Best Nintendo Switch RPGs | Nintendo Life

Update: We’ve given the inventory a bit of a clean-out and tidied up this list to give you the best selection of RPGs you can pick up on the Switch. We’ve also added the gorgeous 16-bit inspired Sea of Stars from Sabotage Studio. Enjoy!

Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge number of quality titles across almost every category since launching back in 2017, and the RPG genre is certainly no exception. Below you’ll find our picks for the console’s essential role-playing games, in no particular order. This selection will evolve over time as Switch’s library expands even further.

But where’s Witcher 3? Where’s Dragon’s Dogma? Where’s Game X, Game Y and Game Z? Well, given Switch’s ample library, we feel that spreading out the genres a little gives games across the spectrum more room to breathe. Therefore, this collection steps away from the ‘action’ prefixed branch of RPGs, instead embracing a more traditional role-playing flavour. Debates will forever rage over stratified categories, granular sub-genres, side-genres, –likes, –lites, –like-lites, etc, when it comes to RPGs, but that’s all part of the fun, no? The titles below are a standout selection of games with more traditional RPG mechanics.

Prefer real-time combat? Check out our selection of the best action-RPGs on Switch. If you’re a fan of strategy RPGs you’ll want to peruse our picks of the best strategy games on Switch. And if you’re looking for more info, be sure to dive into our reviews via the appropriately titled ‘Our Review’ button for detailed breakdowns on each and every game below.

So sit back, relax and get ready to enjoy some sweeping epics…

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Monolith Soft

Release Date: 1st Dec 2017 (USA) / 1st Dec 2017 (UK/EU)
Undertale (Switch eShop)

Undertale (Switch eShop)

Publisher: 8-4 / Developer: 8-4

Release Date: 18th Sep 2018 (USA) / 18th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 26th Mar 2019 (USA) / 26th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)
Earthlock (Switch eShop)

Earthlock (Switch eShop)

Publisher: SnowCastle Games / Developer: SnowCastle Games

Release Date: 8th Mar 2018 (USA) / 8th Mar 2018 (UK/EU)
South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)

South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)

Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft San Francisco

Release Date: 24th Apr 2018 (USA) / 24th Apr 2018 (UK/EU)
Child of Light: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)

Child of Light: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft

Release Date: 11th Oct 2018 (USA) / 11th Oct 2018 (UK/EU)
West of Loathing (Switch eShop)

West of Loathing (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Asymmetric / Developer: Asymmetric

Release Date: 31st May 2018 (USA) / 31st May 2018 (UK/EU)
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition (Switch eShop)

Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Versus Evil

Release Date: 8th Aug 2019 (USA) / 8th Aug 2019 (UK/EU)
Golf Story (Switch eShop)

Golf Story (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Sidebar Games / Developer: Sidebar Games

Release Date: 28th Sep 2017 (USA) / 28th Sep 2017 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 13th Feb 2019 (USA) / 14th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)

Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)

Publisher: Nordic Games / Developer: Airship Syndicate

Release Date: 15th May 2018 (USA) / 15th May 2018 (UK/EU)
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)

Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust

Release Date: 24th Mar 2023 (USA) / 24th Mar 2023 (UK/EU)
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 27th Sep 2019 (USA) / 27th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Larian Studios / Developer: Larian Studios

Release Date: 4th Sep 2019 (USA) / 4th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)

Update: We’ve given the inventory a bit of a clean-out and tidied up this list to give you the best selection of RPGs you can pick up on the Switch. We’ve also added the gorgeous 16-bit inspired Sea of Stars from Sabotage Studio. Enjoy!

Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge number of quality titles across almost every category since launching back in 2017, and the RPG genre is certainly no exception. Below you’ll find our picks for the console’s essential role-playing games, in no particular order. This selection will evolve over time as Switch’s library expands even further.

But where’s Witcher 3? Where’s Dragon’s Dogma? Where’s Game X, Game Y and Game Z? Well, given Switch’s ample library, we feel that spreading out the genres a little gives games across the spectrum more room to breathe. Therefore, this collection steps away from the ‘action’ prefixed branch of RPGs, instead embracing a more traditional role-playing flavour. Debates will forever rage over stratified categories, granular sub-genres, side-genres, –likes, –lites, –like-lites, etc, when it comes to RPGs, but that’s all part of the fun, no? The titles below are a standout selection of games with more traditional RPG mechanics.

Prefer real-time combat? Check out our selection of the best action-RPGs on Switch. If you’re a fan of strategy RPGs you’ll want to peruse our picks of the best strategy games on Switch. And if you’re looking for more info, be sure to dive into our reviews via the appropriately titled ‘Our Review’ button for detailed breakdowns on each and every game below.

So sit back, relax and get ready to enjoy some sweeping epics…

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (Switch)

Publisher: Nintendo / Developer: Monolith Soft

Release Date: 1st Dec 2017 (USA) / 1st Dec 2017 (UK/EU)
Undertale (Switch eShop)

Undertale (Switch eShop)

Publisher: 8-4 / Developer: 8-4

Release Date: 18th Sep 2018 (USA) / 18th Sep 2018 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 26th Mar 2019 (USA) / 26th Mar 2019 (UK/EU)
Earthlock (Switch eShop)

Earthlock (Switch eShop)

Publisher: SnowCastle Games / Developer: SnowCastle Games

Release Date: 8th Mar 2018 (USA) / 8th Mar 2018 (UK/EU)
South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)

South Park: The Fractured But Whole (Switch)

Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft San Francisco

Release Date: 24th Apr 2018 (USA) / 24th Apr 2018 (UK/EU)
Child of Light: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)

Child of Light: Ultimate Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Ubisoft / Developer: Ubisoft

Release Date: 11th Oct 2018 (USA) / 11th Oct 2018 (UK/EU)
West of Loathing (Switch eShop)

West of Loathing (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Asymmetric / Developer: Asymmetric

Release Date: 31st May 2018 (USA) / 31st May 2018 (UK/EU)
Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition (Switch eShop)

Pillars of Eternity: Complete Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Versus Evil

Release Date: 8th Aug 2019 (USA) / 8th Aug 2019 (UK/EU)
Golf Story (Switch eShop)

Golf Story (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Sidebar Games / Developer: Sidebar Games

Release Date: 28th Sep 2017 (USA) / 28th Sep 2017 (UK/EU)
Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 13th Feb 2019 (USA) / 14th Feb 2019 (UK/EU)
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)

Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch)

Publisher: Nordic Games / Developer: Airship Syndicate

Release Date: 15th May 2018 (USA) / 15th May 2018 (UK/EU)
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)

Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust

Release Date: 24th Mar 2023 (USA) / 24th Mar 2023 (UK/EU)
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (Switch)

Publisher: Square Enix / Developer: Square Enix

Release Date: 27th Sep 2019 (USA) / 27th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

Publisher: Larian Studios / Developer: Larian Studios

Release Date: 4th Sep 2019 (USA) / 4th Sep 2019 (UK/EU)

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