The Best JRPGS On Nintendo Switch

Here’s our roundup of the best JRPGS on the Nintendo Switch. This comprehensive list contains 23 JRPGS that you simply must download and play. Some of these games are cult classics in their own right and some are just starting to gain a following. Either way, they wouldn’t be on this list without good reason. They’re the best of the best when it comes to Japanese Role Playing Games available to play on the Switch.

Before we get into the list, we thought it’d be a good idea to clarify what we mean by ‘JRPG’. We’ve not just defined them by role playing games from Japan. We’ve included games that although aren’t specifically from Japan, they fit the genre in other ways such as game mechanics, design or style.

The Nintendo Switch has a broad range of games in this genre, so picking just a handful was an extremely tough job. That’s the reason we’ve picked over 20 of the best. It certainly wasn’t easy! They aren’t listed in any particular order, here are our top picks for the best of the bunch. Check them out and let us know what you think.

The Best JRPGS On Nintendo Switch

You’ll see some games you’re familiar with and some you aren’t. For each of the games listed, we’ll include a brief game and plot summary as well as links to either the Nintendo Store or the Amazon product page. So, get comfortable and check out our list of the Best JRPGS On Nintendo Switch.

The Best JRPGS On Nintendo Switch

First up, it’s Dragon Quest XI.

Dragon Quest XI

Dragon Quest was on the first ever games announced for the Nintendo Switch video game console. It was originally designed as an open world game but the developers stopped this from happening as it wouldn’t follow their artistic direction.

You’ll play as the Luminary. A hero on the run from your adversaries who will stop at nothing to protect your land from destruction. You’ll need to work with your ragtag band of adventurers to engage in well-balanced, turn-based battles and embark on quests across the kingdom of Erdrea.

This is your typical Japanese RPG. You can create and forge gear, develop and increase your party members skill points and change outfits, gear and inventory. Manage your team well and fight your way to victory.

Just like all previous games in the Dragon Quest series, the character designs on display here are all created by the famous manga artist Akira Toriyama. This one is up their with the very best JRPGS.

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Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Be ready for war, for it is coming to the continent of Fódlan. The organisation in charge is the Church of Seiros. The Church hosts the prestigious Officer’s Academy within its headquarters.

You’ll get invited to teach at one of its three mighty houses. Each of these houses are comprised of talented students full of individuality. There is also royalty present in these houses, they’re representing their territory but they’re looking to you as their professor to lead them in their student lives as well as their battles!

Fire Emblem is a fairly difficult JRPG. This is not just a game of strategic, turn based battles. Luck plays no part here, you’ll need to be at the very top of your game. Practice definitely makes perfect and you’ll need plenty of it in this game. Do you have the skills to fight and to win?

But, it’s incredibly tactical and each of your decisions will affect the outcome of your time management and social aspects of the game.

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Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Final Fantasy VII

FF7 is one of my favorite games of all time for the PS1. I still remember putting that disk in and starting it up the first time. I had no idea what I needed to do or what was going on. I just remember being super engaged by the dialogue and graphics.

I loved every minute of it but I never actually completed it, this was despite putting around 100 hours into the game. When I heard it was coming out on the Nintendo Switch I was super excited.

FINAL FANTASY VII really is a timeless classic loved by a thousands of fans loyal to the franchise. The FF7 that’s available on the Switch hasn’t been messed with, it’s a direct port of the original with some slight tweaks and enhancements.

The enhancements included are a speed mode, the ability to turn off battle encounters and a battle enhancement feature. It still has all the charm of the original and, if played in docked mode looks really really good due to the low resolution. The pixels aren’t stretched at all.

It’s fought hard for it’s place on this this list and it’s well deserved. So, are you ready to play as Cloud Strife once again?

We found the best price for this game on Amazon.

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Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Final Fantasy VIII

For me, Final Fantasy VIII thoroughly deserves a place on this list of the best JRPGS on the Switch. But, it’s a game that you either love or hate due to the quirky in game mechanics that, quite frankly were ahead of it’s time.

For me, the most polarizing aspect of the game is the game play it self. For example, you can go ahead and customize your characters and use the junction system to good effect.

The battle system is also quite good. Most non-boss encounters are fairly easy though and your basic attack will probably kill anything that comes you way. Most bosses don’t require any significant adjustment to your strategy, but your experience could vary if you don’t spend a decent amount of time looking for strong magic to junction.

The enemies also scale up with you. So, if you spend hours and hours grinding in an effort to improve your characters, the enemies scale up too. So it’s worth finding the balance between

Exploration is also encouraged, if you want to get new magic etc. The game is also full of unique environments and towns to visit. You can really tell that the effort was put into really creating a sort of open world style exploration system. The artwork is great and the soundtrack is simply sublime.

It’s a great experience playing it on the Switch and one that’s well worth purchasing. Hit the links below to check them out.

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Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Xenoblade Chronicles

This is a new story in the Xenoblade Chronicles series. As the giant beasts march toward death, the last hope is a scavenger named Rex—and Pyra, a living weapon known as a Blade. Can you find the fabled paradise she calls home? Command a group of Blades and lead them to countless strategic victories before the world ends.

Each of the Titans host there own distinct cultures, wildlife, and diverse regions to explore. You’ll be able to search the vast open areas and the epic labyrinthine corridors for treasure, secret paths, and creatures to battle and index.

During these adventures you’ll need to get to know a large cast of eclectic characters, including the weaponized life forms known as Blades. Gather these allies, bond with them to increase their power, and utilize their special ARTS to devastate enemies. But to save the world of Alrest, you must first demystify its cloudy past.

An amazing game play experience, especially on the Switch, makes this game a worthwhile purchase.

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Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Tokyo Mirage Sessions

Tokyo Mirage Sessions takes place in a modern day Tokyo. A great thing about this game is that it features real world locations! The games location is not the only talking point, the artwork is also faboulous.

The game play centers around the enemies known as the Mirages. The mirages want to harvest energy known as Performa from humans and are responsible for several disappearances.

The story follows a group of teenagers who become allied with friendly Mirages, based on characters from the Fire Emblem series, and merge with them to become Mirage Masters. Under the guise of the Fortuna Entertainment talent agency, the Mirage Masters fight to protect innocent people from the Mirages and find out who is behind the attacks.

In my opinion, it’s one of the best games I’ve played on the Switch and certainly one of the best JRPGS available to play on the Switch! Check out the links below.

Hit the affiliate link here to buy it from Amazon.
Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings

Magic, mystyery and art! What’s not to love. This fantastic JRPG has a small cult following. But, it’s not without a issue. There are some performance issues with it if you play un-docked but in docked mode it’s a flawless and a highly enjoyable game. So give it a shot, you’ll love it.

Lydie and Suelle are twin sisters, who are also alchemists, living in Merveille, the capital of Kingdom of Adalet, and they aim to make their atelier the best atelier in the kingdom.

One day, they find a Mysterious Painting with a strange and wonderful world inside of it, full of rare materials for their alchemy. This discovery is sure to become the very key to realizing their dream.

A new mysterious story to mark the 20th anniversary of the Atelier series! Delve into the fantastic worlds of Mysterious Paintings together with Lydie and Suelle!

Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

Final Fantasy IX – One of The Best JRPGS On Nintendo Switch

Final Fantasy 9 is an absolute monster in terms of sales. Since it’s release in the year 2000 it’s gone on to sell over 5 million copies, so it’s not only one of the best JRPGS on the switch, it’s one of the best games period!

The game looks simply brilliant on the Nintendo Switch screen and is a vast improvement over the original. The cut scenes are now in high definition! Here’s a recap of the story:

Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe have kidnapped Princess Garnet, the heir of Alexandria. To their surprise, however, the princess herself yearned to escape the castle. Through a series of unusual circumstances, she and her personal guard, Steiner, fall in with Zidane and set out on an incredible journey.

Meeting unforgettable characters like Vivi and Quina along the way, they learn about themselves, the secrets of the Crystal, and a malevolent force that threatens to destroy their world.

It’s one of those timeless games that you can play over and over again. It’s epic. Go check it out asap!

Hit the link here to buy it from the Nintendo Store.

I am Setsuna

Released in March 2017, I am Setsuna is a fantastic Japanese RPG and well worth a spot on this list of the very best on the Switch.

The game centres around the main character, Setsuna. You’ll be tasked with preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice to save her land and the people that live there. It’s a really nostalgic gameplay experience as it blends classic story telling and battle systems of yesteryear.

The game introduces a classic, retro, authentic JRPG style to the Nintendo Switch! It really is an emotionally impactful story which leaves you feeling fully immersed in the story of Setsuna. It’s a great game and worth putting on your short list of games you must play!

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Octopath Traveler

A band of eight travelers must complete eight adventures with eight roles to play in a new world brought to life by Square Enix Yep, the same guys who brought us the FF franchise.

This game revolves around exploration. You’ll be exploring each of the eight traveler’s stories. And, you’ll need to learn and use their abilities in and out of battle.

Will you expand your horizons as the Merchant or track down a traitor as the Warrior? Where will you go? Who will join you? You alone can choose your path.

Here’s some further game description from the Nintendo website:

Step into the shoes of a traveler to inherit their struggles and strengths. Use each character’s special abilities to interact with the world and enhance your tactics in turn-based battles.

The Dancer’s alluring charm leads followers into battle, whereas the Apothecary can mix items to heal allies or unleash explosive attacks. Discover enemy weaknesses and target them to break through their defenses.

By storing boost points on every turn you can then use and spend them at strategic times to strengthen abilities, chain attacks, or provide aid. Choose the path you wish to walk and discover what lies beyond the horizon.

Octopath Traveler is a real throwback to some classic JRPGS. It’s certainly up there with the best of them and it’s probably my fave. It is stunning to look at and combined that with it’s lengthy storyline it makes for the perfect JRPG.