Highlights
- Auto-Battler games offer strategic depth and hours of entertainment for players of all skill levels on the Nintendo Switch.
- Unique titles like Miitopia, Despot's Game, and Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth offer varied gameplay experiences within the auto-battler genre.
- From turn-based battles to intricate narratives, each game in the genre provides a different approach to automated combat strategy.
Although Dota 2's Auto Chess mod is rightly credited with the inception of auto battlers, the genre has evolved into its own. Auto Battler strategy games have carved out a niche, captivating players with their unique blend of automated combat and deep strategic planning.
14 Best Auto Battler Games, Ranked
Fans who can't get enough of the auto battler genre can't go wrong with the following games.
From smaller developers to big publishers, plenty of auto-battler games are available on the Nintendo Switch, offering something for everyone. Whether a seasoned strategist or new to the genre, these games provide countless hours of entertainment and strategic depth.
10 Miitopia
Metascore: 71
- No. Of Playable Characters: 100 (10 for main story, 90 post-game story)
- Auto-Battler: Default
Miitopia is a vibrant and whimsical RPG where players cast their Mii characters in various roles to battle against the dark lord. Players build their party, assign roles like warrior or mage, and witness them fight in turn-based battles with a delightful level of automation.
Each character also has its own personality traits, which further influence their combat role. As for the story, it's light-hearted and filled with humor and charm. This works as a delightful backdrop to the strategic decisions one makes in the game.
9 Despot’s Game: Dystopian Army Builder
Metascore: 73
- No. Of Playable Characters: N/A
- Auto-Battler: Default
As the name suggests, Despot's Game puts players in a post-apocalyptic labyrinth while commanding a ragtag crew of mutants, cyborgs, and other oddities. The gameplay is heavily centered around tactical decisions, with each choice impacting the team's survival odds.
Further, the game blends dark humor with a gripping survival narrative, while also featuring a multiplayer leaderboard at the end of each run. It's worth noting that while most titles have an auto-battle as a choice, with Despot's Game it's the only option. That said, it basically means the player spends more time strategizing, and less time fighting.
8 Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition
Metascore: 76
- No. Of Playable Characters: 341
- Auto-Battler: Optional
For fans of Digimon, the Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition should definitely seem interesting. In this game, players become cyber detectives, while using their Digimon to battle in a digital world. The game offers a rich and immersive experience combining monster collecting with deep narrative elements.
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While exploration and story take center stage, the game features fantastic turn-based combat with an auto-battle option. With the option enabled, Digimon can act independently based on preset tactics, allowing for a more strategic overview of battles.
7 Bravely Default 2
Metascore: 76
- No. Of Playable Characters: 4
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Bravely Default 2 offers a deep, engaging, turn-based strategy experience with a unique twist. Players can adjust their strategy with the Brave and Default system, where characters can bank turns for explosive combos or defend against incoming attacks.
The auto-batter mode in the game comes into play for streamlined grinding, letting heroes unleash their skills with the touch of a button. The rich narrative is filled with intrigue and complex characters, which complements the deep tactical gameplay. It's easily a must-play for classic JRPG fans out there.
6 Fire Emblem Engage
Metascore: 80
Fire Emblem Engage
- Released
- January 20, 2023
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Genre(s)
- Tactical , JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- No. Of Playable Characters: 34
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Fire Emblem Engage throws the player headfirst into a war against a monstrous threat. In this game, players command a vibrant cast of characters in strategic turn-based battles, including legendary heroes from past Fire Emblem titles. While the core combat excels in tactical depth, there's also the option for a helpful auto-battle function.
As one would expect, it automates combat sequences, allowing players to focus on larger strategic maneuvers. The challenge isn't just completing the missions, but doing so with as few casualties as possible.
5 Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Metascore: 84
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
- Released
- November 11, 2022
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Tactical , Strategy
- No. Of Playable Characters: 40+
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is an excellent remake of an already great strategy RPG. It offers a complex story with branching paths, deeply affecting the game’s world based on player choices. Players take the role of Denam, joined by his sister and best friend, to overthrow the ruling regime.
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It features grid-based battlefields where the auto-battler mechanics help in executing long-term strategies more efficiently. This game is perfect for players who appreciate a narrative depth intertwined with sophisticated tactical gameplay.
4 Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster
Metascore: 84
- No. Of Playable Characters: 80+
- Auto-Battler: Optional
For those who crave a classic RPG experience, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series offers a perfect blend of nostalgia and strategic depth. The remastered series brings the classic FF titles, from one to six, back to life with beautiful pixel art and audio. Square Enix has also added quality-of-life improvements, including an auto-save feature, as well as allowing players to fine-tune the experience.
While most players feel that the gameplay itself is quite snappy, there's an auto-battle mode as well, which makes the battles significantly faster. This lets gamers focus on the engaging story and exploration while still witnessing their heroes vanquish foes in a classic turn-based style.
3 Xenoblade Chronicles 3
Metascore: 89
- No. Of Playable Characters: 6
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Featuring one of the most expansive open-world exploration gameplay with a rich, layered story is Xenoblade Chronicles 3. While there are slight references to Xenoblade Chronicles 1 and 2, any new player can simply pick up a copy of XBC3 and still enjoy it. This open-world RPG features a unique real-time combat system where players issue commands to their party members while they fight autonomously.
Players take the role of Noah, Eunie, and Lanz, three eager Keves warriors, liberating colonies for the future of Aionios. When not auto-battling, the combat system itself is quite enriching, and the story's narrative is quite long and very well worked. Each character has its own personality, and the game also depicts the complexities of relationships between each character.
2 Dragon Quest 11 S
Metascore: 91
- No. Of Playable Characters: 7
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Set in the vibrant whimsy of Erdrea, Dragon Quest XI S is a charming and expansive JRPG. It follows the journey of the Luminary, a prophesied hero destined to save the world. However, an evil force marks it with a cursed symbol, turning people against him. The story revolves around Luminary's journey to clear his name, gathering companions, and uncovering the mystery behind the curse.
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The game features a classic turn-based combat system, with the ability to set AI tactics for party members. This classic narrative of good versus evil is beautifully crafted, as it provides depth and emotion that resonates throughout the adventure.
1 Persona 5 Royal
Metascore: 94
Persona 5 Royal
- Released
- March 31, 2020
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS4 , PS5 , Switch , PC , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S
- No. Of Playable Characters: 10
- Auto-Battler: Optional
Persona 5 Royal is an expanded narrative of the original Persona 5. It is centered around a group of high school students in Tokyo who lead dual lives as Phantom Thieves. These students harness supernatural powers from their personas to enter the hearts of corrupt adults, reforming society by confronting and changing their distorted desires.
The story follows a deep narrative exploring themes of freedom and the human psyche. As for gameplay, turn-based combat includes an option to use auto-battles, where characters execute actions based on predefined tactics.
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