If you wish to really immerse yourself in another world, there’s no better way than playing an RPG. TheNintendo Switchmight not be the most powerful console on the market, but it’s still home to a surprising number of old-school and original role-playing epics.
Whether you prefer classic turn-based battles or the more open-world approach of modern RPGs, the Nintendo Switch has something for everyone. Since I’ve spent hundreds of hours playing, I’ve decided to share my list of the best RPGs the Switch has to offer.
All the titles below are available for purchase from retailers and the Nintendo Switch eShop; however, there are several other classic RPGs available to play through theNintendo Switch Onlinesubscription service. For a monthly fee, you can play old Super Nintendo games like Breath of Fire II or Golden Sun for the Game Boy Advance online.
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1Super Mario RPG
A classic RPG comeback
Super Mario RPG
A classic comeback
Super Mario RPG is a really direct and loving update of an old classic - with lovely battles and some really funny little twists. It’s not exactly a deep story, of course, but there’s a reason it still has so many fans. This is now the best way to play it.
Super Mario RPGwas the first RPG I ever played, so it holds a special place in my heart, as it does for many gamers. This collaboration between Nintendo and Squaresoft (now Square Enix) introduced some characters that we’ve yet to see in other Mario games, and it fleshed out their personalities with humorous writing and charming graphics.
In 2023, Nintendo gave the SNES classic an audiovisual facelift and added just enough updates to make the game palatable to modern audiences. I’d dare say it surpasses the original.
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2Octopath Traveler II
8 ways to save the day
Octopath Traveler 2
Octopath Traveler 2 offers up another impressive, if safe adventure, with loads of twists to uncover. It looks and sounds absolutely ravishing, and the battle system is as impressive as ever.
Following in the footsteps of Square Enix’s flagship Final Fantasy series, the Octopath games are standalone entries with distinct worlds and characters, save for occasional crossovers. Therefore, newcomers can fully enjoy this new installment without having experienced the first game — a refreshing prospect among a sea of sprawling RPGs.
Thus, we embark on a fresh journey in a new realm, encountering eight distinctive characters whose individual narratives we can follow to their own resolutions. Each character’s introductory chapter serves as a self-contained tale, typically leading them to venture out into the world and unite with the rest of the party.Octopath Traveler 2maintains fidelity to its predecessor’s formula, including its classic turn-based RPG mechanics.
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3Pokemon Scarlet & Violet
Gotta catch ‘em all, again
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
The latest Pokémon generation takes another step forward, but its performance issues are unacceptable and serve to highlight that it’s lagging behind on the visual front in a major way. It’s a great adventure but needs some real polish.
Following the intriguing departure ofPokémon Legends: Arceus, Nintendo returned to a more traditional structure withPokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet. In this installment, you assume the role of a youthful student in Paldea, embarking on your inaugural day at the esteemed Pokémon academy of the region.
However, for the first time in a significant duo of titles, players are granted genuine freedom—you can leisurely explore Paldea within certain constraints. The world is seamlessly open, devoid of loading screens in the overworld, and facilitated by the early acquisition of a legendary Pokémon that facilitates swift traversal.
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4South Park: Fractured But Whole
Good, offensive fun
South Park: Fractured But Whole
The follow-up to 2014’s Stick of Truth, South Park: The Fractured But Whole keeps the laughs coming along with some surprisingly strategic gameplay.
An RPG based on South Park sounds like a bad joke, but believe it or not, there are at least two good ones.South Park: Stick of TruthandSouth Park: Fractured But Wholemanage to faithfully capture the style and humor of the show in a surprisingly immersive role-playing epic. It’s obviously not going to be everyone’s type of humor, but fans of bawdy comedy won’t be disappointed.
While both titles are great, the Avengers-themed Fractured But Whole is better because it’s significantly longer and more intricate. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for its follow-up,South Park: Snow Day.
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5Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection
A crystalline compilation
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection is a compilation of remakes of the original NES and SNES classics featuring improved graphics, new soundtracks, and various gameplay enhancements.
Several decades ago, Nintendo ruled the RPG world, thanks largely to its exclusive rights to the Final Fantasy series. The first six entries were exclusive to Nintendo systems, and now you can play them all on the Switch with modern enhancements.
All the games included in the Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Collection are considered classics, but Final Fantasy VI (originally released as Final Fantasy 3 for the Super Nintendo) is considered by many the greatest RPG of all time. You can also purchase the games individually from the Nintendo eShop.
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6The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Massive open-world innovation
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Massive innovation
Tears of the Kingdom takes the rock-solid foundation offered by the excellent Breath of the Wild and upgrades it in every meaningful way.
Most video game makers would struggle to follow up Breath of the Wild, but Nintendo has managed the impossible by improving on that already incredible foundation.Tears of the Kingdomgives you more tools, more freedom, and more to do than ever before.
This time, you don’t just have Hyrule to explore; there’s also a heap of islands in the sky and a massive expanse underground, all just waiting for you to find them. This is a gaming milestone that others will be emulating for years to come. However, if you prefer a more traditional Zelda experience, you should check outLink’s Awakeningfor Switch, which is a remake of the GameBoy classic.
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7Xenoblade Chronicles 3
A superb sprawling RPG
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
A superb, massive JRPG with a touching story that gives its characters time to breathe and eventually winds its way to an affecting conclusion.
Thethird main Xenoblade gameis a sprawling JRPG that embeds you into a sweeping story with a large cast of characters to get to know. It pushes the Switch’s hardware to its limit with huge vistas and action-packed battles and should last you for absolute ages.
It’s also a well-told tale with great cutscenes and voice acting. The battle system is dynamic when you want it to be, but it also lets you automate plenty of commands if you’re in the mood for a more relaxed session. If you’re a JRPG fan, don’t miss this one.
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8Persona 5 Royal
Most stylish JRPG
Persona 5 Royal
A simply massive JRPGs
This huge JRPG is rightly celebrated and offers up a massive amount of content to get through for those who stick with it. It also oozes jazzy style out of every pore and looks solid on Switch, where bite-sized sessions are easier to manage.
It’s got amazing turn-based combat with real verve, alongside a massive social simulator that lets you manage your time carefully to build relationships with your schoolmates and others. If you want a more rural storyline, be sure to consider Persona 4 Golden, which is also ace (and a little shorter).
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9Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Too cute to function
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
A cute island to make your own and the ability to welcome and visit your friends.
If you want a change of pace while living an escapist fantasy, thenewest Animal Crossingmight just be the perfect game for you. Unlike Pokémon, there are no battles or even a semblance of a story. New Horizon is about as casual as you may get.
It’s relaxing, delightfully sweet, and will never threaten you with the stress of some more “mature” games on this list. I’ve loved every minute of my time with it, and it’ll continue capturing hearts and minds as time goes by.
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10Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Prove your tactical genius
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
This brilliant tactical RPG has huge replay value.
This installment in the storied Fire Emblem franchise is an absolute doozy with tons of replayability. You play as a professor at an officers’ academy and quickly choose one of three houses to teach.
That choice will see you pursue drastically different storylines, but all the strands share the same two gameplay pillars. Those are brutal strategic battles with turn-based combat, and leisure time that you may spend getting to know a huge cast of memorable characters. This is a game to fall into for hours at a time.
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Q: How I chose the best RPGs for Nintendo Switch
I tried to capture a variety of quality RPGs that are mostly exclusive to the Switch. I definitely have my own preferences, but I also understand people enjoy different things, so I tried to include titles that would appeal to all types of gamers. Having played dozens of Switch RPGs, I can attest the games on this list represent the best of the bunch. Whether you’re into old-school experiences like the original Final Fantasy or modern open-world epics like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, you’ll be satisfied with what the Switch offers.
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