Some of the best JRPGs ever have either launched or been ported to the Nintendo Switch. The genre lends itself well to the Switch’s unique ability to be played in handheld or TV modes. JRPGs are typically long but slower-paced games that are great to play on the go. Then, when you get home, you can drop your Switch in the dock and continue on your adventure.
However, before we list the best Switch JRPGs, we need to define what sets a JRPG apart from a regular RPG. JRPG stands for Japanese Role-Playing Game, and when the term was coined, it denoted a role-playing game that was made in Japan. However, over time the meaning has somewhat changed. Now games that were made outside of Japan, like Genshin Impact (which was developed by MiHoYo in China), are routinely referred to as JRPGs by many fans because they follow certain tropes that originated in Japan.
However, to keep things nice and tidy, we’ve stuck with the original definition of the genre. That means each title on our list of the best Switch JRPGs was primarily developed in Japan by Japanese developers. Despite this, don’t be surprised if you see games from China, South Korea, or even the West on other lists.
What are the best JRPGs for Nintendo Switch in 2022?
Gaming fans have debated on which JRPG is the best since the genre started in the 1980s. Tens of thousands of hours have been spent arguing the merits of this game or that one. Discussing the best JRPG on the Switch is even more challenging since there’s a plethora of new titles and ports of old ones to choose from. As such, we won’t claim that our list is definitive. Instead, it’s a selection of the JRPGs we’ve loved that fit well with the system’s unique format. So, whether you’re a handheld junkie, only play on TV, or switch it up, these titles should sate your thirst for JRPG goodness.
Our list of the best JRPGs for Switch in 2022 is:
- Collection of Mana
- Disgaea 1 Complete
- Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
- Final Fantasy PSX Ports (FF7, 8, and 9)
- Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
- Octopath Traveler
- Rune Factory 4 Special
- Shin Megami Tensei V
- Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
- Triangle Strategy
- World of Final Fantasy: Maxima
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Collection of Mana
- Release Date: June 11, 2019
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: M2, Square Enix
Collection of Mana assembles three excellent games, including the first release outside of Japan of Seiken Densetsu 3, with the official title of Trials of Mana. The original Seiken Densetsu (Final Fantasy Adventure in the US) was one of the first full-scale RPGs for the Game Boy, and Secret of Mana is one of the best 2D action RPGs ever made. These games still hold up well, and finally getting a chance to play an official version of Seiken Densetsu 3 is worth the entry price alone for fans of the series.
Disgaea 1 Complete
- Release Date: October 9, 2018
- Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software
- Developer: Nippon Ichi Software
While later entries in the series added new features and more complex battles, we recommend beginning Disgaea with the title that started it all. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness launched to critical acclaim for PS2 in 2003 but didn’t find a large audience until its PSP re-release as Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness in 2007. Further ports brought new features, culminating in Disgaea 1 Complete. This is the best way to experience the game in all its irreverent glory. And, for those who fall in love, every entry in the series except for 2 and 3 is available on Switch (and you can find those two on Steam).
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition
- Release Date: September 27, 2019
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Square Enix
Dragon Quest is one of the most popular JRPG franchises, and its latest entry, Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition, is perfect for newcomers and long-time fans alike. This edition of the game finally pulls together the disparate version differences we saw in the original release and gives you everything in one package. Of particular note, you can play the game in its original 3D form or enjoy the entire story in 16-bit retro graphics. Previously, the ability to do this was exclusive to the 3DS, and the ability to switch between the two art styles makes this one of the most unique entries on our list.
Final Fantasy PSX Ports
- Release Date: Varies
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Square Enix
We cheated a bit and added these all to the same entry. Final Fantasy 7, 8, and 9 are all available to purchase on the Nintendo Switch, and they make for excellent travel companions. These aren’t full remasters (despite Final Fantasy 8 having the subtitle “remastered”), so the graphics are a bit rough around the edges. However, the story and gameplay are just as vibrant and engaging in each of these titles as they were two decades ago. Whether you’re experiencing the magic of these games for the first time or rediscovering them years after your last playthrough, these all are great on the Switch.
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
- Release Date: April 16, 2019
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Square Enix 1st Production Department, Virtuos
Final Fantasy X is one of the most beloved of the main series Final Fantasy titles, and its sequel, X-2, has attained cult classic status. While many of the characters in both games overlap, they’re vastly different in tone. Final Fantasy X is a game filled with solemn moments and a journey to save the world, while X-2 is a more light-hearted affair that cheeses it up with its girl group motif. They’re two amazing JRPGs and great examples of the golden age of Square.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Release Date: July 26, 2019
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Intelligent Systems, Koei Tecmo
Fire Emblem has had a strong following in the West since Fire Emblem: Awakening hit the 3DS in 2013. However, the game that took the series into the mainstream is 2019’s Fire Emblem: Three Houses. The replayability, lovable characters, and unique premise all added up to create one of the best titles on the Nintendo Switch. However, unlike most entries on this list, Three Houses is a strategy RPG, which is considerably more complex and unforgiving than your typical JRPG. Fortunately, the difficulty settings run the gamut from extremely easy to “Maddening.” There’s also some terrific DLC for those who can’t get enough of the base game.
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
- Release Date: September 20, 2019
- Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
- Developer: Level-5
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is unique in gaming for its Ghibli-esque presentation. It can be incredibly slow, and combat is frustrating at times. Still, it captures a feeling of wonderment that few other games can manage. If we’re being honest, we prefer the second game (which is also available on Switch) over the original. However, it loses a bit of magic since it plays out in a more typical JRPG fashion than Wrath of the White Witch.
Octopath Traveler
- Release Date: July 13, 2018
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Square Enix Business Division 2, Acquire
Square Enix took inspiration from its Golden Age to create Octopath Traveler. The graphics channel the sprite from 16 and 32-bit JRPGs, which are lovingly crafted and enhanced with modern effects. The story is split across eight protagonists whose paths cross, which will immediately remind Squaresoft fans of SaGa Frontier. This game is a fantastic picture of the archetypical JRPG, for better or worse. However, if you don’t have the patience for turn-based combat (that can sometimes be quite difficult), Octopath Traveler will likely annoy you. Luckily, there’s a demo available for those who want to dip their toe in the water before taking the dive and purchasing the full game.
Rune Factory 4 Special
- Release Date: February 25, 2020
- Publisher: Xseed Games
- Developer: Neverland
If you want a sampling of everything JRPGs have to offer, look no further than Rune Factory 4. It has farming, romances, dungeon crawling, exploration, crafting, monster raising, and a decent story to boot. It doesn’t go as deep into any of these aspects as games that center around them, but it gives you a ton of variety to enjoy. It’s easy to fall in love with the villagers you’ll meet, and there’s plenty of replayability since each romance leads to new options and stories. We highly recommend this JRPG to anyone who loved Stardew Valley or the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons series.
Shin Megami Tensei V
- Release Date: November 12, 2021
- Publisher: Sega
- Developer: Atlus
For decades, we’ve loved the Shin Megami Tensei series, and Atlus produced the best one yet with Shin Megami Tensei 5. It has a lot of the charm (and gameplay and story elements) of Nocturne but with modern sensibilities. It remains a challenging experience, but the edges have been polished just enough that newcomers should find it to be reasonably welcoming. So, a lot of the frustrating elements of the game have been eliminated and what remains is one of the best dungeon crawlers of all time.
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
- Release Date: January 11, 2019
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Developer: Namco Tales Studio
The Tales series has brought us some fantastic games, and many players consider Tales of Vesperia to be one of the best. The Definitive Edition of the game brings content that was limited to the Japan-only PS3 release to the rest of the world. This version allows you to enjoy new characters and almost twice the voice work that the Xbox 360 version released with. It’s very “anime,” more so than many of the other JRPGs on the list. For some players, that’s amazing, while others find it annoying. If you’re one of the former, this is one of the best JRPGs ever made.
Triangle Strategy
- Release Date: March 4, 2022
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Square Enix, Artdink
Triangle Strategy does for strategy JRPGs what Octopath Traveler did for traditional ones. It’s easy to compare this to Final Fantasy Tactics, but it’s really its own thing. There’s more exploration to be found here than in Tactics, and it has branching paths, which gives it more replayability. Character customization is streamlined, and this is one of the leaner offerings of the subgenre. It’s also quite wordy, and some of the longer cutscenes can make it feel more like a visual novel. However, it has a flair that channels titles like Ogre Battle and, of course, Final Fantasy Tactics, and for many players it’ll scratch a very satisfying itch.
World of Final Fantasy Maxima
- Release Date: November 6, 2018
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Tose
If you mix Pokemon and Final Fantasy, you get World of Final Fantasy Maxima. This game has you capturing iconic characters and monsters from the Final Fantasy series and using them in combat. The Maxima version of the game includes:
- New narrative content.
- Boss fights.
- Mirages (this game’s term for monsters).
- A new ending.
- Most of the DLC from the original.
It’s a pretty meta title, and while most JRPG fans will enjoy it, the game is really aimed at those who have played and loved the mainline Final Fantasy series.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Release Date: May 29, 2020
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Monolith Soft
It was a long road for Xenoblade Chronicles to achieve the success it’s seen. When it was released on the Wii, it was hamstrung by a low production run that was only available for purchase at GameStop in the US. Luckily, Nintendo wised up and realized that Monolith Soft had created (another) masterpiece. Subsequent ports to the New Nintendo 3DS and Switch solidified its fanbase and made the Xenoblade series a huge success. Even though it was released 12 years ago, Xenoblade Chronicles still wows with its sense of scale and engaging story. If you haven’t played it yet, you’re missing out.
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
- Release Date: December 1, 2017
- Publisher: Nintendo
- Developer: Monolith Soft
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a fantastic JRPG that has a ridiculous amount of content to enjoy. The base game is sprawling, and there’s DLC on top of that to experience. There’s no better game on the Switch for you if you’re into exploration. Luckily, you don’t have to play the first Xenoblade Chronicles to get into this one. They’re largely unconnected, so you can fire either up at your discretion.
