disgaea 5, FF7, FF12, and World of FF.
The World Ends With You is overrated obtuse garbage. The gameplay was no fun, I just ended up tapping the screen and the same button over and over again, and the story is headache inducing.
@Crono1973 I agree, but this site doesn't even know the difference between a roguelike and a roguelite.
I, for example, love roguelikes but dislike roguelites. Some people think that only because a game have procedural generation, it is a roguelike. It is not.
I’m absolutely livid that Dragon’s Dogma is not on this list.
Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana.
As usual, Nintendo Life list that both confounds and disappoints.
@N64-ROX Heheh, I can follow your logic and respect your criteria. But likewise, if you can show me a hang glider or ability to climb just about any wall in OoT then I guess you win. 😁
@Crono1973 it is kinda an rpg game because it has deep leveling system for characters, weapons, skills, etc. This is my opinion.
@AndreaF96 Yes, it's a strategy RPG.
@Crono1973 exactly, it's inside the intersection of the set of RPGs and the set of strategy games. At least that's how I see it.
@N64-ROX epic bait
Hello everybody! We've updated the list to reflect some new releases, including the deluge of FFs. All these lists will evolve over time and get updated periodically.
As for any obvious action-RPG absences, we're well aware As outlined in the introduction, this genre in particular is a nightmare of stratas, substratas, etc. The above selection focuses on RPGs with more traditional mechanics, but it could obviously be further subdivided. Watch this space for further (d)evolution
Amazing how many on this list are not RPGs
No Kemco games???? /s
Oh good, they added the rest of the Final Fantasies.
Still no Disgaea but we have freaking Yiik.
Yikes man.
@BeefSanta My top 5 Kemco RPG’s:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Nevermind.
I've just sold Octopath Traveller along with a couple of other games to make way for the upcoming realease schedule. I thought to myself, you're never going to have time to play though that again, but I've already got sellers regret. Darn!
As much as every compilation like this is bound to be very subjective, I am really glade Atelier Lulua made it onto the list! That is, indeed, one of the best Atelier games, which are really different from other RPGs.
I cannot recommend The World Ends With You enough. The first time I played it on the DS, it blew me out of the water. I love everything about it: the art style, the music, the writing, the gameplay. If you want something different, don’t pass it up.
A good chunk of this list will be largely responsible as to why my Switch backlog, when I do FINALLY get one, will be insane. I'm a sucker for a good RPG.
the lack of Skyrim is puzzling to me.
@Mando44646 yes, the Skyrim port is awesome. Something that cannot be said of Child of Light: Every other version (Windows, PS3/4/Vita, 360, One, WiiU) runs better than the botched Switch port.
once Ni No Kuni is out for me it will be the best RPG on the Switch
As an RPG fan/player im always with the story, battle style, character, skills and Im always relieved whenever Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is on the list or gets recognized! The game and most specially the story is really massive and superb for me! Best RPG game for me next to FFIX (which was my childhood game)! Im currently playing the Tales of Vesperia and im also hooked.
@LunarFlame17 it's FFiiv that's on the list not ix
@Dirty0814 They’ve updated the list since I wrote that comment. Every Final Fantasy on the Switch is on the list now, which is as it should be.
No Ys VIII or Setsuna (if Sphear’s here, than so should ‘I’...); then Neptunia, Steamworld Quest, Romancing SaGa 2, Cosmic Star and Deltarune (again, if Under’s here, then so should D:c1).
Also, ditto @many: RPGs, in this freaky mind, are turn-based affairs only. Got a grid while alternating turns of action.? You’re strategy, a separate category, again, in my twisted perception.
Bonus ditto @many: at release, both Earthlock and YIIK were generally panned. What gives? Was everyone, including reviewers found on this site, wrong? Hmm..
The absence of Ys VIII is shameful. Especially when plagiarized tripe like YIIK has a presence on the list.
Darkest Dungeon was great
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is still number 1 for me love the game it death
@LunarFlame17 VII and XII are both on the list?
@pattybean They weren’t when I wrote that comment. NL updates this list periodically.
@LunarFlame17 I see. Apologies.
curse my lack of money & time
Yep. If you like RPGs you need a multi-console home.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna is a great standalone grab for the lower price. It basically refined all the systems of the original but also streamlined them.
More importantly it took about 40 hours to complete vs the almost 100 hours to finish the main game for me, which was much more manageable for my available free time.
i actualy want to know wich, one has a great story. i dont care if it have dlc or is massive or look beautiful.
story is what counts in a jrpg or rpg
@PALversusNTSC Pillars of Eternity is really rich. Dragons Dogma is also good, tho might feel a bit slow at first.
Skyrim
Ys
Diablo III
Witcher 3 ?
Octopath Traveler would have been WAY better if it weren't for that awful story... keeping track of eight separate storylines is exhausting and pretty jarring when you switch from one story to another.
So glad Fire Emblem: Three Houses was left off this list. Worst RPG to come out in a long time.
No Dragon Quest Builders 2 (or 1)???
No Skyrim??
No Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate?
No Dark Souls Remastered?
No Disgaea 5 Complete or Disgaea 1 Complete? (Disgaea 4 Complete+ is coming soon)
No Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana?
No I am Setsuna?
No Dragon's Dogma?
No Fire Emblem: Three Houses?
No Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch?
Is Battle Chasers Nightwar really that much better?
@Patron As a strategy RPG, it wasn't eligible for the list. If it were eligible, I'm sure it would have ranked - considering it's one of the best SRPGs to come around in a long time.
@DockEllisD Kemco: soulless husks marauding as games.
@Marshmallow Agree 100% I adored I Am Setsuna and couldn't even finish Lost Sphere.
@LunarFlame17 It is on the list
Added the Baldur's Gate collection, Planescape/Icewind Dale and Ni no Kuni
Maybe I lost some details along the way, but I can't see the Witcher 3 in the list, nor any Zelda game.
Edit: uh, ok, those are listed among the action-rpgs... uhmm...
@N64-ROX you just can't tell what the best zelda is, they all rock and that would be very reductive for the other titles of the series. All you can do is tell which ones you have a "slight personal prefencence" for.
Battle Chasers and Undertale made the list, but not Witcher 3, Fire Emblem, Dark Souls, Skyrim, any of the Disgaea games, Dragon's Dogma, or Ys 8? Really?
Ys: VIII? Really?
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