Best Nintendo Switch RPG Games

While the Wii was known by many for its all-ages motion and sports games, the Switch will be known for its abundance of incredible RPGs. With hundreds and hundreds of games to choose from, it can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a list of some of the best Nintendo Switch RPG games to get you started.

Overwhelming choices might feel like they’ll overwhelm your budget, too. Remember that you can redeem your Fetch Points for gift cards to the Nintendo eShop to help cover your gaming hobby (now is a great time to download Fetch if you don’t have it).

How to level up with Fetch Play

You hopefully already know the Fetch app and have it on your phone (if not, download it now). Fetch Play is another way to earn points: by playing video games.

You read that right: with Fetch Play, you can earn points and redeem them for rewards, all for playing popular mobile games. Here’s how it works:

1. Open the Fetch app.
2. Tap the “Play” button in the top right corner of your screen.
3. Tap “Play now” to go to your Fetch Play catalog.
4. Choose one of the games.
5. Tap “Play now” underneath the title to download it.
6. Earn points with every task you complete.

Let’s say you want to hit the ground running with the Switch 2 and load up Bravely Default: Flying Fairy on release day. You can play mobile games like Toon Blast or Wordscapes in your downtime to earn points toward a Nintendo eShop gift card. Clear enough tasks in Fetch Play and your next RPG could be covered by points alone.

Top Nintendo Switch RPG games

The nice thing about profiling the best RPGs for the Nintendo Switch is that you’ve probably heard of most of them; we’re just reminding you to download a copy. 

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 

As the third title in the Xenoblade Chronicles series, the gameplay should feel pretty familiar (though they added a new summoning mechanic). The Xeno series has long drawn in fans for its story, a mixture of fantasy and sci-fi elements in a world that feels truly lived in. The combination of a grand setting and deep combat make Xenoblade Chronicles 2 a definitive JRPG and a must-play Switch RPG game. 

Octopath Traveler

Octopath Traveler sets itself apart from other RPG games on the Switch with its dedication to delivering stunning, unique visuals. Dubbed “HD-2D,” the graphics attempt to recreate old SNES style sprites and textures atop modern 3D environments. The result is a game that is visually distinct from pretty much everything else in the genre. 

With eight different protagonists to choose from, Octopath Traveler offers plenty of incentives to revisit the game, though the visuals will likely be enough for most players.

Dragon Quest XI S

A classic turn-based RPG game for the Switch, Dragon Quest XI S is the eleventh entry in the Dragon Quest series. Originally released on the 3DS, the title has been brought to the Switch for a bigger audience with its “Definitive Edition.” Not only is this one of the best RPGs for the Nintendo Switch, it also gives you some of the best options while playing, including HD and classic 16-bit style graphics as well as English or Japanese audio.

Persona 5 Royal

The latest in the Persona series, Persona 5 Royal takes the DLC and bonus content of Persona 5 and wraps it all up into a nice package. Control a male high school student nicknamed “Joker” in this half life-sim/half dungeon crawler that looks and feels unlike any other RPG on the Switch. Fight bullies, deal with creepy and/or evil teachers, and try to survive high school when “survive” isn’t a metaphor. 

It might be the fifth in the series, but Persona 5 Royal is a great starting point for Persona and for RPGs on the Switch.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses 

You have never played an RPG game (on the Switch or otherwise) with as many playable characters as a Fire Emblem game. This somewhat traditional fantasy setting is complicated by all of the different choices you can make as a player, controlling the main character of Byleth as you settle into the role of professor at a military officers’ school. 

Fire Emblem games have defined the tactical RPG space for years now, and Three Houses is no different. If you want political intrigue, strategic combat and a story reminiscent of Romance of the Three Kingdoms, You’ll find it here.

Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Yes, it’s more of an action RPG, but how could we not include Breath of the Wild? An open-world version of Hyrule, you can dive hard and deep into the story or you can spend your time hopping around the countryside collecting Korok seeds. 

Most players strike a balance between freeing Hyrule from Ganon’s corrupting influence and building relationships with the NPCs, but that’s the beauty of an open-world game: you can do just about anything you want.

Pokémon Legends: Arceus

If you think you know Pokémon, think again. While this action RPG does slide into the Pokémon canon as a prequel to Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl, it’s a standalone title that catapults you into the past of the Hisui region (based on Japan’s island of Hokkaido). In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you discover firsthand the history of the Pokémon world, trying to calm “noble” Pokémon that have gone berserk and eventually battling the “original form” of one of two legendary Pokémon: Dialga or Palkia.

Shin Megami Tensei V

In Shin Megami Tensei V, you control a high school student who is pulled into Da’at, a realm filled with warring angels and demons. With multiple endings (determined by moral choices and alliances you make along the way), Shin Megami Tensei V has one of the most unique storylines of a modern RPG. When paired with a turn-based battle system that allows you to recruit and fuse different demons to fight alongside you, you have the recipe for one of the best RPG games on the Switch.

Monster Hunter Stories 2

A spinoff of the Monster Hunter series, Monster Hunter Stories 2 adds new gameplay mechanics and presents a novel twist on the core Monster Hunter gameplay that you might be used to. The story begins with the disappearance of all Rathalos around the world that just happens to be paired with large pits of eerie pink light appearing everywhere. You play the descendent of a legendary rider (Red) as you try to bring balance back to the world and its monstrous ecosystem.

Live A Live

If the title sounds familiar, it’s because Live A Live originally debuted in 1994, and this version brings back the same time-jumping character-driven storytelling. Although you’ll find redesigned graphics and some “quality of life” style improvements, Live A Live is a unique game in that it kept the spirit of the original alive while reminding gamers that Square is known for a lot more than the Final Fantasy series.

With nine chapters spanning prehistory to the far future, few games could hope to have a scope like Live A Live, let alone stick the landing. 

Underrated Nintendo Switch RPGs

If you’re looking for something a bit different, these underrated RPG games might have flown under your radar, but they definitely deserve your attention. The underrated Nintendo Switch RPG games list could be a mile long, so we’ve limited it to just five for now.

Banner of the Maid 

A turn-based RPG set in the late 1700s to early 1800s, Banner of the Maid is a great choice for history or literature buffs. Set during an alternate French revolution and with some fantasy elements, there really is nothing quite like it on the market.

Omori

In Omori, you play as Sunny, a nonverbal teenage boy whose fears and memories are as much landscape as they are challenges to be conquered. Navigate the real world and Sunny’s surreal dream world to one of multiple endings, encouraging you to revisit the game to learn all of the ways his story wraps up. Praised for its portrayals of depression, anxiety and psychological trauma, Omori isn’t for the faint of heart and might feel closer to horror than a traditional JRPG.

West of Loathing

This comedy adventure RPG is set in the Kingdom of Loathing universe, where you’ll control a stick figure in a fantasy western setting. A traditional turn-based combat RPG, West of Loathing differentiates itself by its commitment to almost silly graphics and sincere gameplay (all backed by a spaghetti western style soundtrack). West of Loathing is an especially good RPG for the Switch if combat isn’t your top priority. 

I Am Setsuna

Although it launched with the Switch in 2017, I Am Setsuna seemed to get drowned out by gamers’ love for Breath of the Wild and other launch titles. I Am Setsuna drops you into a snow-covered world plagued by monsters, and, taking gameplay inspiration from Chrono Trigger, puts you in control of a silent protagonist (Endir) who needs to guard Setsuna, a young woman fated to be sacrificed to pacify the monsters of the world. 

Child of Light 

Child of Light is one of the most visually striking RPGs of the last decade, with a watercolor aesthetic and poetic storytelling. This combination of platformer and RPG puts you in control of a young girl named Aurora in the fantasy world of Lemuria, and if she’s ever to return home, she will need to free the sun, moon and stars from the villainous Queen of the Night. Did we mention that she arrived in Lemuria after dying of a mysterious illness? A unique idea with a unique aesthetic, Child of Light should be on your Switch already.

Upcoming RPG titles for the Nintendo Switch 2

It might seem like the Nintendo Switch 2 was just announced, but by the time you’re reading this, you might already have it in your hands. We’ll likely be adding these to our Nintendo Switch RPG games list once they’re released.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma (June 2025)

The newest entry in the Rune Factory series, Guardians of Azuma will be debuting with the Switch 2. This new game also brings with it a never-before-seen country in the Rune Factory world, Azuma. It’s up to you to fight the corruption spreading through Azuma and return hope to a once-prosperous land.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (HD Remaster, June 2025)

Originally debuting on the Nintendo 3DS, this high-definition remaster is built to show off just what an upgrade to the Switch 2 delivers. Control a party of four characters aligned with the four different crystals that keep the world in balance: wind, fire, earth and water. In traditional JRPG fashion, your party will be fighting to reclaim the crystals from darkness and confront a greater evil along the way.

Witchbrook (Winter 2025)

Magic and mystery come to the Switch 2 in this new RPG. A life-sim (technically a witch life-sim) that supports up to four players, Witchbrook delivers prospective witches through graduation and out into the real world. Witchbrook takes place in Mossport, a world that feels as alive as ours, with cityfolk sticking to unique routines and community events marking the passing of seasons in real time.

The Duskbloods (2026)

The Duskbloods is a FromSoftware game. That’s probably already convinced you to either buy it at release or stay away, depending on your love for Dark Souls, Bloodborne and the rest. Duskbloods is a vampire-themed RPG with gameplay in the tradition of the other FromSoftware games (although you can sheath the swords, firearms look to play a big part in this one). Not much is known about the game yet, but it’s sure to make a splash when it arrives in 2026.

Hades II (2025?)

With how popular Hades was, a sequel to the famous roguelike was inevitable. Although originally planned for 2024, Hades II is expected in the back half of 2025, presumably arriving on the Switch 2 right when it hits computers and other consoles. Hades II swaps protagonists, starring Melinoë, Princess of the Underworld, who is working alongside her mother Hecate to defeat Chronos, the titan of time and father to the gods.

With a unique art style and addicting story, Hades II is sure to inspire as many replays as the original did, so be sure to clear some time on your calendar.

Let Fetch Play cover your next RPG on the Switch

We’ve just scratched the surface of the best RPG games on the Switch and can’t wait to see what the future has in store. With so many RPGs on the Switch (and Switch 2), it might be easy to go over your gaming budget. It’s a good thing you downloaded the Fetch app, where you can earn gift cards to cover your RPG habit. 

For many gamers, being able to sustain their gaming habit by gaming can feel like a dream come true. With Fetch Play, that dream is a reality. Turn your mobile game time into Fetch Points that you can redeem for a gift card to the Nintendo eShop or your favorite video game retailer; check your point balance in the app now, you might be able to grab a new game!