The 13 Best RPGs on the Nintendo Switch

Since its original release in 2016, Persona 5 has been called one of the greatest role-playing games ever. Persona 5 Royal, released in 2019, is a remastered version of the original game. It contains all the original content, but also adds multiple new storylines, a new playable character, new minigames and side quests, and more. It's the definitive version of what was already a monumental RPG.

In Persona 5 Royal, you play as a teenager who transfers to a new school after being framed for assault. Once there, you and a classmate accidentally stumble into another world called the Metaverse, where all of humanity's subconscious desires are made real and demons lurk around every corner.

Over the course of the game's typical 100-hour playtime, you'll explore the Metaverse to "steal the hearts" of criminals and make them reform their ways, all the while recruiting new teammates to join your squad of "Phantom Thieves." You'll also have to balance your crime-fighting career with the usual pitfalls of teenage life: School, romance, hobbies, you name it.

Persona 5 received critical acclaim for its story, gameplay, artstyle, characters, and music — I still get chills whenever I hear "Rivers in the Desert." There's no better RPG on the Nintendo Switch right now.

If you're looking for something more dynamic, check out NieR: Automata. This surreal open-world RPG takes place in the distant future, after Earth has been conquered by an army of alien machines. The game puts you in control of the human-made combat androids 2B and 9S, who are sent to fight the alien threat.

Like other games in the series, NieR: Automata blends frenetic action with experimental storytelling. As 2B, you'll cut through the machines with giant swords and lasers; as 9S, you'll hack into the machines and defeat them from the inside. And all the while, you'll be treated to a fantastic story and even better music.

Many reviewers called the Switch version of Automata — titled The End of YoRHa Edition — a "miracle" because of how well it runs on the relatively weak console. Definitely consider picking it up.

If you're one of the few Nintendo Switch owners who hasn't played The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, do yourself a favor and go buy it right now. This Switch launch title completely overhauled the open world RPG genre, putting a much bigger focus on exploration than linear progression.

In Breath of the Wild you play as Link, a warrior who wakes up 100 years after losing a battle with the evil Calamity Ganon that nearly ended the world. You're tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda, who's spent the last century trapped in her castle holding Ganon at bay.

But the path you take to save Zelda and beat Ganon is entirely up to you. If you want, you can explore the kingdom of Hyrule first, slowly getting stronger and defeating Ganon's minions. Or you can sprint straight to Hyrule Castle and take on Ganon with whatever scraps you pick up along the way.

Depending on how you play, a Breath of the Wild run can take 100 hours or 30 minutes. Whichever way you do it, you're sure to have an unforgettable journey. And playing it now will get you ready for its sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which releases in March 2023.

It's been nearly thirty years since Game Freak released the first Pokémon game, and most entries in the series are pretty similar. But Pokémon Legends: Arceus throws almost everything you know about Pokémon out the window.

At the start of the game, your player character is thrown hundreds of years back in time, to an era before any of the other Pokémon games take place. Using the primitive technology available, you'll have to quest through the undeveloped wilderness and catch Pokémon before they can catch you.

Unlike past games in the series, Pokémon Legends: Arceus features an open world. And Pokémon are just as dangerous as they look in this game — get one of them angry, and it'll come after you like a rabid animal.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus totally reinvents the typical Pokémon formula, making it a must-play whether you're a fan of the series or not

If you're an older gamer who loves classic NES- and SNES-era RPGs, check out LIVE A LIVE. This is a remake of the original cult classic, which was released exclusively in Japan in 1994.

LIVE A LIVE is a turn-based RPG that follows eight separate protagonists throughout history as they fight a recurring enemy named Odio. You'll start your quest in prehistoric caveman tribes, and eventually fight your way through Edo Japan, the Wild West, the distant future, and more.

The Nintendo Switch's LIVE A LIVE remake features a remastered soundtrack and stylish "HD-2D" graphics, which place traditional 2D sprites on a 3D background. It's an amazing throwback to the Golden Age of Japanese RPGs.

There are few games with more replay value than the tactical RPG Fire Emblem: Three Houses. As you play through the game, you'll make multiple choices that completely change where the story leads. The game has four distinct endings, each of which has its own twists and turns.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses gives you control of Byleth, a mercenary-turned-professor at the prestigious Garreg Mach Officers Academy. As soon as you begin, you'll choose one of three houses (get it?) to lead: The Black Eagles, the Blue Lions, or the Golden Deer. 

And once you've picked, you'll have to get to work training your lovable students into an army of brave knights, deadly snipers, and clever sorcerers. Every turn-based battle takes careful planning and brainpower to get through successfully. This means that each fight is a learning experience — but also a risk. If you're playing in Classic Mode, when one of your students is killed in battle, they're gone forever. No respawns.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is addicting and devastating at the same time. Consider playing in Casual Mode for your first playthrough; in this mode, your students will recover even after being defeated.

Even if you've never played Undertale, chances are you've heard about it — or heard its music. This quirky RPG originally came out in 2015, and since then has become a worldwide viral sensation for its characters, soundtrack, and gameplay.

In Undertale you play as a young child who accidentally falls into the "Underground." It's a magical realm beneath the Earth's surface that's filled with monsters, talking animals, and walking skeletons — like Sans, the game's most recognizable character.

Although the game has a battle system that's inspired by "Bullet Hell" games like Touhou, you can make it through every fight by just talking with your enemies. Depending on which foes you kill and which ones you spare, the story branches off into all sorts of different directions.

Accompanied by hilarious writing and a banger soundtrack — you'll have "Hopes and Dreams" stuck in your head for weeks — Undertale is easily one of the best indie RPGs of all time. And once you finish Undertale, check out its spiritual successor Deltarune, which features many of the same characters in a different universe and story.

If you're looking for a game that's unlike any RPG you've played before, consider 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. This experimental title combines both visual novel and real-time-strategy elements into one fantastic package.

The story starts in a fictionalized version of 1980s Japan, and follows a group of high school students who are forced to fight in a war against giant monsters, or Kaijus. As the game goes on, you'll jump between time periods, skipping back to World War II and far forward to the year 2105. This non-linear story can be confusing at first, but the in-game codex keeps constant track of every character you meet and plotline you start.

About half of the game is side-scrolling exploration, while the other half is made up of RTS combat between the Kaijus and your mechs. All of this is accompanied by a relentless musical score and some of the best voice acting in any game.

13 Sentinels is a modern cult classic, a love letter to the sci-fi genre, and one of the most underrated games on the Switch.

One of the best written RPGs ever, The World Ends With You follows an introverted teenager named Neku Sakuraba, who's forced to compete in an event called the Reaper's Game. Along with his teammate Shiki, he'll have to complete a new task every day — failing even one quest means death.

The World Ends With You originally debuted on the Nintendo DS in 2007, and immediately made waves with its unique gameplay, thrilling story, and catchy soundtrack. You can play through this remastered port by yourself, or team up with a friend to battle monsters and Reapers.

As you play, you'll gradually unlock new powers and partners, each of which has its own playstyle. You'll also get to experience the sights and sounds of Shibuya, one of Tokyo's trendiest real-life neighborhoods — and uncover a hidden plot to erase it from existence.

And once you're done, check out its sequel NEO: The World Ends With You, which takes place 14 years later. It's available on the Nintendo Switch too.

If you're a Dungeons & Dragons fan who prefers RPGs with thick stories and lots of decisions to make, check out Disco Elysium. This title puts you in control of a detective suffering from amnesia, and tasks you with investigating and solving a complex murder mystery. 

Compared to other RPGs, Disco Elysium is pretty unique. Instead of leveling up stats like Strength or Speed, you'll improve your ability to tell lies and withstand drug addiction. And instead of fighting monsters, you'll be fighting against your reputation as an obnoxious psychopath. Every conversation has dozens of branching paths, all based on what you say and whether people trust you.

Disco Elysium won a ton of awards when it first came out, including Best Narrative and Best RPG from the Game Awards. Combine an inventive story with distinctive oil-painted graphics, and you have one of the most memorable RPGs on the Switch.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the latest entry in the historic Dragon Quest series, and is pretty much the quintessential JRPG experience. In it you play as the Luminary, a hero chosen by destiny to save the land of Erdrea from evil. On your quest you'll partner up with magicians and warriors, all working together to save the world.

If Dragon Quest is famous for anything, it's the characters designed by Akira Toriyama, the legendary mangaka who made Dragon Ball. You'll fight dragons of course, but also evil cucumbers, scheming devils, and living balls of slime. There are dozens of unique enemies and bosses, each one charmingly designed and animated.

If you're looking for a classic no-frills RPG, check out Dragon Quest XI. The Switch version is a "Definitive" port of the 2017 original, featuring new music and an expanded plot. As a bonus in the Switch version, you can even choose whether to play the game with 3D or retro 2D graphics.

Xenoblade Chronicles originally came out on the Wii in 2010, and has since become the basis for one of the most popular RPG series ever. Between its memorable characters and breathtaking open world, it's not hard to understand how it got so popular.

In Xenoblade Chronicles you play as Shulk, a scientist-turned-warrior who wields a legendary sword called the Monado. After being attacked by a race of robotic monsters called the Mechon, Shulk goes on a quest of revenge against one of their leaders, Metal Face. As you progress through the game, you'll gradually learn new abilities, and unlock new storylines by building connections with your teammates.

Xenoblade is also famous for its "real-time" battle system, which combines complex combos with button mashing to power up your moves. By the time you end the game, every battle will be a storm of particle effects, damage counters, and anime characters screaming.

Once you finish Xenoblade Chronicles, feel free to move onto its sequels, 2017's Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and 2022's Xenoblade Chronicles 3. You can play any of them by itself, but together they form a great trilogy.

It's the highest rated game of all time on Metacritic. Legendary gaming magazine Famitsu gave it the first perfect score in the publication's history. And any list of Nintendo RPGs would be incomplete without it.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time came out in 1998 for the Nintendo 64, and was the first 3D Legend of Zelda game. In the years since, it's been hailed as a nigh-perfect combination of exciting gameplay and captivating story. In it you play as Link, a young "fairy boy" who's tasked with defeating the tyrant Ganondorf before he can conquer the world.

The game is best known for its time travel mechanic, which lets you freely travel from the present to seven years in the future, where Ganondorf has already won and rules with an iron fist. You'll have to find allies, solve puzzles, and slay monsters in both time periods to save Hyrule.

Ocarina of Time is an iconic game that any RPG fan needs to play at least once. It's currently available as part of the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack program, which costs $49.99 per year.

Also available through the Expansion Pack is The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, a direct sequel to Ocarina of Time. It's probably the hardest (and most bizarre) 3D Zelda game, and definitely worth a look too.