Nintendo Switch 2 Reviews: RPGs

Here’s games in this category that I have reviewed so far on the Nintendo Switch 2, from best to worst. Note: If multiple games have the same score, they will be sorted alphabetically.

RPGs

Game	Genre	Grade
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	JRPG	A
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles Definitive Edition takes the epic, sprawling JRPG from 10 years ago and finally gives it the release it truly deserves, updating the visuals and music, adding in tons of great quality of life improvements, and adding a brand new 10 hour epilogue, with the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade massively improving the loading times, framerate, resolution, and adding in additional content and features as well. The result is the new best version of a spectacular JRPG that is a must-play entry in the genre.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout DX	JRPG	A-
tl;dr Atelier Ryza is the first game in the eighth series of Atelier games (the Secret series), a franchise of JRPGs with a focus on crafting. Ryza is leaps and bounds beyond prior games in the series, both in terms of the quality of its gameplay, its wonderful characters and story, and in its absolutely gorgeous presentation. This is not just a great Atelier game, this is a great, must-play JRPG, full stop, and this DX release adds a lot of content and value beyond the original release. It is only some frustrating graphical issues and a few confusing gameplay elements that keep this from being a contender for the title of best JRPG on Nintendo Switch.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy DX	JRPG	A-
tl;dr Atelier Ryza 2 is the second game in the eighth series of Atelier games (the Secret series), a franchise of JRPGs with a focus on crafting. Ryza 2 builds on the story and gameplay of the first Atelier Ryza game, weaving a more mature tale in which the first game’s characters have matured some, adding new elements to the ATB-infused combat system, and bringing back the larger, more open-areas the series hasn’t seen since Atelier Firis. This DX re-release adds plenty of new content and features, though the inability to upgrade from the prior release is disappointing. Overall, this is still a superb JRPG, but it has some issues keep it from surpassing its predecessor.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX	JRPG	A-
tl;dr Atelier Ryza 3 is the third game in the eighth series of Atelier games (the Secret series), a franchise of JRPGs with a focus on crafting. The third and (apparently) final installment in the Ryza series is much bigger in scope and adds new gameplay elements on top of what was in the prior games, but at the same time it also seems somewhat less-polished, and doesn’t quite have the “wow factor” that the original Atelier Ryza did. This DX release adds plenty of new content and features, improving on an already-great game, though not enough to justify paying full-price a second time. Overall, this is still a solid addition to the series, and a must-play for those who enjoyed the prior two games.
Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack	Compilation / JRPG	A-
tl;dr Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy Deluxe Pack is a Compilation containing the DX versions of Atelier Ryza 1, 2, and 3, all three games being delightful crafting-focused JRPGs full of charm. This is the best these games have ever been, and this bundle provides a good discount to buy all three at once. The Nintendo Switch 2 versions of these games also benefit from a solid improvement over the Nintendo Switch releases, albeit not nearly as drastic an improvement as I would like. Regardless, if you’re a fan of JRPGs and haven’t yet jumped into the Atelier franchise, this is the perfect time to do so.
Deltarune	Turn-Based RPG	A-
tl;dr Deltarune is a Turn-Based RPG (sorta’) that follows in the footsteps of Undertale but does a few things quite differently, yet is in many ways much the same wildly creative, bizarre, funny, thoughtful and original experience that Undertale was. If you enjoyed Undertale, this is a no-brainer, if you didn’t like it then this probably won’t be any different for you, and if you haven’t played Undertale, then play Undertale before playing this.
Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Top-Down Turn-Based RPG	A-
tl;dr Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a Turn-Based RPG that had to sacrifice couch co-op and a lot of graphical fidelity to fit onto the Switch, but the game retains its massive, deep, well-told campaign, excellent strategic gameplay, absolutely beautiful soundtrack and superb voice acting and writing, and superb co-op play in local wireless and online. Plus, the Switch 2 version has exclusive cross-save support with the PC version on Steam. The result is a version of the game that is one of the best RPGs on the Switch 2, and a must-have for fans of the genre who don’t already own it on another platform.
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined	Turn-Based JRPG	A-
tl;dr Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is a remake of a family-friendly PlayStation and Nintendo 3DS Turn-Based JRPG that addresses all of the complaints I had about that game and adds multiple improvements to boot, as well as a stunning new presentation. As a remake this game is astounding, and as a JRPG it is a game that you should absolutely get your hands on, even if you didn’t enjoy previous versions of Dragon Quest VII. And the improvements the Nintendo Switch 2 version gets to visuals and performance take it a step above the Nintendo Switch version too!
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade	Action-RPG / JRPG	A-
tl;dr Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is a truly ambitious remake of one of the most impactful videogames ever made, reworking it to be a more action-focused JRPG. This is a stunningly-gorgeous game, one of the best-looking games to release on Nintendo Switch 2 so far, in a port that makes shrewd compromises that sacrifice little. And while I have my nitpicks about the story and gameplay, it’s hard to complain about a $40 showpiece title that’s a truly praiseworthy port of such a major game. If you’re a Final Fantasy fan on Nintendo Switch 2, consider this an absolute must-have.
Sea of Stars	Turn-Based JRPG	A-
tl;dr Sea of Stars is a Turn-Based JRPG inspired by classics of the genre like Chrono Trigger, featuring a beautiful soundtrack, gorgeous pixel art graphics, and endearing and wonderful characters. It’s not without its problems – the overall plot is nothing special, the combat is clever but also frequently tedious, and the progression is slow as molasses. However, while it’s not quite on par with the greats of the genre it’s designed to imitate, Sea of Stars is nevertheless an excellent JRPG that fans of the genre should consider a must-play game.
Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition	Action-RPG / JRPG	A-
tl;dr Tales of Arise is an Action-RPG and JRPG about a slave revolt against a subjugating civilization led by an amnesiac masked man and a woman suffering from a nasty curse. This game combines a solid story, engaging characters, a good presentation, and enjoyable combat into an overall great package that’s well worth picking up.
Octopath Traveler 0	Turn-Based JRPG	B+
tl;dr Octopath Traveler 0 is a Turn-Based JRPG that acts as a prequel to the series, and delivers similar gameplay with some nice new elements, such as some Management Simulation elements and quality-of-life improvements. However, it’s hard to ignore how this game is a somewhat lazy recycling of prior games in the series, particularly the mobile game Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent, and the result is something that, while still highly enjoyable, lacks the loving care the series is generally known for. If you’re an RPG fan or a fan of this series, this game is still worth playing, but don’t expect it to meet the same high standards as other Octopath games.
Pokemon Legends Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Open-World Monster-Collecting RPG	B+
tl;dr Pokemon Legends Z-A is a family-friendly Open-World RPG set within Pokemon X and Y’s Lumiose City, with battles now in real-time, plenty of things to do, but all in an area that looks very samey and unimpressive throughout. This is still a highly-enjoyable game, and it’s the most polished a Pokemon RPG has been in years (especially on Nintendo Switch 2), but it’s hard not to be disappointed to see this series still struggle to bring us something as grandiose as the Pokemon franchise seems like it should be capable of.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter	Action-RPG / Turn-Based JRPG	B+
tl;dr Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is a full remake of a 21 year-old classic that reworks the game from the ground up with massive improvements to gameplay and presentation. Some elements of the story and character customization still feel a tad dated, but overall this is a superb blend of Turn-Based JRPG and Action-RPG, and a great entry point for anyone curious about the Trails franchise.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Open-World RPG	B+
tl;dr Xenoblade Chronicles X is an Open-World RPG about the remnants of humanity trying to survive on a distant planet after fleeing an Earth destroyed by a massive battle between alien forces. This is a massive, ambitious game, one with a lot of complex systems at work, and thankfully the Nintendo Switch version of the game adds a wealth of improvements and additional content over the Wii U version, and the Nintendo Switch 2 release improves on it further with huge improvements to graphics, performance, and loading times. If you’re an RPG fan with a Nintendo Switch 2, this is definitely a game you should look into, although it is still far from flawless. Despite this, it remains a truly unique and enjoyable game, and one still very much worth playing.
Back to the Dawn	Turn-Based RPG / Simulation	B
tl;dr Back to the Dawn is a story-driven RPG with Simulation elements set in a world of anthropomorphic animals where your character must navigate prison life while pursuing a greater goal. This game is dark, depressing, and features complex game mechanics and character interactions, and as a result it’s not going to be for everyone. But for players craving something deep and complex, this is well worth a look.
Citizen Sleeper – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Visual Novel / RPG	B-
tl;dr Citizen Sleeper is a game that combines elements of Visual Novels, Graphic Adventure games, and tabletop RPGs, telling a story set on a space station in a dystopian future and putting players in the role of a Sleeper, an artificial person trying to survive after running away from their corporate masters. This game’s presentation is cold and detached, and the majority of your interaction with its world will be through text (and through dice rolls). However, if you’re not turned off by these elements, you’ll find this game to have an interesting story with rich worldbuilding, and fairly unique gameplay. This is not a game for everyone, but I suspect those who like this game will really like it.
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Visual Novel / RPG	B-
tl;dr Citizen Sleeper 2, like its predecessor, is a game that combines elements of Visual Novels, Graphic Adventure games, and tabletop RPGs, telling a story set in a dystopian future and putting players in the role of a Sleeper, an artificial person fleeing from someone seeking to control them. This game’s presentation is cold and detached, and the majority of your interaction with its world will be through text (and through dice rolls). If you’re not turned off by these elements, you’ll find this game to have an interesting story with rich worldbuilding, and fairly unique gameplay. This is not a game for everyone, but I suspect those who like this game will really like it.
Citizen Sleeper: Helion Collection	Compilation / Visual Novel / RPG	C+
tl;dr Citizen Sleeper: Helion Collection is a Compilation containing Citizen Sleeper 1 and 2, both games that blend RPG and Visual Novel elements set in a cold dystopian future. These aren’t games that everyone will enjoy, and I believe that the minimal savings present in this bundle aren’t worth taking the risk that you might not enjoy these games. You’re better off trying one first to see if this series is to your liking.
Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition	Turn-Based JRPG	C+
tl;dr Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is the second time a remake of this 1992 Turn-Based JRPG has come to Nintendo Switch (and now Nintendo Switch 2), but this remake is far more extensive, giving an overhaul to the graphics and soundtrack, as well as brushing up the localization and making the game more user-friendly. The result is a much better, much more well-rounded game… but one that’s still pretty dated. Fans of the SaGa series will definitely want to give this a look, but I think most players are better off playing other JRPGs.
The New Denpa Men	Top-Down Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	C+
tl;dr The New Denpa Men is an odd Turn-Based Monster-Collecting RPG, where the “monsters” you’re collecting are little floating multicolored bodysuit-wearing men hanging out around real-world Wi-Fi hotspots. This entry takes the series to free-to-play, and in some ways it’s the best entry yet in the franchise, but it’s really dragged down by the requirement to always be online while playing, and the addition of microtransactions in an otherwise family-friendly game is pretty disgusting too.

Monster-Collecting RPGs

Game	Genre	Grade
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection	Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG	B+
tl;dr Monster Hunter Stories 3 is a Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG, a spin-off of the mainline Monster Hunter series. This game improves and streamlines the formula of this series greatly, resulting in what is by far the franchise’s best game yet, and while I think there’s still room for improvement, overall this is a game I highly recommend to any fans of JRPGs.
Persona 3 Reload	Turn-Based Monster-Collecting JRPG	B-
tl;dr Persona 3 Reload on Nintendo Switch 2 is a remake of the classic Monster-Collecting JRPG, but there’s no upgrade path here, and for a full-priced release this is a disappointingly lackluster remake, even if it is probably the best version yet of a truly great game. If you have yet to play this game, I absolutely recommend it. But if you already own another version, I don’t think it’s going to be worth it for you to buy it again for this compromised remake.
Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army	Monster Collecting Action-RPG	C+
tl;dr Raidou Remastered is a remake of a PlayStation 2 game that takes Shin Megami Tensei’s Monster-Collecting gameplay structure and pairs it with Action-RPG gameplay, with results that are decent but where nothing here seems to excel, with damage sponge enemies, chaotic battles that work against SMT’s usual strategic gameplay, and a presentation that definitely feels like an updated PlayStation 2 game. All in all, this isn’t bad, but I think players have better options when it comes to games like this.
The New Denpa Men	Top-Down Turn-Based Monster Collecting JRPG	C+
tl;dr The New Denpa Men is an odd Turn-Based Monster-Collecting RPG, where the “monsters” you’re collecting are little floating multicolored bodysuit-wearing men hanging out around real-world Wi-Fi hotspots. This entry takes the series to free-to-play, and in some ways it’s the best entry yet in the franchise, but it’s really dragged down by the requirement to always be online while playing, and the addition of microtransactions in an otherwise family-friendly game is pretty disgusting too.

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