In this article, we will be covering best role playing games on Nintendo Switch in 2022, so you can pick and choose which one you will play next time around.
It’s been more than five years since the Nintendo Switch debuted, and in that time, it’s amassed a big collection of titles. The system has a wide selection of games in nearly every major video game category, but RPGs are especially well-represented. The firm hosted its first Nintendo Direct presentation of the year on January 10, four days after launching Pokémon Legends: Arceus. It was a big one, with surprises including a portable version of No Man’s Sky, the return of Super Mario Strikers, and a Wii Sports revival. Oh, and Mario Kart 8 is about to get much larger.
After a long absence, Mario’s soccer spinoff is back. Nintendo unveiled Mario Strikers: Battle League, a sequel to the GameCube original that appears to include similar wacky gameplay as Mario Kart but for soccer. Nintendo also unveiled a new version of Wii Sports, which is called Nintendo Switch Sports. It has familiar and new sports, and motion controls (of course), and it became available on April 29th. The third main entry in the massive sci-fi role-playing series Xenoblade Chronicles is returning soon, and it’ll be available on the Switch in September. We don’t know much about it yet, but it does appear to be quite pretty.
Since its debut in 2016, No Man’s Sky has seen a number of changes, from regular content updates to a virtual reality mode. Now the space exploration game is making the move to portable, as it debuts on the Nintendo Switch. We don’t know much else about the port at this time, but it will be available this summer. If you want to learn more about everything that was revealed during the event, be sure to check out Nintendo Direct 2022: News, trailers, and more.
Best role playing games on Nintendo Switch
The Switch’s hybrid nature means it boasts a wide range of epic stories, from long-running franchises like Pokemon and Dragon Quest to original creations like Triangle Strategy. The Nintendo hybrid console has a plethora of fantastic adventures for any role-playing enthusiast to scratch. Here are our picks for the best role playing games on Nintendo Switch in 2022.
Bravely Default II
Don’t be fooled by the strange name; at its core, Bravely Default II is a familiar Final Fantasy adventure by another name. The game follows four disparate heroes as they attempt to restore balance to the world’s elemental crystals. Even many of the abilities and treasures you find on your journey are identical to those from previous Final Fantasies.
Bravely Default also includes its own ideas, such as the namesake Brave and Default commands, which allow characters to skip turns to gain points that may be spent to perform numerous actions simultaneously. It’s complex and inventive, and when you add in the adaptable job system, it provides nearly limitless freedom in modding your party composition.
Collection of Mana
Secret of Mana is one of the most well-known and popular RPGs ever created, and it’s now available on Switch for the first time. It has been 30 years since its debut. The Collection of Mana is a re-release of Secret Of Mana that includes enhancements over the original version.
A three-game collection including Secret of Mana, its Game Boy precursor (known as either Final Fantasy Adventure or Mystic Quest, depending on where you live), and its previously Japan-only sequel Trials of Mana, is ideal for newcomers to one of Square Enix’s most renowned series.
Dark Souls Remastered
Dark Souls, which established FromSoftware as a household name and remains one of the company’s greatest achievements, with Elden Ring being the success it is, is still one of the studio’s crowning triumphs – equally hard and darkly alluring as it was when it debuted in 2011.
The Artorias of the Abyss DLC expansion from the original edition is included in this remastered collection, which also includes the main game. While other platforms may have superior technical quality, the Nintendo Switch version of this modern classic offers some unique system benefits, including Amiibo compatibility and global accessibility.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest is one of gaming’s most famous brands, and the latest edition serves as proof. Dragon Quest XI continues the tale of the Luminary, a legendary hero destined to save Erdrea from the encroaching forces of evil, and it features the series’ signature mix of old-fashioned gameplay and emotional storytelling.
Despite its vintage appearance, Dragon Quest XI’s narrative is appealing and moving, complemented by a colorful cast of characters such as the boastful thief Erik and the flamboyant Sylvando. This game also includes the option to play through the story in 3D or in retro 2D, which was previously only accessible via the Japanese 3DS version.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The latest installment in the renowned RPG franchise is also one of the finest. You take on the role of a new professor at Garreg Mach Monastery, where you must lead one of the three student houses, extending upon the franchise’s tactical foundations.
You take on the role of both a military commander and a schoolteacher, nurturing your students’ development both on and off the battlefield. It’s an ingenious spin on the traditional Fire Emblem gameplay that adds to the bond you have with each of your soldiers. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is excitingly replayable because it offers three distinct paths in which events may unfold.
Monster Hunter Rise
Capcom has spent years gradually sanding down the edges of its popular but notoriously thick Monster Hunter franchise, and the newest entry, Monster Hunter: Rise, is the most approachable yet. Your goal in previous games was to form a party with other hunters and destroy terrifying monsters by using the resources you obtained from them to create more powerful weapons and armor.
Rise’s gameplay loop is incredibly engaging, and it adds a slew of improvements and new traversal features, such as the Wirebug, an elastic bug that allows you to slingshot yourself around the world. Rise is a fantastic game for both old fans and newcomers, thanks to these improvements.
Octopath Traveler
The look and feel of the mid-1990s golden era in Japanese RPGs has been largely recaptured, although few have done it as effectively as Octopath Traveler. The game follows eight characters, each with his or her own narrative and objective that eventually merge into one massive quest.
It’s a well-executed throwback to SNES role-playing games, with enough new features to keep it from feeling like another retro-clone. However, its most distinctive element is its ground-breaking “HD-2D” graphical style, which is a wonderfully modern twist on the 16-bit aesthetic that other RPGs, such as Dragon Quest 3 and Live A Live remakes, would subsequently adopt.
Paper Mario: The Origami King
The Origami King reclaims the magic of Paper Mario’s early games, which have long since abandoned their RPG roots. The Origami King is a lite role-playing game that ranges from hilarious to heartrending, with the franchise’s signature wit and sharp writing.
The game’s cast of colorful characters adds to the charm, but its greatest feature is undoubtedly the buoying storyline. A unique panel-sliding battle system adds further depth to every enemy encounter, making it a fast-paced micro puzzle. Despite its odd style, The Origami King is Paper Mario’s finest entry since Thousand Year Door.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus
Pokemon Legends: Arceus is the series’ most significant reinvention yet, years of minor modifications having failed to quench our appetite for more. Pokemon Legends: Arceus drops players into a big world where patience and quick reflexes are just as crucial to capturing Pokemon as type advantages, upending over two decades of conventions.
There are hundreds of wild Pokemon on the map, and you have a lot of choices when it comes to catching them – whether with bait, hiding in tall grass, or creating your own monsters to fight them. This freedom makes Arceus one of the most exciting games in years, and it’s a must-play for all Switch owners looking for an epic adventure.
Pokemon Sword and Shield
There are a lot of Pokemon games on the Switch, but Pokemon Sword and Shield remain the finest option for those wanting a traditional Pokemon experience. As a new trainer embarking on an expedition to become Pokémon champion, you’ll travel throughout the world, build a team of hand-picked monsters, and battle strong gym leaders in Sword and Shield, which follows the series’ tried-and-true formula.
As enticing as ever, the gameplay loop here is solid. Pokemon Sword and Shield are among the finest entries in the series, with an optional second season (which adds two meaty DLC expansions), a variety of post-game activities, and much more.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Persona may be the more popular of Atlus’ RPG series, but Shin Megami Tensei is its flagship franchise, and Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the best. In this arid, post-apocalyptic Tokyo setting, you play the “Nahobino,” a supernatural being formed when your regular high school student avatar combines with a strange man known as Aogami.
In the aftermath, you’ll travel across Tokyo in search of survivors while utilizing your new supernatural abilities to recruit other demons and combat gods. Shin Megami Tensei V is one of the Switch’s greatest exclusives, with dark and difficult elements.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore
Tokyo Mirage Sessions is an unpretentious gem snatched from the Nintendo Wii U library, a brightly colored collaboration between Nintendo and RPG veteran Atlus. The game is meant to be similar to Persona rather than Shin Megami Tensei and Fire Emblem, following a group of aspiring teen idols who must battle shadowy forces that have invaded Tokyo.
Characters will alter during battle, and legendary Fire Emblem heroes like Chrom and Tiki can be called upon to vanquish opponents in turn-based fights. The combat system is intricate, drawing influences from both Fire Emblem and SMT, while the tale is charming and told with anime earnestness.
Triangle Strategy
Final Fantasy Tactics is a particular classic in the vein of Triangle Strategy, which lovingly replicates an earlier classic: Final Fantasy Tactics. In the spirit of that much-loved game, Triangle Strategy is a turn-based tactical RPG in which you control a small army of soldiers on a chessboard-like field.
The gameplay is deep, with layers of intricacy when it comes to placing your troops, elemental alignments, and other aspects. The storyline is compelling and choice-driven, focusing on political intrigues and the serious consequences of your actions. Triangle Strategy is an engrossing RPG that rivals some of Nintendo’s best software in terms of quality.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the most ambitious and engrossing games brought forth by Nintendo, and it was originally released on the underpowered Wii. The tale is engaging enough, packed with twists and anime drama, while the MMO-like combat system provides a significant amount of strategic depth. What really sets Xenoblade apart, though, are its visuals.
The adventure is made up of the backs and limbs of two enormous gods, and each place you go is more fantastic and stunning than the last. It’s an epic in every sense of the word. The original game might take up to 100 hours to finish, with a brand-new epilogue tale that sets the stage for Xenoblade Chronicles 3.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Subsequent to the sci-fi-influenced Wii U adventure Xenoblade Chronicles X, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 returns the series to more typical surroundings in terms of both appearance and theme. Like its predecessor, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is an enormous game set on (and within) continent-size beings known as titans.
You’ll travel across these colossi from lush meadows to arid wastelands, visiting a variety of amazing settings along the way. Each location is huge and wonderfully realized, rivaling the best settings in the genre, while the refreshed combat system adds greater strategic nuance than before. While the narrative leans even more heavily on anime conventions than its predecessors, Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s sense of scale and awe is unrivaled on Switch.
We hope that you enjoyed this article on the best role-playing games on Nintendo Switch in 2022. If you did, we are sure that you will also enjoy reading our other articles, such as the Comparison: Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch, or Nintendo has a new controller on the way for Nintendo Switch. Also, if you play PC games as well, you can check out our guides on games such as Elden Ring and Lost Ark to improve yourself.
