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JRPGsare well-established as cornerstones of the gaming industry. Nowadays, some of the longest-running franchises fall within this genre, with the likes ofFinal Fantasy,Dragon Quest,Megami Tensei, andPokemonstill going (relatively) strong after decades' worth of content. While perhaps not receiving every major release, the Nintendo Switch is home to plenty of brilliant Japanese role-playing games, making the hybrid console a great option for anyone craving a library they can experience at home or on the go.
After being on the market for more than half a decade, theSwitchis probably nearing the end of its lifespan, although a successor has yet to be announced by Nintendo. Even if the volume of releases slows down, newSwitch JRPGsshould continue to hit the scene for a while longer. Let’s highlight the best options on the console, covering both real-time and turn-based projects.
Only one entry per franchise, with the only exception being games that belong to different subseries. Also, tactics and strategy games likeFire EmblemorUnicorn Overlordwill be excluded since those could be seen as separate genres; that said, bothFire EmblemSwitch games are great but very different experiences.
Updated on May 29, 2025, by Mark Sammut:With anew console set to launch in less than two months, it can be tempting to put the Switch in the rear-view mirror. However, the platform is not retiring just yet, and it will be receiving quite a few projects over the coming months. Some titles might even end up ranking among thebest Nintendo Switch JRPGs. To celebrate the Switch’s final run, a section dedicated to upcoming releases has been added.
When it comes to turn-based JRPGs on the Switch,Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Editionoffers great value for money, with the compilation containing two long games that combine for over 100 hours of content. Individually,Cyber SleuthandHacker’s Memoryare both among thetop projects to carry theDigimonname, and they tell quite effective stories for the genre. Players will find themselves embroiled in a mystery that has been leaving people comatose, all the while investigating separate cases. Despite suffering from some pacing issues, the campaigns are enjoyable.
That said,Cyber Sleuthprimarily shines in its mechanics. Although not too unusual in the grand scheme, the 3v3 combat system is well-honed, fast-paced, and frequently challenging. With over 200 Digimon, players will spend a lot of time accumulating monsters, including utilizing a fantastic and addictive DNA fusion system. The late game provides ways to quickly level up Digimon, and someone can lose hours trying to meet the requirements to craft their optimal team.
As great as each title is in isolation, they are very similar, including reusing most of the same dungeons and systems. As such, players will probably want to take a long break between the two games.
In 2012,Bravely Defaultwas a breath of fresh air, despite being an obvious throwback to Square Enix’s classic JRPGs. During an era when the publisher seemed adamant about ignoring turn-based combat, Claytechworks' project served as a prime example that the concept was nowhere near outdated. While garnering some criticism for its story’s structure, the game was nothing short of a resounding success and went down as one of the best 3DS RPGs. In 2015, Silicon Studio developedBravely Second: End Layer, a direct sequel that largely stuck to the established blueprint. Although not as decorated as its predecessor,Bravely Secondarguably achieved greatness in its own right.
A fresh start for the franchise,Bravely Default 2tells a completely new story with no real ties to any of its ancestors, making it a valid option for players who do not own a 3DS. The series has never hidden itsFinal Fantasyinspiration, and the Switch game is very upfront about being a throwback to that IP’s old-school days, including the introduction of an active turn-based combat akin to the systems found inFinal Fantasy 4-9. TheAsterisks class mechanicwill also conjure up memories ofFinal Fantasy’s jobs, albeit with plenty of unique touches to present a novel spin.Bravely Default 2’s gameplay has depth to spare, presenting players with a wide range of options on how they can set up their parties.
While the combat is great,Bravely Default 2does not hit a home run in most other areas, particularly its story and characters. Although not terrible, they are largely forgettable.
Monolith Software’s resume extends beyondXenoblade Chronicles, and two of the developer’s minor classics have been remastered for the Switch in a neat compilation package.Baten Kaitosdebuted and ended its original run during the GameCube era, producing two titles with lengthy campaigns and an engaging combat system built upon a card-building mechanic. While the games can be played in any order and enjoyed,Originsis the best place to start, even though it is the second entry in the series.
Although far from perfect, bothBaten Kaitosprojects are polished and entertaining JRPGs that have aged reasonably well, as long as someone doesn’t mind somewhat dated visuals. The card system is the franchise’s crowning achievement, and it influences more aspects of the adventures than just the battles. While not reaching the heights ofXenoblade Chronicles, these games tell pretty good narratives that build momentum nicely, even if they drag in places.
While it might be difficult to justify dropping almost full price on a compilation consisting of two games that are nearly 20 years old,Baten Kaitos 1 & 2 HD Remasterhas way more than enough content to justify an investment.
After missing out onMonster Hunter: World, Nintendo Switch owners got treated to a double dose of Capcom goodness withMonster Hunter Riseand a sequel to theStoriesspin-off series. A monster collection game,Wings of Ruinfeatures a turn-based combat system that shakes things up by including the possibility to target specific areas of a Monstie.
While the gameplay is enjoyable,Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin’s main appeal is the ability to hatch new Monsties. Although light on story compared to other JRPGs,Wings of Ruinis far more plot-driven than typicalMonster Huntergames.
Typically, when people consider JRPGs, they imagine turn-based gameplay and an epic world-saving plot. While those types of games make up large chunks of the subgenre, JRPGs still come in many shapes and sizes.Rune Factory 4 Specialis a farming simulator with a side helping of dungeon crawling,love and romance, and a plot that is there but tries to not distract players.
On the surface, this might seem like a messy hodgepodge of genres and ideas, butRune Factoryhas a history of balancing out its concepts to create a satisfying overall package.Rune Factory 4 Specialis a relaxing delight, a JRPG that frees players to become a part of a charming kingdom while occasionally swatting monsters on the head with a sword.
A remake of 1996’sSuper Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars, this 2023 exclusive retains the original game’s charm while giving it a fresh coat of paint. While that might not sound too exciting for this type of release, the SNES version ofSuper Mario RPGhas aged gracefully, and its combat system inspired many of Mario’s other role-playing escapades along with titles likeBug Fables. AsMario & LuigiandPaper Mariohave received a plethora of entries, they tend to overshadow their ancestor, which is a shame sinceLegend of the Seven Starscompares favorably to most entries in those series. The SNES project was also developed by Square, and the developer’s genre expertise shines through.
The Switch remake is very faithful to its predecessor. In fact, if someone did not enjoy the original or has no desire to revisit it, they might want to skip the new iteration. However, in isolation,Super Mario RPGis a confident, witty, and pretty game built upon an accessible and fun time-based combat system. While the latter is turn-based, players can press buttons to increase an attack’s performance or reduce the impact of a hit. This concept has been explored and expanded in subsequent releases, butSuper Mario RPG’s version works well. The remake also fine-tunes the combat ever so slightly to smooth out a few rough edges, and it even adds a new, flashy combo option.
This bizarre Wii U mash-up ofShin Megami TenseiandFire Emblemwas ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2020, andTokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encoreis still a difficult game to pin down. WhileFire Emblemfans will get a kick out of seeing familiar faces from the franchise, this crossover is more likely to hit home with those looking for a lightheartedShin Megami Tenseiexperience.
The turn-based combat isn’t far removed fromthePersonagames, although theFire Embleminfluence does add a few twists to the formula. Once the console’s time comes to an end,Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encorewill probably not be Atlus’best JRPG on the Switch, but it is worth picking up for fans of the developer’s work.
CyberConnect2’s resume includes a lot more than just anime arena brawlers. The developer’s first project was 1998’sTail Concerto, a steampunk action-adventure game set within a world of anthropomorphic dogs and cats. This PS1 title launched a franchise CyberConnect2 would intermittently revisit, and all theLittle Tail Bronxprojects are drastically different in terms of gameplay and tone. TheFuga: Melodies of Steelgames represent the series at its darkest as they are disarmingly grounded war epics that revolve around orphans turned soldiers.
Telling a complex narrative that does not shy away from consequences or heavy themes, these titles are powerful in their own right. In terms of gameplay,Fuga: Melodies of Steeluses a tactical turn-based system that sees characters take charge of specific areas in a tank. While quite combat-heavy, both games are also full of dialogue and quiet character-driven moments.
After a long wait, Square Enix finally published the sequel to2007’sThe World Ends With You.NEOreturns people to Shibuya to take part in the Reapers' Game, a cutthroat contest to see who will be revived after a week of activities.NEO’s gameplay and aesthetic are departures from the first game, as the sequel is fully 3D and utilizes a more traditional action-oriented combat system.
As such, die-hard fans of the original might need an adjustment period to fully appreciateNeo’s gameplay; however, consideringThe World Ends With Youstruggled slightly to adapt its combat for the Switch, a change was ultimately the right move. More importantly, the sequel still features some top-notch writing as its predecessor, delivering a cast of characters who compare favorably. The music is also brilliant, while wisely opting to take things in a different direction than its highly-regarded ancestor.
Tokyo Xanadu eX+has been available in some form for about eight years (and that is not counting the 2015 vanilla version), but it waited quite a long time to make its Nintendo debut. However, in July 2024, the action JRPG’s Switch version was finally released in Western regions, granting console owners another great option if they are craving solid dungeon-crawling, fast-paced action, and an effective story filled with likable characters.
Now, Nihon Falcom putting together solid combat is hardly surprising consideringYsexists, butTokyo Xanadu eX+sets itself apart by seemingly blending that franchise’s satisfying real-time system withThe Legend of Heroes' character-driven storytelling. The result is a project that combines the selling points of both sides and crafts a well-rounded campaign, even if it does not quite manage to reach the peak of either franchise.
As the title suggests,Tokyo Xanadu eX+is set in Tokyo, and the story has an almost social sim aspect as players spend a lot of time building relationships with other characters. Fortunately, the writing is very good. The combat is primarily set in simple dungeons and allows players to swap between three party members, all of whom have different fighting styles.
