Over the last two weeks of December, we are announcing the winners of the Second Annual SwitchRPG Awards. We’ll be announcing new winners every weekday, leading up to a final announcement on January 1st for RPG of the Year!

Happy Christmas Eve to all those who celebrate, but our holiday is RPG-focused. Today, we’re announcing our winner for Best Budget RPG, a category created to help us honor some of the lesser known, lower budget, or indie developed titles on the Switch this year. To be nominated for this category, games must cost $15 or less at full eShop price. Each of our nominees were able to pack an impressive amount of content into their titles, bringing fresh takes on their respective genres and providing an excellent bang for their buck. If you’ve got the cash to spare, any one of these games will offer an excellent RPG experience.

The Nominees

And the Winner Is…

Shadows of Adam

Released early this year to a great deal of fanfare from SwitchRPG staff, Shadows of Adam ended up being one of the easier awards to hand out. With a charming, 16-bit aesthetic, a clever take on classic turn-based combat, and a story that – while treading familiar ground – succeeds in its execution masterfully. Backed by a successful Kickstarter campaign, Shadows of Adam provides an excellent example of an indie / crowd-funded RPG done right. We hope we can see more titles like this in the coming years: indie RPGs that combine classic influences and modern conveniences.

Community Pick: Shadows of Adam

A blowout victory if ever there was one, Shadows of Adam dominated the community poll right out the gate and never let up. Taking home almost 80 percent of the votes – and yet another double victory – Shadows of Adam faced little in the way of competition. While our two KEMCO-published competitors struggled to gain traction with less than three percent each, The Swords of Ditto faired somewhat better, taking the remaining 15 percent or so. Shadows of Adam’s dominance is testament to the love and care of its developers, providing a game full of fun, challenging gameplay and bucket loads of charm.

Do you feel Shadows of Adam was the best RPG for $15 or less this year? Did one of the other myriad of excellent budget titles this year strike your fancy? Let us know in the comments. And pop in between opening presents tomorrow to check out our winner for Best Retro/Remake RPG – a category sure to appeal to fans new and old!