Since the console's emphatic launch just over five years ago, the Nintendo Switch has fleshed out an impressive library of RPGs. In several ways, the console is one of the most accessible ones for the genre given its format as a handheld and home console hybrid.
This makes it friendly to the typical long runtimes of games in the genre, of which there are many acclaimed titles on the system. Video game review aggregator OpenCritic has the 10 best so far ranked, showing the genre's versatility ranging from JRPGs, CRPGs, action RPGs, and everything in between.
Shin Megami Tensei V (86)
It was a long time coming, but after a 3-year drought from its announcement to release, Shin Megami Tensei V finally launched in 2020. The Persona progenitor series was released to strong critical reception, with its expansion to an open-world format being praised for driving home the post-apocalyptic setting and its monster-collecting mechanics for being rewardingly deep.
The parent series' story was also well-received for its exploration of darker, larger-scale philosophical concepts. Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best modern Switch RPGs to play today, and part of that is how the game remains uncompromising in refusing to give up its vision in favor of diluting its formula for the sake of mass-market appeal like other IPs.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered (86)
Inspired by the best of the Studio Ghibli anime movies -- and who animated the game's cutscenes -- Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch was one of the most underrated JRPGs from the PlayStation 3 era. The game received critical acclaim for its loving homage to the studio's revered movies in its touching coming-of-age story, charming characters, and colorfully vibrant fantasy world.
The gameplay featured a turn-based-style combat system that should satisfy longtime JRPG fans, and the recent Remastered version facelifts the experience for a more modern audience.
Hyper Light Drifter - Special Edition (88)
Heart Machine's Hyper Light Drifter is a nostalgic throwback to the days of 8- and 16-bit gaming. The player character has access to advanced technology that's been lost to time and is suffering from a mysterious disease, embarking on a quest battling against progressively tougher monsters.
Though the story is a bit too ambiguous for some, Hyper Light Drifter's versatile combat, stylish art direction, and the neon atmosphere are enough to keep players hooked. The Special Edition was a port for the Switch that included additional content.
Monster Hunter Rise (88)
Following the franchise's global breakout success with Monster Hunter World, Rise has seen similar success considering it's only been released on two platforms. World was acclaimed for its graphical and mechanical evolution from its predecessors and for streamlining them in a modernized setting.
Monster Hunter Rise takes this a step further, becoming arguably the most accessible game in the franchise to date without losing sight of what made the series' gameplay loop so great. The addition of new monsters, a Palamute mount, and wirebug mechanics for traversal adds a thrilling sense of verticality to the game, with the Sunbreak expansion quickly proving to be one of 2022's most anticipated video game DLC.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (89)
After Intelligent System's flagship series was reinvigorated by Awakening on the Nintendo 3DS, success was emphatically carried over onto the Switch. 2019's Fire Emblem: Three Houses earned high praise for adding more mechanical depth while keeping the series' tried-and-true core. Likewise, though, it takes a page from games like Persona by implementing life-sim elements to bond and romance NPCs off the battlefield.
Three Houses maintains a high-fantasy setting, taking place in the land of Fódlan where three ruling powers at peace are maintained by its central church at Garreg Mach. The way its story is set up in a branching manner adds an impressive level of replayability to the game as well.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (89)
While the Xeno series started as a Square Enix (then SquareSoft) property, it exploded into a Nintendo JRPG staple on the Wii with Xenoblade Chronicles. Even with the RPG titans released on the much more powerful consoles opposite the Wii, it still managed to establish itself well in the genre.
For its time over a decade ago, the game was lauded for its impressively vast open world, a compelling story while using conventional genre tropes, and entertaining party-based combat. The recent Definitive Edition remaster for the Switch enhances the game for the 2020s, bringing with it a host of visual and gameplay quality-of-life changes.
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (89)
Developer and publisher ZA/UM's Disco Elysium is one of the most recent CRPGs to bring on a new wave for the subgenre, often hailed as one of the best as of late. The overall RPG genre is known for delving into the realms of high fantasy and/or science fiction punctuated by strategic or real-time-action-based combat, but Disco Elysium reaches great heights by being a grounded detective-driven game with no combat.
There are light fantasy elements used in its grimy, war-ravaged city, but players take on the role of an amnesiac detective solving a murder case with an engrossing amount of content dedicated by player choice. The Final Cut added even more story content alongside full voice acting to become all the more immersive.
Stardew Valley (89)
Amid all the "sword and sorcery," ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley is a relaxing down-to-earth RPG spin on the likes of Animal Crossing and heavy influence from Harvest Moon. Players take on the role of a character whose grandfather has passed away and is looking to take over and fix his rundown farm.
The game's acclaim comes from having such an open gameplay loop, with players taking part in activities like farm maintenance, mining, selling goods, and socializing in an immersive life-sim structure. It's an excellent pick-up-and-play game for anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours, effectively making Stardew Valley a game tailor-made for most playstyles.
Divinity: Original Sin II - Definitive Edition (91)
The classic CRPG subgenre has seen something of a resurgence in the modern gaming scene through the indie and double-AA spaces, and Larian Studios' Divinity: Original Sin II has been one of the biggest highlights. The subgenre can understandably be difficult to get into for newcomers given its hands-off approach.
However, the Definitive Edition of the game lived up to its subtitle and also achieved a great balance of accessibility without sacrificing any of its rich role-playing depth. Divinity: Original Sin II achieved widespread acclaim for its engrossing fantasy world and story, strategic combat, and impressive level of player freedom in dictating the events of the plot and character progression. It's been hailed as one of the best modern RPGs in general for good reason.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition (92)
Though it might be overshadowed internationally by Square Enix's other JRPG titan Final Fantasy, the thunderous reception to the Dragon Quest IP in Japan is almost unparalleled -- and it's been making strides globally as of late. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age broadened the franchise's appeal expanding its scope based on what Dragon Quest VIII did years ago on the PS2.
It received critical acclaim for its sprawling story, classic turn-based combat, and wealth of story content. It's a game that did well to justify its open-world setting with substance and the game's Definitive Edition makes it the best jumping-on point for the uninitiated.