Since the good old days of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy on NES, year after year Nintendo has unsurprisingly continued to roll out one masterpiece after another, bringing now the immersive worlds of the JRPG genre to light on the Nintendo Switch. Japanese Roleplaying Games or “JRPGs” are infamous among the gamer community for taking hundreds of hours to complete due to being absolutely jam-packed with epic story, memorable characters, and sprawling worlds to explore! However, with so many daring and vivacious titles now available on the Nintendo Switch, we’ve nominated some of our favorites that exemplify the very best of the genre and will satisfy your own fantasies of adventure!
10. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
(Nintendo Switch)
Fire Emblem has long held a cult following of devoted fans that have fallen in love with the story-rich strategy series since its initial debut in 1990 for the NES. In its long-awaited return to the home console, the latest addition to the series stresses that each decision you make is potentially one of life or death for you and your students at the Officers Academy. With a colorful new cascade of characters, Three Houses is everything you could ever want in a strategy JRPG as drama, adventure, and surprise all lurk behind every tap of the Joy-Con controller.
9. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
(Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Nintendo DS, Microsoft Windows)
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Trailer
Ever fantasize about jumping straight into the world of your favorite Studio Ghibli film? Wish no more with Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch as you join an adventurous young lad named Oliver on his journey through mysterious lands of magic, mystery, and adventure! With a beautiful soundtrack written by the legendary Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hiyashi himself and with stunning visuals to accompany the heartwarming story, Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is just about as charming as a roleplaying game can get!
8. Final Fantasy VIII Remastered
(PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Android, Microsoft Windows)
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered Trailer
Initially released in 1999 for the original Playstation, Final Fantasy VIII has long been the topic of heated discussion among series fans. For some, it’s a charming entry to the franchise that holds many fond childhood memories. However, for others, the new “Draw and Junction” system of gameplay made the game complex beyond reconcile and thus one of the less adored chapters in Final Fantasy history. Regardless of which side of the schism you find yourself on, however, the latest version for Switch has been beautifully remastered and you can once again find yourself heroically immersed in a battle to save the space-time continuum as we know it!
7. Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
(Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows)
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling Trailer
A whimsical and refreshing twist on the typical JRPG model, in this goofy title play as the quirky triad of a bee, a beetle, and a moth and set out on a quest set to find the legendary Everlasting Sapling! Much of the game plays very similar to Paper Mario and the funky decoupage art style is joyful to a T! Battle your way across the Kingdom of Bugaria in a delightful turn-based combat system and earn EX, unlock special moves, and earn medals that will ready your team to face the final boss!
6. Octopath Traveler
(Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Xbox One)
Octopath Traveler Trailer
At first glance, Octopath Travelers appears to be nothing more than your typical 2-bit sprite indie JRPG. However, as you inevitably spend hours diving deeper and deeper into the storyline, the game quickly sets itself apart through its quirky characters and a visually stunning world that champions the classic 2D retro look with a twist of modern 3D design! Follow eight characters through eight separate adventures and take advantage of each of their strengths and weaknesses as you progress through each of the eight storylines! Don’t be surprised if you end up returning for another play-through straight after completing the game however. You’ll want to see what happens to each of the characters and explore each nook and cranny of the entire world!
5. Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition
(Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Microsoft Windows)
Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition Trailer
To commemorate the 10 year anniversary of the Tales of Vesperia, Nintendo finally gave in and let us have the HD version of the game for Switch; now with new content and characters added as a bonus! With animation in parallel with that of a traditional Japanese anime, the Definitive Edition is a solid remaster that has stood the test of time hands down! Now if only some of the more games of the series would finally come to Switch...but alas, we wait!
4. Monster Hunter Rise
(Nintendo Switch, Microsoft Windows)
Monster Hunter Rise Trailer
Looks like the developers over at Capcom have been watching a little bit too much Attack on Titan as the new Wirebug feature introduced as a key mechanic into the game will have you flying all over the map just like Eren Jaeger! Jokes aside, where other Monster Hunter games in the past have fallen short, Monster Hunter Rise has done an excellent job in breathing new life into the series as you can hunt over 60 monsters either online with friends. Hunt monsters, collect parts, and build new armor and weapons to take on new challenges and even bigger monsters! Remember though; it’s either hunt or be hunted. So be ready to fight for your life!
3. The World Ends with You: Final Remix
(Nintendo Switch, Nintendo DS, Android, iOS)
The World Ends with You: Final Remix Trailer
Funky, fresh, and urban fantasy? The definitive version of the Nintendo DS classic combines the pop flash art style of Tokyo’s Shibuya district with what has been called one of the most iconic soundtracks of all time. In the updated Switch version, the combat style has been well adapted to make good use of the Joy-Con’s motion control functions and can now be enjoyed by two players in an all-new co-op mode! New gameplay modes aside, the Final Remix gives us a new chapter with all-new beats that’ll have us singing our favorite melodies well after we put the controller down!
2. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
(Nintendo Switch)
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Trailer
The Xeno series only releases a new game every few years, but when they do drop a new entry, you can best be sure that it does not disappoint! In the latest and third installment of the Xenoblade Chronicles series, take control of a Blade, a living weapon with incredible combat potential, and save the world of Alrest from beasts set upon destroying civilization as we know it. In a world where the remainder of humanity lives on top of the backs of giant monsters floating in a sea of clouds, explore an absolutely massive open-world map as you fight monsters, meet new Blades, and search for the lost world of Elysium!
1. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
(Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Trailer
With almost 35 years of history, 11 mainline games, and a hefty number of spin-offs, Dragon Quest has been here with us since the very beginning. Like most titles on this list, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the remastered definitive edition of the 3DS classic and allows you to switch between 3D HD or 2D 16-bit modes, original soundtrack or an orchestral version of the music, and English or the original Japanese voices so that you can both relish in the nostalgia that the Dragon Quest series invokes as well as enjoy the stunning technical advances and capabilities that the Switch has to offer. This modern classic essentially defines what it means to be a JRPG in this day and age and the series continues to help gamers to carry over their love of gaming from the past, all the way into the present.
