Many consider the nineties to be the golden age of gaming. It was during this decade that some of the most iconic video game franchises were created; many of which could be found exclusively on the Super Nintendo. In particular, the system played host to a huge selection of excellent role-playing games. As time has passed and technology has improved, however, the genre has gone through some pretty drastic changes.
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There have been some truly fantastic JRPG games released over the years, although none more so than these influential and innovative examples.
Random encounters, turn-based combat, and 2D visuals are becoming increasingly difficult to find in modern role-playing games. Granted, this will no doubt suit some people, but there are plenty of others who may find themselves missing that classic RPG feel. Thankfully, there are still some viable options available for those people; especially if they happen to own a Nintendo Switch. With that in mind, what are some of the best Switch RPGs for fans of the genre's classic SNES-era games?
Updated February 16, 2024, by Tom Bowen: Though a lot has changed since the nineties, the essence of classic role-playing games can still be found hidden away in many modern titles if one knows where to look. The Nintendo Switch is a great place to start, as the system boasts an extensive library of excellent RPGs, many of which borrow heavily from some of the fantastic games that came before them. Some of them may look pretty different than their pre-3D pixel art predecessors, but beating beneath their well-polished visuals lies the heart of a classic SNES RPG.
1 Live A Live
Metacritic Rating: 81 (Switch)
With its unique narrative system, Live A Live was one of the most innovative games of its era and likely provided much of the inspiration for Octopath Traveller. 28 years on from its initial release, a remake was developed for the Nintendo Switch, helping to put the game into the hands of a whole new generation of gamers, and, for the first time, players in the west.
Due to the original only selling 270,000 copies in Japan, the decision was made not to localize the game for Western audiences. However, unofficial fan translations began cropping up in the early part of the twenty-first century, which helped the game to expand its cult following outside of Japan. The Switch remake now serves as the definitive version and is a must-play for fans of old-school SNES role-playing games.
Live A Live
2 Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
Metacritic Rating: 77 (Switch)
When it comes to old-school SNES JRPGs, they arguably don't come much better than Chrono Trigger. Sadly, Square's 1995 masterpiece is still not available on the Nintendo Switch at the time of writing, but players can at least get their hands on its oft-misunderstood sequel, which is playable on Switch in the form of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition.
Unfortunately, the 2022 remaster feels a little half-hearted, with very few improvements made despite more than two decades having passed since the release of the original game. Even so, it remains a top-tier RPG and is well worth playing for those who've yet to check it out. Even for those who have, it's highly replayable due to the vast number of potential party members, so a second or third playthrough may be in order.
3 Sega Ages: Phantasy Star
Metacritic Rating: 82 (Switch)
Though the two companies seem to share a healthy relationship these days, there was once a time when Sega and Nintendo were huge rivals. Kids would typically pick one console over the other and then argue with their friends that their console of choice was superior. This meant that a lot of Sega kids missed out on the likes of Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, though that's not to say that they didn't have a few great RPGs of their own.
The original Phantasy Star games were among the very best and offered something unique that just couldn't be found on Nintendo consoles at that time. With Sega bowing out of the hardware industry at the turn of the century, many of the company's best games have now been released on Nintendo consoles, including Phantasy Star on Switch via the SEGA AGES Phantasy Star Switch store release. Given that Nintendo fans likely missed out on the game the first time around, it's definitely worth a look.
Phantasy Star
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2 , Nintendo Switch , Sega Saturn , Nintendo Game Boy Advance , Master System , Genesis
- Released
- 1988-11-00
4 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Metacritic Rating: 89 (Switch)
When Roy and Marth first made their debuts in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube, most Western players had no idea who they were. Japanese players, on the other hand, instantly recognized them as characters from the Fire Emblem series, which has been incredibly popular in the country since making its 1990 debut.
Fast forward two decades, however, and Fire Emblem games are now arguably just as popular in the West as they are in the East. The pick of the bunch is perhaps the most recent, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which some people consider to be one of the best tactical RPGs of all time. It contains a surprising amount of depth and offers a modern take on a classic idea.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- July 26, 2019
5 Xenoblade Chronicles
Metacritic Rating: 89 (Switch)
Xenogears and the Xenosaga games were some of the very best RPGs that players could get their hands on around the turn of the century. They excelled in the storytelling department and built upon the excellent work done by Square, Enix, and other big nineties studios in further developing narrative-driven gameplay in role-playing games.
Though they are considered spiritual successors rather than sequels, the Xenoblade Chronicles games picked up right where their predecessors left off. The pick of the bunch is definitely the first of the three titles though, and its definitive edition, which was released for the Switch in early 2020, more than lives up to its title.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- May 29, 2020
6 I Am Setsuna
Metacritic Rating: 75 (Switch)
I Am Setsuna may only be five years old at this point, but it's already starting to show its age in some areas. The graphical department isn't one of them though, with the game's unique and endearing art style still just as charming as ever. That's not all that the game has going for it though.
Extensive character customization options and a tragic yet beautifully told story really help the game to stand out, as too does its fantastic piano score. The combat is solid too, even if the obvious lack of enemy variety does hold it back a little at times. There are definitely better RPGs available on the Switch at this point, but for those who've already played them, I Am Setsuna might just be worth a punt.
I Am Setsuna
- Developer(s)
- Tokyo RPG Factory
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Microsoft Windows , PS Vita
- Released
- February 18, 2016
7 Breath of the Wild
Metacritic Rating: 97 (Switch)
Despite falling squarely into the action-adventure genre, Zelda games have always incorporated ideas and mechanics from RPGs. This is especially true of the series' most recent entries, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 2023's Tears of the Kingdom, which are somewhat reminiscent of classic action RPGs like Secret of Mana and Terranigma.
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Players are able to acquire new armor and upgrade it to increase Link's defensive capabilities. There's also a wide variety of weapons, stat-altering potions, and permanent upgrades to Link's health and stamina. Granted, it's still missing a lot of the elements that make up a traditional RPG, but that's not to say that fans of the genre can't still enjoy it for what it is.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U , Switch
- Released
- March 3, 2017
8 Bravely Default 2
Metacritic Rating: 76 (Switch)
Silicon Studio's Bravely Default games are RPGs through and through. In fact, the first game actually started out as a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and still maintains many of the features one would expect from a Final Fantasy game. It still brings plenty of new ideas to the table though and feels like a natural evolution of the classic JRPGs of yesteryear.
Though the series' first entry is currently unavailable on Switch, its sequel, Bravely Default 2, was released in early 2021. It's not quite as impressive as its predecessor, but its stunning visuals, interesting environments, and innovative job system should still appeal to fans of old-school SNES RPGs.
9 Collection of Mana
Metacritic Rating: 83 (Switch)
The Mana series helped to popularize the action RPG genre and remains incredibly popular even to this day thanks to its wonderful gameplay and excellent storytelling. This should perhaps come as little surprise considering it started life as a Final Fantasy spin-off, although it has since gone on to become a standout series in its own right.
Frustratingly, the 2018 remake of Secret of Mana is still to make its way to the Switch, although this likely won't matter too much to fans of classic RPGs. They'll probably be more interested in the Collection of Mana, which includes the original Mana trilogy as well as a port of the Game Boy game that started it all, Final Fantasy Adventure.
Collection of Mana
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Released
- August 27, 2019
10 Romancing SaGa
Metacritic Rating: 71 (Switch)
The Mana series isn't the only successful Final Fantasy spin-off series. Far from it, in fact. There have been quite a few of them over the years, although none have had quite as big an impact as SaGa. Like Mana, the series started life on the Game Boy as The Final Fantasy Legend, although picked up the SaGa name after the first three games in the series; all of which can be played on the Switch as part of Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend.
It's perhaps the Romancing SaGa trilogy for the SNES, however, that really helped the series to take off both in the West and in Japan. All three of the games can be played on the Switch through the Nintendo Online Store, as too can the PlayStation classic SaGa Frontier which was remastered for the system in early 2021.
Romancing SaGa
11 Bastion
Metacritic Rating: 90 (Switch)
Although not quite as popular as traditional 2D RPGs nor anywhere near as prominent, games with isometric viewpoints weren't completely unheard of back in the SNES era. Bastion is very much a modern-day reimagining of some of these titles and while it does have one or two issues here and there, presentation definitely isn't one of them.
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The game looks and sounds great and features an excellent story to boot. It's the kind of game that is just as easy to pick up as it is difficult to put down and provides a fun and mildly addictive experience from start to finish. Its simplistic and restrictive combat system does let it down a little at times, although this is just a minor annoyance in an otherwise excellent game.
Bastion
- Developer(s)
- Supergiant Games
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive , Supergiant Games
- Released
- July 20, 2011
12 Undertale
Metacritic Rating: 93 (Switch)
Together with the likes of Super Meat Boy and The Binding of Isaac, Toby Fox's Undertale serves as a wonderful example of what indie games are capable of. Despite its low budget, it's a game that's crammed full of innovative ideas and boasts some of the most enjoyable yet bizarre storytelling to have ever graced the RPG genre.
Rather than forcing players to grind in order to pad out its length, the developers instead offer players a number of different ways to play Undertale. This, in turn, makes it incredibly replayable. The wacky dialogue is both charming and funny and the art style and music feel like they've been ripped right out of the nineties. Combat is also pretty unique, although might take a little bit of getting used to.
13 Breath of Fire
Metacritic Rating: 79 (GBA)
Aside from the short-lived Japanese exclusive Breath of Fire 6, Capcom really hasn't done too much with its classic JRPG series since the turn of the century. Given the direction that things were heading in, that might not be such a bad thing, although this doesn't change the fact that the series' earliest entries remain two of the standout action RPGs in the Super Nintendo's star-studded library.
It therefore bodes well for fans of classic RPGs that, as of late 2019, both games are available on the Switch through Nintendo's online store. Granted, they're starting to show their age a little here and there and many of their original flaws still remain. Those looking for a fun adventure with excellent dungeon designs and captivating storytelling could definitely do a lot worse though.
Breath of Fire
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Publisher(s)
- Capcom
- Platform(s)
- SNES , Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Released
- April 3, 1993
14 Octopath Traveler
Metacritic Rating: 83 (Switch)
Between them, Square and Enix were responsible for some of the very best RPGs ever made. With that in mind, it should come as little surprise that the modern-day Square Enix still knows a thing or two about role-playing games. Anybody who doubts that need only spend a few hours with the excellent Octopath Traveler or its 2023 sequel in order to confirm.
The game blends together modern-day innovation with classic JRPG mechanics almost seamlessly while also introducing many new ideas of its own. Interestingly though, the idea of a game with eight unique character arcs isn't actually one of them, with this idea having first been used in Square's 1994 RPG Live A Live. Even so, Octopath Traveler is a wonderful game with exciting storylines and some of the best 2D sprite work on current-gen systems.
15 Chronus Arc
Metacritic Rating: 45 (Switch)
Kemco may not be as big a name in the JRPG scene as Square Enix, but the Japanese company has made quite the impression over the last decade or so with a steady stream of low-budget yet high-quality games. Chronus Arc is far from the best of these, but it is perhaps the one that best captures that classic nineties RPG feeling.
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The game was first released for the 3DS back in 2015 before being re-released for the Switch some three years later. Obviously, having been designed around an older system does put it at something of a disadvantage when compared to more modern role-playing games, although, thanks to the game's simplistic art style, this isn't a huge problem. Those who enjoy puzzles should have a lot of fun with Chronus Arc and its relatively short story length means that it can be completed fairly quickly too.
Chronus Arc
16 Indivisible
Metacritic Rating: 79 (Switch)
That Lab Zero was dissolved so soon after the release of Indivisible may suggest that the game wasn't quite up to scratch. This would be a poor assessment, however, as, aside from one or two missing features at launch, it more than lived up to the promises made during its successful crowdfunding campaign.
With its charming art style and high-quality attack animations, it's one of the most visually appealing 2D RPGs to have been released since the nineties and also features a solid, albeit, unspectacular, combat system. The story is not too bad either and is perfectly complemented by Secret of Mana composer Hiroki Kikuta's beautiful soundtrack.
Indivisible
17 Dragon Quest 11
Metacritic Rating: 91 (Switch)
Although many of the older Dragon Quest games can now be played on Switch, even their biggest fans would likely find it difficult to recommend them over the series' latest entry. That's not to say that they are bad, but instead that Dragon Quest 11 is arguably one of the best JRPG games ever made.
The game starts slowly, but, once it gets up to speed, it provides a wonderfully engaging ride. Its bright color palette and excellent character and enemy designs are very easy on the eyes and the story is one of the series' best. Better still, the Definitive Edition that was released for Switch includes an optional 16-bit mode that really does give the game that classic SNES feel to it.
18 Final Fantasy 7
Metacritic Rating: 81 (Switch)
Although there are more recent Final Fantasy games available on the Switch, none do a better job of incorporating classic JRPG elements than Final Fantasy 7. Granted, it was released for the PlayStation rather than the SNES and therefore features 3D graphics as a result. When it comes to gameplay though, it is still very much in keeping with its predecessors.
Anybody who enjoyed the earlier Final Fantasy games for the Super Nintendo should be more than satisfied with what the series' seventh entry has to offer. Whether or not it is a better game than, say, Final Fantasy 6 is difficult to say, but that there is even a conversation to be had on the matter should speak volumes as to this classic JRPG's quality.
Final Fantasy 7
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original) , PC , iOS , Android , Nintendo Switch , Xbox One , PS4
- Released
- January 31, 1997
