Top 10 Best JRPGs on Nintendo Switch

The Nintendo Switch has quickly become the main console for RPGs and JRPGs. The library has grown tremendously over the years, which means it’s time to pick the best JRPGs to play on the Switch right now.

Fire Emblem Three Houses

Not only is Fire Emblem Three Houses one of the best JRPGs you can play on the Switch, it could very well be the best game in the Fire Emblem series, period.

As Byleth, you are a professor at Garreg Mach Monastery tasked with teaching your students the methods of combat. Three Houses also features the most compelling cast of characters we’ve seen in a Fire Emblem game, intriguing political intrigue, and a genuinely engaging main story that will keep you engaged from start to finish.

We haven’t even talked about the gameplay, which as always is fun if you’re into all that tactical goodness. Fire Emblem’s weapon triangle system might seem a bit too simple for some, but as always, the challenge is trying to get through a fight without losing a single unit.

persona

The Persona series needs no introduction here, and yes, it’s an absolutely perfect fit for the Switch. All three games are among the best JRPGs in video games, and if you’re at all interested in the genre or fancy cozy get-togethers with cute anime characters that have depth, then these are worth checking out.

All three Persona games on Switch follow the same formula: your days are spent at school, going on dates and trips with your friends, while your nights are usually reserved for dungeon crawling where you fight the forces of evil around Japan to protect. Turn-based combat holds up surprisingly well, especially in Persona 3 and 4, while 5 easily offers the most accessible and modern take on the turn-based formula today.

Octopathic Traveler

In an attempt to bring back the retro-style JRPG reminiscent of Final Fantasy games of the past, Square Enix brought Octopath Traveler to this world and to the Switch.

Octopath Traveler introduces you to eight different people who all live separately and lead completely different lives. Chapter by chapter, you’ll switch between the eight characters to play through all of their storylines.

From the role of a suave professor and a female escort to a warrior and a huntress; Each playable character in Octopath really feels different from the other in terms of combat and special abilities they can use on and off the battlefield.

Octopath Traveler’s unique HD 2D art style was shaped by Square Enix and its developers, and after playing this lengthy JRPG you can see why. The pixel art in game here looks great and with the lighting effects, soundtrack and backdrop, Octopath Traveler shines as one of if not the best JRPG available on the Switch.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is one of the biggest and sprawling JRPGs you can get your hands on on the Switch. Xenoblade 3 takes control of a group of soldiers and tells a pretty intense story about trying to break out of a cycle of violence while also grappling with the aftermath of war.

During the 60-hour role-playing game, you will learn almost the entire story via new combat mechanics. It’s not that combat in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is confusing, but there’s always something new to learn and introduce new methods to deal with the variety of enemies you’ll encounter.

If you’re looking for a heavy JRPG to jump into with a great cast of characters and tons of content that will provide dozens of hours of gameplay, then look no further.

The World Ends With You: Final Remix

You start the game with a scared teenager named Neku Sakuraba and find yourself in the middle of Shibuya Crossing with a scary red timer in hand. The timer runs out and Neku soon realizes that he is the underground of Shibuya participating in a round of the Reaper’s Game.

Neku teams up with other players to complete daily missions to keep them alive and avoid annihilation.

Taking place in Tokyo, The Worlds Ends With You is such a quirky little game, but it also has tons of style. The music is super pop and Japanese, you can go shopping and change your character’s gear to adjust their stats, and you can even buy ramen to boost health.

Using needles as your main power source, you defeat enemies to gain experience and collect money so you can buy new threads or needles for battles.

The World Ends With You is one of the best JRPGs of all time, and while it’s played on the Switch it’s not as good as it was on the DS (where it first launched), but it’s still great fun with an intriguing story with a varied cast of characters.

Pokémon Legends Arceus

To say that Pokemon Legends Arceus is a refreshing change of pace for the series would be the understatement of the century. Not only does it completely shake up the Arenas and Elite Four formula, it gave us our first taste of what an open-world Pokémon game could look like.

The catching mechanics and Pokeball crafting system added a lot of depth to the game and also helped with the pace as you could literally run around the world throwing balls to catch Pokemon in the wild without missing a beat. It honestly makes the mainline games feel archaic and dated.

The boss fights are really fun and challenging, and the story itself is actually good and quite mature for a Pokémon game. It’s worth noting that Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are also currently available on the Switch, and if you’re looking for a more traditional Pokemon experience, these are the games to check out. That said, Arceus just has something special.

Valkyrie Chronicles 4

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a strategy RPG similar to Fire Emblem or Advance Wars, in which you control units on a map with the goal of defeating the enemy before they kill your squad.

This fourth iteration of the series actually takes place during the events of the first game, but this time the story revolves around a completely different squad. Commander Claude Wallace of Federation Squad E joins forces with his best friends from his childhood past to fight in a war that has no winners.

The compelling storylines and diverse party members draw you deep into the world of Valkyria Chronicles and once you’re drawn in, you may not be able to get out.

Completed Disgaea 5

Disgaea 5 is a tactical role-playing game that served as the launch title for the Nintendo Switch in 2017 and is a port of the PS4 version but with all the additional content such as bonus scenarios, new characters and special classes.

This marks the first time a numbered entry in the Disgaea series will be released on a “portable” console, making this Switch port special alongside the free DLC content.

Set in a strange demonic world filled with strange creatures, Disgaea 5 leans more towards humor than world-threatening JRPG seriousness, which should be refreshing for JRPG fans used to the latter.

With Disgaea 5’s lengthy campaign, the Switch is a great place to play this gem of an RPG. It’s perfect for quick pick-and-play sessions, and trust me, this one is going to take a lot of your time if you plan on putting the effort into actually completing it.

final fantasy

Whenever someone mentions the greatest JRPGs of all time, especially on the PlayStation, it’s hard not to mention Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX. VII ushered in a wave of brand new JRPG fans, introducing players to Cloud Strife and the rest of his oddball crew.

Sephiroth is one of the most notorious villains to ever grace the PlayStation, and now both of these games are playable on any modern console.

With Final Fantasy IX, Square went back to its roots by bringing us a real fantasy game with knights, mages, princesses and a guy with a monkey tail. It’s all very whimsical and childish compared to Final Fantasy IX’s steampunk setting.

Whichever you choose, you’re going to have quite a ride my friend. These two JRPGs were so seminal at the time of release, especially FFVII.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

You play as Yuri Lowell in a world called Terca Lumireis. Yuri is a former Knight of the Empire who eventually joins forces with the Princess to stop the abuse of a power called Blastia.

A port of the Japan-only PS3 version of the game, Tales of Vesperia is still holding up ten years later and its cel-shaded graphics look fantastic on the Switch. This JRPG is a classic that is considered one of the best Tales games of all time.

In our review for the Switch version, we called Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition “one of the greatest Tales experiences yet” and praised the fact that the game isn’t just a simple port:

“In many ways it feels like a brand new experience, even for someone like me who has a lot of experience with the original game and the Tales series.”

And it does for our selection for those best JRPGs on the Switch. Be sure to search Twinfinite for more news and information on Switch-related content.