Since the first day, the Nintendo Switch burst onto the scene and immediately became a haven for RPG and JRPG lovers. Maybe its hybrid design invited players to dive into sprawling worlds on the couch, the train, or even in bed. Developers seized on that flexibility, rolling out an astonishing lineup of role-playing masterpieces that felt right at home on the Switch’s crisp screen. Before long, the console morphed into an unstoppable RPG machine, practically redefining what the genre could be in the modern era.
Octopath Traveler stands as the flagship of this renaissance, introducing the now normalized HD-2D visual style that married nostalgic pixel art with vivid 3D lighting and depth field effects. Its bold aesthetic struck a chord with fans longing for classic JRPG vibes wrapped in fresh presentation. It was a magical blend of retro, and modern launched a mini revolution. Suddenly every studio wanted a piece of the HD-2D charm.
Square Enix doubled down with Bravely Default II, with its signature turn based combat twists and lush, and painterly environments. Meanwhile, Triangle Strategy pushed the HD-2D style further, adding tactical grid battles with dramatic camera angles and lighting that made each decision feel epic. Both games proved this wasn’t a one off novelty but a full blown movement. We had a visual trend so strong it’s now synonymous with top tier RPG design on Switch, and of course a home for classic franchises.
We can't forget we have the whole Xenoblade Chronicles saga, games that we still can't believe a handle system can run. Fire Emblem: Three Houses was a revolution for the series, added rich strategy RPG layers, letting players bond with characters through riveting school life simulators and battlefield tactics. On the darker side, Shin Megami Tensei V delivered in its unique way a demon fusion and apocalyptic drama. Even classics like Dragon Quest XI and Monster Hunter Stories found new life on Switch, proving its library covered every RPG subgenre under the sun. If we go further, we even have the RPG Maker franchise releasing on Nintendo Switch on a daily basis, and this is someonthing years ago seemed like a crazy idea.
Western developers also embraced the Switch ecosystem. First we had the classic among classics, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. It was one of the main games for the Nintendo Switch launch, and it delivered. Later, we got the impossible port, The Witcher 3 in a complete edition and running better than anybody expected. Even Diablo III joined the party. With Nintendo Switch 2, everything went crazier as we got an amazing port of Cyberpunk 2077 that has been a perfect showcase for the system. Indie games like Undertale and Sea of Stars are now synonymous with Nintendo Switch. To this day, we still get classics like Neverwinter Nights 2 coming in full fashion to the Nintendo systems and it's not gonna stop.
We shouldn't need to mention we are talking about the home for the Pokémon and Mario RPG (or Paper Mario) series. Because they mean millions of classic fans, but also millions of new RPG fans with each release. Bandai Namco, Konami and Square Enix have delivered everything they could. We are talking about Suikoden, the Tales of series, almost every Final Fantasy, and games that probably wouldn't be on moder consoles if not for the Nintendo Switch, like Live A Live or Fantasian Neo Dimension.
In just a few years, Nintendo Switch and its upcoming successor have become the home for a genre that is more popular than ever, and it's gonna be like this for years to come.
