Did you recently find yourself looking for a new incredible adventure? Is Nintendo the style you’re looking for? Well, you’ve come to the right place; today we’ll go through 15 different RPGs either developed or published by the Big N that you can play right now on your Nintendo Switch or Nintendo 3DS family of systems.
15. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Nintendo Switch Trailer - Nintendo E3 2019
If you’re into strategy games and looking for challenging tactical battles, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, released in 2019, is definitely for you. In the latest entry of this well-known Nintendo IP, you serve as the teacher of some of the brightest students in the continent of Fódlan, guiding them through their learning process before war comes into place.
14. Miitopia
Miitopia - Announcement Trailer - Nintendo Switch
A very funny and cute RPG where you’re the star of the story. First released for the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo Switch remake gives the world a brand new opportunity to experience the ultimate Nintendo charm adventure while having a powerful designing tool to make your own enemies and sidekicks.
13. Pokémon Sword/Shield
Pokémon Sword and Shield Trailer - New Pokemon, Legendaries, Dynamax
Leaving ALL controversies aside, we can’t deny that it was pretty exciting to see the Pokémon franchise make a complete transition to HD graphics (not counting Pokémon Let’s Go entries). With a great soundtrack, some funny dialogue, and an improved Pokédex if you purchase the DLC, Pokémon Sword and Shield is a very nice addition to the series and those Gigantamax battles are quite awesome. Hearing an audience cheer for you was a very nice touch from Game Freak.
12. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 - Nintendo Switch Presentation 2017 Trailer
Sequel to the critically acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles, in this visually pleasing and exciting adventure, you have to go through battles before the ending of the world and explore vast open areas. You might recognize some of the characters as they have been released as part of the Fighters Pass Vol. 2 for the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
11. Project Triangle Strategy Demo
Project TRIANGLE STRATEGY – Announcement Trailer – Nintendo Switch
Of course, I know this isn’t a fully released game, but I must say this is a very promising title and having the chance to play the demo and give some feedback to the developers is something that should be more common in the industry. Give it a chance and you’ll get some hours of solid gameplay.
10. Ever Oasis
Ever Oasis - Overview Trailer (Nintendo 3DS)
This is a very charming RPG developed by Koichi Ishii, creator of the Mana series. In this game, your main objective is to solve puzzles and explore the desert while gathering resources to make your character more powerful and build up an oasis. Sadly, this game was released during the first months of the life of the Nintendo Switch way back in 2017, so it was quite overshadowed, especially in the occidental world.
9. Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions - Official Game Trailer - Nintendo E3 2017
The Nintendo 3DS family of systems is well known for being a remake selling machine for some of the best RPGs developed by Nintendo; Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga isn’t the exception. A remake of the Gameboy Advance original 2003 release, Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions tells the story of the Mario Bros. going on an adventure through the Beanbean Kingdom in order to recover the stolen voice of Princess Peach. A story told in a very fun way with a very great soundtrack from Yoko Shimomura, composer of the Super Mario RPG, Kingdom Hearts, and Legend of Mana OSTs.
8. Bravely Default 2
Bravely Default II - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Whether you played or not the first releases of this series on the Nintendo 3DS, this is a great game nobody should be missing. Bravely Default 2’s main selling point is its battle system, which consists of BRAVE and DEFAULT. In the Brave system, you spend points to get four actions in a single turn. The Default command lets you accumulate energy so you get Brave points to use in the future.
7. Pokémon Omega Ruby/Alpha Sapphire
Pokemon Omega Ruby Version & Pokemon Alpha Sapphire Version - Head Back to Hoenn Trailer
Remakes of the original Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire releases from the Gameboy Advance. It features a great sound quality and obvious graphic improvement from the 2002 versions. Here you can dress up your cosplay Pikachu and build a secret base as it was Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer.
6. Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler - Overview Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch
This is a very interesting game since there are eight different characters and adventures to play. Its realistic scenarios combined with pixel art style characters make it an exciting story to experience which may continue for several hours as you experience and discover all the secrets and strategies the game has to offer. Hopefully, we get a sequel in the next couple of years, although Project Triangle Strategy might be the spiritual successor when it releases next year.
5. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - Launch Trailer - Nintendo Switch
Originally released on the Wii system, later re-released for the New Nintendo 3DS family of systems and getting its definitive edition on the Nintendo Switch; Xenoblade Chronicles is an open world JRPG in which you play as Shulk, a guy who has the ability to see visions of the future and is trying to defeat Mechon, our main enemy in the game.
4. Mario & Luigi: Dream Team
Nintendo 3DS - Mario & Luigi: Dream Team Launch Trailer
This was Luigi’s time to shine, and man, he did shine as no one expected. In the first entry on the Mario & Luigi series for the Nintendo 3DS, we go inside Luigi’s dreams and imagination to fight Antasma, one of my favorite villains on any RPG along with Fawful and Dimentio. And I didn’t even talk about the music; I would highly recommend you look for “The Final Antasma Battle” on YouTube; Yoko Shimomura is such a great musician.
3. Pokémon Red/Blue
Pokémon Red Version, Blue Version & Yellow Version - Trailer (Nintendo 3DS)
Of course, the ones that started it all had to be on this list. Thankfully, these, alongside Pokémon Yellow, are available for purchase on the Virtual Console for the Nintendo 3DS. While Pokémon Red and Blue 1996 Game Boy visuals might not hold up to today’s industry standards (Pokémon Sword and Shield aside) it can be very fun to play them and catch the original 151 first gen Pokémon.
2. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey
Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story + Bowser Jr.’s Journey - Story Trailer - Nintendo 3DS
This was my first ever experience with an RPG way back in 2010. I didn’t know what to expect when my aunt bought me this game on a Sunday morning, but what followed was one of the best experiences I’ve had with anything. With a very charming and funny dialogue; an awesome soundtrack from the extremely talented Yoko Shimomura and an epic final battle, I couldn’t recommend this Nintendo RPG enough. Sadly, the Nintendo 3DS remake didn’t sell as well as the company expected (should've been released on the Nintendo Switch instead, but who am I to judge them), but we still have the opportunity to buy it on the Nintendo eShop.
1. Earthbound
Nintendo eShop - EarthBound Launch Trailer
My personal favorite. Incredibly funny dialogue, pop culture references, great story, and an even greater soundtrack. I don’t know why Nintendo hasn’t released this game (or the previous entry) on the Nintendo Switch Online SNES and NES services. Thankfully, we have the chance to play this game by buying it on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. I actually can’t recommend it enough without spoiling some of the best things.
