10 JRPGs You Should Be Playing On The Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch is one of the most beloved consoles at the moment and for good reason. For one, the Switch has an amazing selection of JRPGs that will suck you into a different reality where you will be spending countless hours.
Today, we will be saving you the trouble of deciding which JRPG to get as we have narrowed the whole JRPG catalogue down to 10 games that you will definitely enjoy playing.
So without further ado, let us find out which 10 JRPGs should be sitting inside your Switch’s library right now!
And if you are looking to top up your Nintendo eShop account, you can purchase some Nintendo eShop Cards from OffGamers here!
Disclaimer: This is an opinion-based list and we strongly advise readers to take these recommendations with a grain of salt.
1. Pokemon Sword and Shield
There’s no question that the Pokemon games would surely make the list and we’re giving the honour to Sword and Shield for multiple reasons.
For instance, the Sword and Shield games introduced a new region with new features like the Wild Area—a feature where Pokemon expanded further on its open-world concept.
Of course, some might argue that Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl or Legends: Arceus should also be on the list but the former is a remake and the latter is close to a spin-off, straying away from the traditional games’ purity of being a turn-based game.
Therefore, we felt that Sword and Shield deserved the spotlight a little more because it has a mixture of both originality and innovation.
2. Octopath Traveler
Octopath Traveler is a game where you will spend more than 100+ hours and you might not even complete half of it with that amount of time.
This is because the Octopath Traveler immerses its players into 8 different stories from 8 different characters—each unique and special in their own way.
Gameplay-wise, there are some arguments that could be made against Octopath Traveler for being too grindy, but only if you want to be overly prepared for chapter bosses which you can certainly overcome with some planning and strategy.
Want a long-standing relationship with a game? If yes, Octopath Traveler is definitely the gaming partner for you to commit to.
3. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Being a tutor for so many different promising students can be fun and Fire Emblem: Three Houses allows you to do that in a war-torn reality.
At first glance, you will be instructed to instruct a House of your choice, helping its students to live up to their potential and before long, you will be thrown into a spiral of chaos that will cast the land into turmoil.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses has a very strong plot and multiple endings to explore, meaning you would need to play the game multiple times to fully understand the full story.
Luckily, each playthrough will never be exactly the same as you will get to recruit different students and with each House, the storyline tremendously changes, leading to a different finale.
4. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Studio Ghibli is easily one of the most loved studio houses for anime and with Ni no Kuni, this beloved animation studio is dipping its toes into video games.
As expected, the art direction and visuals were nothing short of spectacular, given the stellar track record of Studio Ghibli films, so let us talk about the gameplay.
Ni no Kuni has a lot of content for its players to go through. It has huge areas and locations that are begging to be explored, many of them are filled with enchanting creatures to interact with and battle against.
With gorgeous visuals combined with an innovative combat system, we wouldn’t just recommend Ni no Kuni for Studio Ghibli enthusiasts, as we are confident that this game will also be enjoyed by casual gamers as well!
5. Disgaea 1 Complete
Most of the time, JRPGs have a recurring theme of melancholy; just look at the Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy games.
Disgaea however, is not all sad and gloomy. Sure, it is set in the Underworld but its writing and dialogues are extremely hilarious with comical characters capable enough to pull it off.
Besides its entertaining writing, Disgaea is also a hidden gem because it has close to infinite replayability value due to having multiple endings and enormous post-game content.
Do note that the game is pretty dated as it is a remaster from the early 2000s. If you’ve decided to pick up Disgaea for your Switch, be sure to pay attention to the tutorials as knowing the mechanics and quirks of this game will be hugely beneficial for you.
6. Shin Megami Tensei V
We’ve often heard tales about the ongoing battle between angels and demons, light and darkness. Shin Megami Tensei V gives you the chance to be in one.
The SMT series has been a long-standing franchise of the JRPG genre and has since developed a cult following.
That said, it is not to say that SMT V is unwelcoming for new players, as a matter of fact, SMT V is arguably the most beginner-friendly instalment of the SMT games.
Hence, if you want to start exploring the SMT franchise, playing SMT V is a good start to get a feel for the game’s story direction, difficulty and strong themes.
7. Shining Resonance Refrain
Shining Resonance Refrain might not necessarily have an overly complex plot like the Xenogears and Trials games but it is a breath of fresh air for the genre.
Its simple plot and straightforward gameplay are very suitable for players that are not familiar with JRPG games.
Essentially, you will be playing the role of Yuma Ilvern that has the power to transform into a dragon and is forced to use his powers to save the land from the Empire—sure it can be a little cliche but it is still a very pleasant JRPG to play.
8. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout
If you’re a fan of JRPGs with a touch of craft and creation, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is the game for you.
In Atelier Ryza you will need to gather ingredients and materials to craft the best gear for your characters. Plus, from what we’ve gathered, this instalment of the Atelier series is said to have the most accessible alchemy system, meaning you would not need to crack your brain just to craft one piece of equipment.
Besides that, the combat system is also revamped. Fights are much more seamless compared to previous entries and the game has also added real-time elements into the combat mechanics for a more intuitive experience.
If you are a sucker for progression-based games where you see characters grow with their equipment and skills, Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout will certainly be up your alley.
9. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age (Definitive Edition)
The DQ games are a classic and Echoes of an Elusive Age certainly has the making to be one.
Like its predecessors, it stayed true to its genre by having a traditional turn-based system with a linear-paced levelling system. Don’t fix what isn’t broken, right?
The definitive edition that you will be purchasing for the Switch will also include additional scenarios, extra quests and an option to switch between the 2D and 3D graphics.
Similar to most classic franchises we’ve mentioned, this version of Dragon Quest is most suited for newcomers to get themselves familiarised with the series as it has all the best stuff of the DQ games and is modernised for the current consoles.
10. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Can’t decide whether to get Monster Hunter or God Eater? Why not give Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a try.
Unlike previous Xenoblade games, this version is more story-driven while also retaining its open-world concept. This means you have two ways to progress—either to fully explore the land or follow along with the story to see what unfolds.
It is also said that Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has the largest number of characters in the franchise. Each of them is unique with its own characteristics that will make you want to interact with them to know their development.
Be careful though, once you start playing this game, you will be consumed by it as it is hyper immersive with its world-building and storytelling.
There you have it! We’ve finally reached the end of the list. We hope that this list will inspire you to pick up some JRPGs for your Switch.
