Did you check out these Switch RPG titles? 2019 was a busy year, and between taking pictures of black holes or storming Area 51, you might not have had the chance to enjoy some of the year’s RPG releases. With the new decade almost upon us, it’s time to take a well deserved break and indulge in some of these titles. While this list isn’t all-encompassing, I’ve curated a selection that should have something for just about anyone who appreciates RPGs.
Author’s note: None of the titles on this list were sponsored, and all titles were purchased at the author’s expense.
1) Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6dsxCfdZlk
The original RPG franchise is back! A likable and interesting cast of characters make this nostalgic escapade through Erdrea an enjoyable experience with plenty of Easter eggs and references that will delight veteran fans of the series. The game even allows you to choose between playing it in 3D or 2D, hearkening back to the series roots.
You can pick up the original version of the title on PS4 or PC, but we recommend the Nintendo Switch version so that you can take advantage of all the nifty quality of life changes the developers have implemented. The Switch version also has the added benefit of being portable.
2) Digimon Cyber Sleuth Complete Edition (also available on Steam)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zY_RWXre3o
Cyber Sleuth and its sequel, Hacker’s Memory, originally dropped on the PS4 and Vita a couple years ago. Namco Bandai has bundled the games with all of the DLC and accoutrements, making it easier than ever to enjoy traversing through Tokyo as a detective or hacker. I’m a big fan of the more mature premise in these games, and the game’s tone feels as though it’s one step away from being a Persona spinoff.
Between some of the heavy plot elements and the monster collecting aspect, the biggest difference between Digimon Cyber Sleuth and a Shin Megami Tensei game is that the apocalypse hasn’t happened yet. If you’re not a fan of the next title on this list but like monster catching games, then definitely give Digimon a second chance.
3) Pokemon Sword and Shield
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grO7u1R866o
If you weren’t sold on Let’s Go! Pikachu or Eevee, then you’ll be happy to know that Game Freak has finally made a dedicated mainline game for the Nintendo Switch.
The open nature of the Galar region allows the player an unprecedented amount of freedom in the normally linear series. The Wild Area is a great addition to the gameplay loop and hunting for Gigantamax Pokemon in Raids is the most fun I’ve had in a Pokemon game since the Battle Frontier in Gen IV.
Another change that I’m a big fan of is the over-the-top nature of the Gym Challenge. Instead of quietly walking from town to town defeating gym leaders, Sword and Shield showcase a much more bombastic journey through the Gym Challenge. Each benchmark battle takes place in a large stadium with the crowd cheering you on, and the game acknowledges your progress, making you feel like you’re a contender.
Read these 5 Tips to get you started in Pokemon Sword and Shield
Still on the fence? Pokemon Home, a Pokemon cloud storage service, is slated to release at some point in the near future, allowing some compatibility with previous titles in the series.
4) The Witcher 3 (also available on PC, PS4, XBOX)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql2BJiDg7hY
The Switch was a little late to the party on this one, but if you haven’t gone on a romp with Geralt of Rivia in this installment yet, then we fully recommend getting on your horse and slaying some griffins. CDProjekt Red has gone a great job with porting this title to the Switch: the graphics have been tweaked to run more smoothly and it does a good job of maintaining a steady 30 FPS. Regardless of whether you’re a fan of Henry Cavill or the new Netflix series, you owe it to yourself to check out this game.
Honorable Mentions: Dragon Quest 1, 2, and 3; Dragon Quest Builders 2
Square Enix is drastically rethinking their release strategy and is practically dumping their catalogue on the Switch. Dragon Quest 1-3 are available on the eShop, allowing you to scratch that classic JRPG itch. If you just can’t get enough of Dragon Quest, consider Dragon Quest Builders 2, which is essentially Minecraft with a Dragon Quest skin. Dragon Quest Builders was an excellent foray into the survival/crafting genre, but the second entry, Dragon Quest Builders 2, is even more polished and accessible.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLY06_-1_nA
The Switch is really carving out a niche for itself as a platform with a ton of great titles, and with the advent of the new Switch models having more battery life, you’d crazy not to pick up some of these games! We’d argue that the only downside of the Switch having such a selection is that you can only play one of these titles at a time.
