10 Best RPGs on Nintendo Switch (2026)

By centering the story and gameplay around a character with whom you build a connection and level up their abilities, you enjoy a more engaging playthrough, one where your decisions factor into how your character behaves and evolves. 

While the Nintendo Switch may not be everyone’s first choice for enjoying the best RPGs, it still offers a decent variety of hidden gems, combat-focused RPGs, and even some award-winning fantasy adventures.

What is an RPG?

An RPG follows a main character’s journey across a fantasy world, controlling their actions and honing their abilities as they try to accomplish an ambitious goal. You’ll often be charged with saving the world, and may run into NPCs or party members who help you on your quest.

Best RPGs on Nintendo Switch

The best RPGs on Nintendo Switch entertain, challenge you, and provide a deep character progression path that makes completing your quest worthwhile.

10. South Park: The Fractured but Whole

South Park: The Fractured but Whole borrows from the South Park animated show. It’s incredibly authentic, too, maintaining the flimsy and humor of the show, as well as fan-favorites Stan, Kyle, and Eric Cartman.

But you do enjoy a new story, following the New Kid’s arrival in South Park, and their integration into the crime-fighting superhero group led by Cartman’s alter-ego, The Coon, who’s half man, half raccoon.

9. Undertale

Unlike most RPGs, Undertale gives you the option to complete your quest without violence. You can get away with avoiding fighting and killing the monsters you meet on the way to escape the dungeon you find yourself trapped in. 

The choice-driven narrative gives you the freedom to write your own story. At least in deciding the kind of player you want to be, and how your decisions shape the outcome. The story’s skeleton in itself is also creative, with monsters of varying personalities, some even surprisingly funny.

8. Final Fantasy VII

Yet another new adventure awaits you in Final Fantasy VII. A classic that’s now available among the best RPGs on Nintendo Switch, and brings to you the Shinra Electric Power Company’s chokehold over the world. 

Meanwhile, you lead an anti-Shinra rebel group, with Cloud Strife at the forefront of the battle for freedom. Every character is well-written, with deep backstories that allow you to immerse into a globally-beloved fantasy world.

7. Hollow Knight: Silksong

The first Hollow Knight game was an instant indie hit. And now, we have the sequel, Silksong. Call it the refining of the original’s best features, from the graphics to the gameplay. You unlock new powers in addition to your base hack-and-slash abilities, and encounter a more diverse variety of bugs and monsters. 

Set in the insect kingdom of Pharloom, players will move up to the top of the citadel, uncovering secrets of their past, and defeating 200+ enemies and 40+ bosses. The game’s excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed either, winning Best Game of the Year at the Steam Awards and Action-Adventure Game of the Year at The Game Awards.

6. NEO: The World Ends with You

Anime fans will enjoy returning to the world of NEO: The World Ends with You, except this time portrayed in 3D. Its characters compete in the ‘Reapers’ game, which is pretty thoroughly defined in its rules about earning a place in the afterlife. 

Reapers have psychic powers and special abilities. They can fly, heal, and read minds. You solve puzzles and discover lots of twists and turns as you unravel a mystery surrounding the game itself and the truth about the reapers.

5. Octopath Traveller II

It’s a pretty unique game that Octopath Traveler II offers players, one where you follow the distinct journeys of eight different characters. This creates overwhelming paths you can follow, deciding where you want to explore and what to get up to. 

Interestingly, your choices not only influence the story’s trajectory but also the townspeople you engage in combat, the items you collect, and who to bring on your journey alongside you.

4. Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Pokémon has come a long way, introducing action-based combat to its adventures. In Pokémon Legends: Arceus, you’re balancing exploration of a whimsy colorful world of the Hisui region.

You’re studying wild Pokémon in their natural habitat, using stealth to sneak up behind them and capture your favorites. But you can also toss a Poke Ball to instigate a turn-based battle against a nearby wild Pokémon.

3. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Final Fantasy can check out Fire Emblem: Three Houses, taking up third place among the best RPGs on Nintendo Switch. Its concept is exciting about three houses of the Officer’s Academy, comprised of students you train and command to battle.

Students have unique personalities and abilities, factoring into your battle strategy. Plus, the battles go hand-in-hand with spearheading their academic life, which will often spring up unexpected twists to overcome.

2. Xenoblade Chronicles 3

In a similar vein is Xenoblade Chronicles 3. Its deep lore will have you invested in the characters and exploration of the nations of Keves and Agnus, which is sprawling with sci-fi landscapes and lots of treasures to discover. 

Chaos brews on your journey to unraveling a dark secret. You also engage in real-time combat against enemies who are connected by a true enemy pulling the strings. Mid-battle, you can freely swap out characters, adapting to new fighting styles and strategy on the fly. 

Plus, two characters can merge their abilities to create a more powerful Ouroboros creature. Further, depending on who’s in the lead, you can tweak the pair’s Ouroboros abilities for the best outcome.

1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

The world in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom is so massive, not just stretching far out into the horizon, but also including underground, surface-level, and floating island regions to explore. 

Depending on the area, you encounter different items and puzzles to solve. There’s always something exciting to stumble onto that makes your time here worthwhile.

Moreover, you’re often learning new abilities and leveling up your character, in preparation for the ultimate fight against the evil threatening Hyrule. If you’re looking for a breathtaking world to get lost in, where the content never runs dry, Tears of the Kingdom won’t disappoint.