Five Essential RPGs for the Eclectic Adventurer – Part Two

This week, the staff of SwitchRPG are taking you on a grand tour through our favorite RPGs on the Nintendo Switch- so far, anyway. While each list is subjective to the author in question, we believe these lists represent the cream of the crop – games that every RPG fan should take a serious look at, and consider picking up.

The staff here at SwitchRPG are constantly disagreeing (respectfully, of course) about certain things. A visit to our discord server will tell the tale: we’ll throw down about anything from sports, food, whether Zelda is worthy of being labeled as an RPG (because it is) and so on. We love contributing our time to this site for a reason, however as we believe the Nintendo Switch is- and should be- your go-to console for RPG experiences. This series is meant to give us an opportunity to show the readers some of the RPGs that affirm this point. If you own a Nintendo Switch and are a fan of RPGs, these are my 5 essential experiences.

5. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

Our staff and our respective families have spent countless hours within the latest iteration of Hyrule. Breath of the Wild flirts with perfection in almost every way. A graphical juggernaut, the game possesses unfathomable depth on a single cartridge, chock-full of insanely addictive gameplay and exploration. All of these elements make Breath of the Wild an absolute essential for all Switch owners, but the added (lite- REALLY lite- ed.) RPG elements take the experience to a level that the franchise has never reached before among genre lovers.

4. Dragon Quest XI S:Definitive Edition

For those of us who chose to hold out for the Switch version of DQXI, the wait was agonizing, yet well-worth it. The Definitive edition released on the Switch lives up to its moniker and should be the go-to choice for those that want to experience the most from this game. The incredibly deep (and long) story is still intact, but there are a few slice of life improvements and added romance options that set this version apart. Combine that with the gorgeous 2D mode, and I think this is the most complete re-release a game has ever seen. Octopath Traveler deserves to appear in the conversation, but Dragon Quest XI S is the king of JRPGs on the Switch.

3. Golf Story

In what world does an indie game make a list of essentials for a console? The world of the Nintendo Switch, of course. Golf Story is as fun as it is unique, taking the addictive RPG and adventuring elements of the original Mario Golf and adding a quirky twinge of Earthbound comedy and storytelling. The golf mechanics may be simple, but complexity doesn’t matter when your shots may be influenced by obstacles such as molehills and ice patches instead of the normal wind and distance factors. Outside of the odd disc golf mode- the bizarre package is just indie perfection. I hope to see developer Sidebar revisit the world at some point.

2. Warframe

This is one that you won’t likely see from the rest of the SwitchRPG staff. I was fortunate enough to review this title, and although Warframe has it’s shortcomings- such as convoluted menus and confusing customization options- it’s a technical marvel that is a blast to play with friends. Panic Button performed yet another miracle by packing a free to play Multiplayer Shooter/RPG hybrid into the technical confines of the Switch. Having also played Warframe on Xbox Live, I can reassure readers that differences on the Switch are negligible- even in handheld mode. However, I would like to add the Switch Pro controller seems perfectly built for controlling a Tenno (the bionic warrior race of Warframe) in the most efficient of ways. There are regular updates to Warframe that keep veteran players coming back for more and continuously manage to draw new players at the same time. It’s great, it’s free, and it’s a technological marvel that should NOT be missed by Switch owners.

1. Pokémon Let’s Go

Throughout the years since the original release of Pokémon Red and Blue, I would periodically get the urge to dust off the cartridge and start a new game. Once the Mew glitch was revealed, the urge only grew as I became addicted to building the strongest party around this powerful Pokémon. Ever since the beginning, I’ve dreamed of a 3D iteration with the original 151 in Kanto, and it finally happened with this release on Switch. This is the one Switch RPG that I come back to the most. PokéBall plus functionality seemed like little more than a gimmick at the time, but I’ve loved the idea of adding motion controls and it still remains my preferred method of play. The experience doesn’t stop at the Elite 4 this time, either: you can challenge expert trainers, farm shinies, and even play with a friend via local co-op. I can’t think of a more “essential” Nintendo RPG experience than Pokémon with added motion controls and the ability to play with a friend. Here’s hoping Sword and Shield capitalizes on the momentum.

What do you think? Have you played these 5 essential Switch RPGs? If not…what are you waiting for?