Xenoblade Chronicles 2
It’s hard to find an RPG on Nintendo Switch that has more content and hours of enjoyment to offer than Xenoblade Chronicles 2. This game delivers on all fronts in a way that is sure to please any RPG lover. If you’re a stickler for an in-depth combat system, obsessed with a good narrative with a solid cast of characters, or just want to explore a sprawling world that has a lot to discover, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will keep you captivated for more than 70 hours of gameplay. Just keep in mind that the in depth combat system and the sheer amount of content in the game means you’re going to have to pack your patience for an adventure and play through leisurely. You will still be learning new mechanics and discovering new features even at the 30 hour mark. The good news is that even when trying to keep up with all the information starts to feel a bit overwhelming, there is still a beautiful world around you that coaxes you into feeling cool, calm, and collected. There is simply so much to love about this game that it makes the steep learning curve feel well worth it in the end.
Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Combining the iconic world of Mario with the whacky universe of the Rabbids sounds like one crazy idea. After seeing just how well Mario and the gang work together with this personality-packed group of Rabbids, this crossover feels long overdue. It’s truly the tactical RPG success story that nobody saw coming. Next to the sheer amount of personality and delightful quirkiness the title provides, the variety in gameplay in one of Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle’s best qualities. With so many characters under your control and various skill sets to take advantage of, there are plenty of different ways to approach every scenario. It’s also refreshing to see Mario in a game with boss battles that feel as satisfying as this. Taking down bosses in Mario games is typically a very easy task that makes victory feel inevitable rather than rewarding. In Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, however, the boss battles are challenging and fresh. Just in case you want to share the fun with a friend, there are even co-op challenges you can unlock along the way.
Stardew Valley
On the surface, you would hardly expect Stardew Valley to be such a truly enjoyable game. This farm-simulator is blended with meaningful RPG elements in a seamless way. Just as much as you’ll be focused on your farming duties, you’ll also find yourself getting wrapped up in relationships with other townspeople and needing to complete crucial side quests. There are a lot of layers to Stardew Valley that would even appeal to players who aren’t big fans of the farming simulator genre. You will want to take your time with Stardew Valley to really experience all the game has to offer. That could be wanting something as simple as seeing all your hard work pay off on the farm or perhaps you’re far more interested in learning more about all the personalities that exist around you or even just discovering more about the world you inhabit. There is a lot to do and a lot of charm to take in. Anyone who is a fan of games like Animal Crossing and and Harvest Moon will easily be able to find room in their hearts for Stardew Valley.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
There’s hardly any need to make a lengthy case for what makes The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim a great RPG that has managed to stand the test of time. More than six years after its release Skyrim is still a game that is relevant and popular on multiple platforms. This open world RPG is easily one of the best ports available on the Switch and it has given fans of the series a special gift — the ability to take their Skyrim adventures on the go. With this being a game that asks for a significant portion of your time, it’s great to have the ability to keep your Skyrim adventures going even as you leave the house. Of course, a game like this has its fair share of hiccups when its on a smaller screen. Annoyances like text that feels too small to read and a ton of action being condensed into such small screen real estate can certainly have an impact on your gaming experience. But everything you gain by having Skyrim on the most successful hybrid console we’ve ever seen easily outweighs the cons of Skyrim in its handheld form.
I Am Setsuna
I Am Setsuna isn’t the JRPG to turn to if you’re looking for something incredibly innovative and fresh. It doesn’t necessarily introduce something that hasn’t been seen before but it excels on the opposite end of the spectrum. I Am Setsuna stays true to the expected JRPG formula in a way that seems to pay homage to old-school games of the same genre. Porting the game over to the Switch allowed fans to experience the magic of the game’s endearing cast, beautiful visuals, and goosebump-inducing soundtrack all over again. In addition to boasting personality and tone that is easy to fall in love with, I Am Setsuna also sees success in its pacing, fun combat, and lack of mindless grinding that too often saps the magic of an RPG right out of it. Simply put, this is a tried and true JRPG experience that feels comforting and familiar.
Disgaea 5 Complete
When it was announced that Nintendo was ready to introduce the first true hybrid console, you couldn’t help but wonder what games would be the perfect match for this type of platform. Well, Disgaea 5 Complete is definitely one of those games that feels perfect for the Switch. This tactical RPG has plenty of content to dive into and with a cast of characters this silly you’ll easily enjoy every minute of it. The story that brings all these personalities together may be a bit watered down and overly simplistic, but the experience still manages to be both charming and hilarious. What makes the game such a great fit for the Switch is that its campaign, visually speaking, just doesn’t have a lot going on. The story is carried on mostly through cutouts of characters and dialogue boxes so at no point does Disgeae 5 Complete introduce any performance issues for the Switch. You’ll enjoy the combat, the quirkiness, the silly character design, and the bountiful hours of gameplay that you can now experience on the go.
Golf Story
If you laid eyes on the title of this game and immediately lost interest, I can’t recommend heavily enough that you actually give Golf Story a chance. As someone who has never managed to actually enjoy any golf simulator game, I was shocked to find myself enjoying this golf simulator, RPG hybrid. The story here is pretty watered down and basic but everything else in this game makes up for that. The old-school visuals appeal to your nostalgia in the best way possible and the entire world around you is incredibly charming and easy to fall in love with. What won me over was the simple fact that there was so much more to this game than just the golf — which isn’t that bad either. It’s a lot simpler than other golf games but for anyone who isn’t crazy about golf games it’s kind of refreshing to not have to put yourself in an actual golfer state of mind to do well in this game. But Golf Story even introduces fun side activities and challenges that sprinkle the right amount of variety to gameplay. This story-driven golf simulator complete with humor, opportunities for free-roaming, and the sheer goofiness of the many of the side missions all come together for the sake of one surprisingly endearing success.
