Summary

  • Nintendo Switch has relied heavily on its IPs, but it's now releasing ports of other AAA games like The Witcher 3 and Skyrim.
  • The Fallout series has only one title available on Nintendo Switch, and with Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda, that may be the only one.
  • Nintendo Switch offers other excellent RPGs like Dragon's Dogma and Divinity: Original Sin 2 for players who want a Fallout-esque experience.

Since the NES, Nintendo has always relied on its IPs to sell its consoles. This certainly hasn't been a bad strategy, as iconic franchises like Super Mario, The Legend of Zelda, and Pokemon have been responsible for millions of console sales. But something that is becoming more prevalent with Nintendo is for them to release ports of other AAA games. The Witcher 3, Skyrim, Dark Souls, Ori and the Will of the Wisps, and Divinity: Original Sin 2 all had critically acclaimed releases on other consoles before coming to the Nintendo Switch.

10 Things You Didn’t Know The Nintendo Switch Could Do

Nintendo's newest console, the Nintendo Switch, has a ton of cool features — and even if you own one, you may not know about them all yet.

One AAA game series that hasn't had many releases on Nintendo's latest console is Fallout, with just the free-to-play Fallout Shelter being available. Moreover, with Microsoft's $7.5 Billion acquisition of ZeniMax Media, Bethesda's parent company, there may never be another Fallout entry on a Nintendo console. Thankfully, the Nintendo Switch has plenty of other excellent RPGs, particularly JRPGs, to scratch players' role-playing itch.

Updated on June 5, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The last platform anyone would think about when talking about the Fallout series is the Switch, with none of the major releases from this franchise making an appearance on this console. However, this doesn't mean that owners of this revolutionary hybrid console can't be graced with some stellar games that do a great job of eliciting a lot of what makes this series such a blast to play through. Whether it be the CRPG goodness of past titles or the modern take on this series, there are many Nintendo Switch titles players can check out if they can't get enough of Fallout, with the hit TV adaptation still making waves to this day and compelling more people to check out more of what this beloved franchise has to offer.

21 Hogwarts Legacy

An Open World Sandbox That Gives Players A Lot Of Freedom Without Forcing Them To Do The Main Quest

hogwarts legacy switch version room of requirement maze
Hogwarts Legacy
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Released
February 10, 2023
Developer(s)
Avalanche Software
Genre(s)
Action, RPG

The Harry Potter games were pretty fun in their own right, but some people felt like the true potential of a game set in Hogwarts was yet to be reached. So, when Hogwarts Legacy was released, fans were glad to see an open-world game set in the wizarding world that is pretty engaging, despite not really doing anything innovative or groundbreaking.

To make things even better, the game was also ported to Nintendo Switch, which is hard to believe even now for many players. Accessing this vast, magical world on a handheld device will certainly be quite invigorating for players who want to enjoy one of the greatest gaming experiences around. It may seem different from Fallout in many ways, but the open-world structure is something that fans of this series will be quite familiar with.

20 The Legend Of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom

A World Recovering From An Apocalyptic Event

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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
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Released
May 12, 2023
Developer(s)
Nintendo

After the release of Breath of the Wild, fans wondered how Nintendo would top this amazing experience. After all, this evolution for the Zelda series evolved the very nature of open-world gaming itself, which was a massive achievement in its own right. It might've taken six years, but the release of Tears of the Kingdom showed just how malleable the systems of this brand-new engine were.

The addition of Link's new powers allowed him to build a bunch of unique objects, fuse items, ascend to a platform above him, and reverse the time of certain objects. These were a massive upgrade from the Runes in the previous game and allowed players to spend hundreds of hours tinkering with the game's mechanics. It's this massive achievement that has led to many people calling Tears of the Kingdom one of the greatest video games ever made, and rightfully so. Shades of the apocalypse are still visible here, making it a fun change of pace for Fallout fans.

19 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

A Surprisingly Engaging Open-World Fantasy Game With Fun Action Combat

Dragon's Dogma Dark Arisen battle
Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen
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Action RPG
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Released
April 23, 2013
Developer(s)
Capcom
Genre(s)
Action RPG

Dragon's Dogma is a game that took everyone by surprise with its deep combat, engaging story, and a world that wasn't the biggest but had its fair share of unique and interesting landmarks. It took a while to get going, but Dragon's Dogma eventually became a fan-favorite title, with players loving the action-packed combat system that made every class pretty engaging in its own right.

The enhanced version of the game, Dark Arisen, features an endgame dungeon called Bitterblack Isle that allows players to flex their incredible character build as they explore this massive hostile area and take out the many tough enemies and bosses that stand in their way. Dark Arisen is easily one of the best games that fans of the Fallout series should check out on the Switch if they want to explore a dark fantasy world with surprisingly intricate yet approachable gameplay.

18 Xenoblade Chronicles 3

Features A Pervading Feeling Of Hopelessness That Players Slice Through With Their Actions

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Xenoblade Chronicles 3
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Released
July 29, 2022
Developer(s)
Monolith
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
RPG

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the latest entry in the critically acclaimed Xenoblade series. Known for its immersive open-world gameplay and engrossing storyline, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 continues the series' tradition of epic RPG adventures. Players who want a fresh change of pace from the bleak open world of Fallout love the vibrant world on full display here.

With stunning visuals and a captivating narrative, fans of the series love Xenoblade Chronicles 3, with many considering it to be the best title in this esteemed series. This is especially impressive given the fact that all the games in the franchise boast a tremendous amount of quality, meaning that the third game did something really special to be remembered so fondly.

17 Divinity: Original Sin 2

A Massive CRPG With A Reactive World And Tough Tactical Combat

Hero, Red Prince, Sebille, Ifan
Divinity: Original Sin 2
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Released
September 14, 2017
Developer(s)
Larian Studios
Platform(s)
Switch, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
RPG

Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a highly regarded CRPG that has won multiple awards for its innovative gameplay and storytelling. The game features a deep and intricate world with a vast array of characters and a branching narrative that is shaped by the player's choices. Players who loved the CRPG roots of Fallout will find this title to be right up their alley.

The Switch version of the game delivers this engrossing experience with the bonus of being able to play it on the go, which works surprisingly well with the structure of the game as players can quickly pick up the handheld and get through a challenging battle or a portion of a quest before moving on. Players who love meaty RPGs with tough-as-nails strategic combat will love everything Divinity: Original Sin 2 has to offer.

16 Pokemon Legends: Arceus

An Open-World Pokemon Game That Promotes Player Freedom Over Everything Else

Hisuian Decidueye in Pokemon Legends Arceus
Pokémon Legends Arceus
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Developer(s)
Game Freak
Platform(s)
Switch
Genre(s)
RPG, Action

Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a game that finally shook up the traditional Pokemon formula, and it succeeded in many aspects. Set in the Sinnoh region's past (when it wasn't even called this name), the game allows players to explore a vast open world and catch Pokemon in a way players could only dream about.

With real-time battles and a fresh take on the traditional Pokemon gameplay, Pokemon Legends: Arceus is a must-play game for Pokemon fans and Switch owners alike. Isekai fans will love the setup of this game as well, with the main character being sent back in time to the then-Hisui region. Players who want a lighter take on the open-world genre compared to games like Fallout will love what this title has to offer.

15 The Outer Worlds

Obsidian's Impressive AA Sci-Fi RPG With Fun First-Person Combat

The Outer Worlds
the outer worlds
The Outer Worlds
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Released
October 25, 2019
Developer(s)
Obsidian Entertainment
Platform(s)
Switch, Xbox One, PS4, PC
Genre(s)
RPG

The Outer Worlds was developed by Obsidian Entertainment, the same company that developed the critically acclaimed Fallout: New Vegas. This title was originally released on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 in 2019 before coming to Nintendo Switch the following year. Despite the AA limitations, The Outer Worlds does a great job of letting players enjoy a space odyssey for the ages that doesn't overstay its welcome.

Vault Boy from Fallout sticking his thumb up with a timeline in the background
Every Fallout Game In Chronological Order

Every game was not released in the historical chronological order of the post-apocalyptic alternate timeline world of the Fallout series.

This action RPG lets players explore meticulously designed sci-fi environments while indulging in various side quests and a fantastic over-arching story that helped the game win the Game Writing award from the Nebula Awards. The Nebula Awards weren't the only institution to recognize The Outer Worlds' quality. The game also picked up the Role-Playing Game of the Year accolade from the 23rd Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.

14 Wasteland 2: Director's Cut

A Spiritual Success To The Early Days Of Fallout

Wasteland 2 Combat
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut
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Released
October 13, 2015
Developer(s)
inXile entertainment
Genre(s)
RPG
Platform(s)
PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One

Wasteland 2 was developed by inXile Entertainment and was originally released on PC and Mac in 2014. The following year, a director's cut came out, which eventually made its way to Nintendo Switch in September 2018.

Wasteland 2 is a post-apocalyptic RPG that differentiates itself from the Fallout series with its turn-based tactics combat. A sequel, Wasteland 3, was released in 2020 with a positive reception from fans and critics; however, this game hasn't made it to Nintendo Switch as of yet.

13 Atom RPG

An Amazing Attempt By A Small Studio To Develop A Fallout-Inspired CRPG

Isometric view of characters in ATOM RPG
ATOM_RPG
  • Initial Release Date: 19 December 2018
  • Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Android, iOS
  • Main Story Completion Time: 37.5 hours

Atom Team's 2018 indie game Atom RPG takes players to a post-apocalyptic iteration of the USSR in an alternative history where it was crippled by a nuclear war. The game doesn't hide its influences from the Fallout franchise, particularly the series' older releases.

Atom RPG struggled to impress critics, exemplified by its 65 Metascore for Nintendo Switch. However, the game still deserves a spot on this list. The reception from fans was far more positive, exemplified by an 8.6 User Score on Metacritic and a Very Positive All Reviews mark on Steam.

12 Smoke And Sacrifice

A Survival RPG That Retains Its Charm Despite Being Quite Morbid At Times

Protagonist in a camp in Smoke and Sacrifice
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  • Initial Release Date: 31 May 2018
  • Available Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, PlayStation 4
  • Main Story Completion Time: 10.5 hours

Smoke and Sacrifice is a survival RPG developed by Solar Sail Games. The game puts players in the shoes of Sachi, a mother who hopes to find her son. The game can be tough at times, but it's worth persisting. This wonderfully written story is a great, continued payoff for the hard work.

There's an oddly beautiful charm to this title. Despite the morbid story and often disturbing visuals, the fantastic art design elicits a sense of wonder. If fans find this statement familiar, it's because Fallout's best games can also be described in a similar manner.