To see the complete, up-to-date ranking, visit our list of the best Nintendo Switch JRPGs.
10. Disgaea 5 Complete
Nippon Ichi has unleashed their sixth new entry to the massively popular Disgaea series. This time, the series’ proven-and-tested turn based RPG formula has been greatly improved. This Complete Edition contains all the DLCs of the PlayStation 4 original.
This Switch port is the ideal platform to casually roam around the dangerous Netherworld with these colorful characters. Lead these unlikely heroes as they exact their vengeance on the evil demon emperor.
Old fans of this classic JRPG should know the game’s emphasis on turn-based tactical combat is its best feature. This includes its wide variety of customizations and various class options. New fans, however, will find this a tad bit intimidating due to the game’s complicated systems. Nonetheless, its replay value and addicting combat is something any Switch owner should try, dood. A playscore of 8.40
9. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Nintendo’s most celebrated sci-fi JRPG is also getting its own love for the Nintendo Switch. The Xeno series has come a long way. It’s the third entry to the Xeno Chronicles and it takes us into a world covered in a sea of clouds.
What makes Xenoblade Chronicles 2 special is that it pushes the limits of Nintendo’s hybrid console with its impressive presentation of open-world design and fast-paced combat. It’s similar to Nintendo’s very own Zelda with Breath of the Wild’s massive scale.
Like most JRPGs, guide your team of eccentric characters and explore its living and breathing world full of wonder and danger, all while standing on the shoulders of mechanical giants. It has a playscore of 8.44
8. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
Since 1997, the Atelier series has made a name for itself as an adorable JRPG with a focus on alchemy and adventure.
Now on its 21st title, it looks like GUST Corporation hasn’t had enough with its cute and adorable waifu-tier protagonists. Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout introduces a brand new story arc with fresh characters into the mix.
In this title, players assume the role of thicc-thighs Ryza as she embarks on a quest to eliminate the world of evil through the use of synthesis. If anyone’s familiar with the Atelier series, it’s an advanced way of creating new items.
With such a niche audience in the Western market, the Atelier games are something special and this latest entry will spark some interest to the uninitiated. If you know what I mean. It receives a playscore of 8.53
7. Octopath Traveler
Square Enix’s traveling band of 8 unique characters get together in this ultimate JRPG experience. Octopath Traveler is a familiar, yet fresh spectacle of all the great things that make a JRPG great. It’s full of magic, good storytelling and personality.
The game takes place in one kingdom shrouded in a multitude of mysteries. Hop into its immersive HD-2D visuals powered by the Unreal Engine 4 and let videogame nostalgia do the taking.
Octopath Traveler might have the same feel with most JRPGs, but its selection of 8 playable characters is what makes every journey great. Choose your main hero with their own unique origin stories and embark on a grand recruitment spree to meet its entire cast of characters.
Engage in strategic turn-based battles where you exploit enemy weaknesses using elemental or weapon weaknesses. There’s just so much content in each of their stories. It receives a playscore of 8.53
6. Tales Of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
The tenth mainline Tales entry arrives to the Western shores with polish and brand new content. Celebrating 10 years of Tales games, the world of Terca Lumireis looks better than ever on the Switch.
This definitive edition isn’t just a regular remaster, it almost feels like a new game with a ton of fresh additions including a fully voice-acted story and two new characters, the cheerful Patty Fleur and the knight Flynn Scifo.
It may not be everyone's first Tales game, but It’s the ideal game to get acquainted with the Tales series. Whether you’re a new or old fan, this return to the age-old classic is something JRPG lovers will appreciate. It receives a playscore of 8.61
5. Dragon Quest Builders 2
Square Enix’s version of Minecraft. This spin-off set after the events of the original Dragon Quest II. Fans of this voxel-based adventure know that this is a sequel to 2016’s Dragon Quest Builders.
In this brand new journey, the world needs rebuilding and it’s up to you, the player, to bring back life to its desolate and abandoned landscapes.
rWhat makes Builders different is its emphasis on character building. Although it’s a sandbox game, at its core, it’s still a JRPG. You create your own character, customize him from top to bottom and let him wander around its magical world. This sequel features the addition of new biomes and other interesting gameplay changes that make its world-building bearable for young and old people alike. A playscore of 8.76
4. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
The Zodiac Age is the closest thing the Switch could get to a modern Final Fantasy title. Square’s underrated JRPG gets a dramatic overhaul to its combat system and fixed a few issues that PlayStation 2 players complained about 14 years ago.
What makes the Zodiac Age different is the introduction of The International Zodiac System. A gameplay rework that improved the original’s ‘sluggish’ combat. Old players will notice the combat feels more alive now, especially with the addition of new features such as being able to switch between characters on the fly and more customization from its Zodiac Sign and Job trees.
Its release on the Switch is the start of Square’s access to Nintendo’s portable console. Who knows, we might get the latest Final Fantasy titles soon. The Zodiac Age is a great FF title for the Switch and it receives a playscore of 8.77
3. Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch
One of PlayStation’s majestic titles gets the Switch treatment. A collective effort between Japanese Animation giant Studio Ghibli and developer Level-5 Games, this magical adventure takes us into a vibrant kingdom straight from our childish dreams.
Unlike the PC version, this is a mere port of the PlayStation 3 original. Despite the unchanged visual quality, the story and its magical presentation is what keeps players going. The world of Ni No Kuni is a charming place with memorable characters, and not to mention renowned Studio Ghibli composer, Joe Hisaishi himself, is taking care of the game’s sweet soundtrack. It receives a playscore of 8.83
2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Three Houses continues to be the gold standard of the tactics genre in Nintendo’s world. Three Houses is what Hogwarts would be if it’s a JRPG. You hang out with your friends and enroll in magical classes. Its recent addition to the Super Smash Bros roster proves that this version of Fire Emblem has made it to the big leagues.
There’s so much to do in Three Houses unlike most Emblem titles. Three Houses presents various activities for you to participate when you’re not going to war. In these downtimes, learn various topics in academic seminars, hone your fighting abilities or just simply wander around and talk to every character you meet… you know, like Persona.
What makes Three Houses great is its balanced presentation of gameplay and story. Its cast of relatable characters might charm or appall you, and its gripping story gives you hours and hours of replay value. It’s a fantastic JRPG with a playscore of 9.08
1. DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Save the world of Erdrea and take on the role of a brave Hero in this one of a kind adventure. The age of turn-based combat isn’t coming to an end anytime soon. Embark on a traditional RPG journey where you fight bad guys, explore dungeons and find treasure. This trifecta of game design makes Echoes of an Elusive Age a recommended title for JRPG fans.
This mouthful of an entry gets the best version in one Square Enix’s renowned JRPG. XI is considered as the best of the series yet. It comes with additional features built just for the Nintendo Switch console. The power to ‘switch’ (get it) between two graphical modes: the classic 2D visuals or modern 3D gives players more room to experiment with nostalgia, role-playing or just want to try something different.
It is a combination of all the good things Dragon Quest was known for and it’s not afraid to take risks when pushing the franchise even further. It has a playscore of 9.27