Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Switch)

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is an experience unlike any other on the Switch, expertly blending standard RPG tropes with a heartwarming story, innovative art style, and immersive soundtrack composed by some of the best in the business.

In more ways than one, this is a ‘dream project’ whose very existence is a gift to fans of the genre the world over. Pacing issues and shoddy AI drag down an otherwise pitch-perfect experience. However, if you consider yourself a fan of the genre – or even if you’re just looking to get your feet wet – you owe it to yourself to give Wrath of the White Witch a shot.

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And when you've finished that there's the excellent Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom to be getting on with.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Switch)

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a great example of what developers should aspire to do with a remaster; this is the best-designed and most enjoyable version of this RPG classic currently on the market, and it can all be played on the go, too. The Gambit-focused combat system still proves to be one of the best we’ve seen in an RPG to date, making it dangerously easy for hours to slip by as you work on min-maxing characters.

FF XII may not be the best Final Fantasy ever made, but it’s still a pretty darned great game in its own right.

Persona 5 Royal (Switch)

For JRPG fans, Persona 5 Royal is the very definition of ‘required reading'. A deep and moving story, stylish presentation, amazing soundtrack, and decision-driven gameplay all combine to make for an unforgettable and exceptional experience that proves itself to be every bit deserving of the hype and praise it’s already received on other consoles.

While those who have played this elsewhere may want to consider whether Switch's portability is enough of a selling point to justify paying full price to double dip, it suits it perfectly. This easily stands as one of the very best RPGs of the last decade and you’d be doing yourself a disservice to miss out.

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Live A Live (Switch)

Live A Live has been well worth the long wait. This remake reintroduces an influential, unique JRPG to the wider world with aplomb, with a cacophony of different gameplay styles, music, and visuals that somehow hang together beautifully.

We ire that Square Enix decided not to change too much here, instead delivering an authentic and faithful update to the game that the majority of players outside Japan missed nearly three decades ago. This is a piece of gaming history we have loved getting to experience for the first time.

Tales of Graces f Remastered (Switch)

Tales of Graces f Remaster occasionally feels dated due to its visuals and limited map, but the unique structure of the plot and fun combat make it a worthwhile addition to the library of any JRPG fan. The characters remain the stars of the show, with more growth and change over the course of the game than we expected.

If the frequent but short load times don’t get in your way, it is easy to sink dozens of hours into this adventure.

Don't forget about Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition either; it’s difficult to recommend this JRPG classic on any other system than Nintendo Switch, thanks to how well it performs in both docked and handheld modes. If you’ve missed out on this classic, rectify that error pronto.

The Alliance Alive HD Remastered (Switch)

Nearly two years on from its initial 3DS release, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered proved to be a perfectly competent port of an already fantastic handheld game. A well-written story, a smartly interwoven and complex system of gameplay mechanics, and a distinctive visual style makes this a no-brainer for anybody looking for a consistently high-quality RPG experience on their Switch.

It may feel a little simple, given its origins on the 3DS, but don’t make the mistake of pas on The Alliance Alive HD Remastered, it’s well worth your time.

Rune Factory 4 Special (Switch)

There’s something here for everyone in Rune Factory 4 Special, but its greatest strength is how it ties together everything into one thoroughly enjoyable package. Varied gameplay, strong writing, and an emphasis on progressing at your own pace make this one of the best farm sims available on the Switch.

If you've played this on 3DS already, there's not much new here, but Rune Factory 4 Special proves itself to be a modern classic that melds farming and combat into a beautiful RPG experience.

Rune Factory fans should also seek out Rune Factory 5, although it's still a good time.

Moero Crystal H (Switch eShop)

Moero Crystal H is an outstanding (if saucy) dungeon crawler that combines the light-hearted, sexy, character-centric comedy of harem anime with deep combat and progression mechanics, plus a healthy dose of dating sim for good measure.

Unlike other games in the genre, it respects the player’s time with quality-of-life features. It’s beautifully presented, too, with delightful animated Live2D characters, gorgeous (if infrequent) event images and incredibly catchy music. Most importantly, though, it plays well and provides enough content in both its main story and endgame to keep even the most avid RPG fan busy for hundreds of hours.

Bravely Default II (Switch)

In Bravely Default II, Square Enix has demonstrated once again that it understands exactly what ingredients are necessary to make a great RPG. The interesting, risk-based combat is ed by a diverse class system and a well-told story, which all combine to make for an experience that can be tough to put down.

This is a well-crafted and expertly-made RPG that is easily worth your time and money; we’d highly recommend that fans and newcomers alike look into picking this up.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut (Switch eShop)

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut is an absolute triumph. The narrative and dialogue, which is already wonderfully compelling on its own, has been given a massive boost thanks to the excellent voice acting introduced for the Final Cut.

The gameplay features a host of branching paths for you to explore, and while the slow, methodical approach may turn a few people off, this is nevertheless one of the most well-told stories in any medium from the last few years. Disco Elysium: The Final Cut stands as one of the best RPGs available on Switch.

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch)

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition brings an already excellent JRPG to Switch, improving it in every single way. On top of the fantastic story, enjoyable combat, and incredible world design, Monolith Soft has included an entirely new epilogue story arc.

It goes without saying that if you were ever a fan of the original or of RPGs in general you absolutely must get this game for your collection as soon as you reasonably can. This is the standard against which most RPGs should be judged.

Dungeon Encounters (Switch eShop)

Dungeon Encounters is a masterstroke of game design, character and narrative – it’s storytelling in the way only games can be. It teaches how scale is felt in a game, and it teaches, through their absence, the roles of rich visuals and verbose storytelling. Next time we play an RPG with baroque graphics and forests of text, we will understand a little more deeply where a game’s atmosphere really comes from.

For more minimalist RPG action from Square Enix, the Voice of Cards series is also well worth a look.

Jack Move (Switch eShop)

It may not last terribly long, but Jack Move manages to pack in all the important elements needed for an excellent cyberpunk JRPG adventure. The inventive battle system, enchanting world, and appealing graphics all come together to make for a perfectly paced, gripping, and memorable release.

It’s not often that you see a JRPG that leans so hard into science fiction tropes, and Jack Move makes the most of every minute of its runtime. If you're after a short Switch RPG, Jack's got your back.

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story (Switch eShop)

Even if you don’t want anything to do with League, give Ruined King: A League of Legends Story a shot; this is a spectacular JRPG that consistently demonstrates mastery of all the ingredients needed to make a great entry in the genre.

The core campaign is just long enough to feel satisfying, there are dizzying amounts of character customisation, and the combat system is one of the finest in the genre.

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance (Switch)

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a stellar example of an enhanced re-release done right - which is fortunate as the original version was delisted when this launched.

Vengeance's comprehensive approach to improving the story and various gameplay systems of the original release makes for an experience that’s even more engrossing. Though we were disappointed by the lack of any performance gains here, but SMT V: Vengeance cleanly demonstrates that this old Atlus stalwart still has an abundance of fantastic gameplay and unique appeal.

Citizen Sleeper (Switch eShop)

Citizen Sleeper places you in the role of a synthetic robot-person—called a Sleeper—who awakens on a grimy space station bustling with all kinds of morally and legally grey activities and organisations. A synthwave soundtrack, strong writing, and high-pressure gameplay make this an addictive visual novel/TTRPG hybrid that's incredibly tough to put down once you get into it.

Citizen Sleeper 2 may be even better. This an excellent example of a polished sequel, continuing all the things that made its predecessor a beloved indie darling while building upon and expanding those systems with some new and interesting ideas of its own.