Many consider the nineties to be the golden age of gaming. It was during this decade that some of the most iconic video game franchises were created; many of which could be found exclusively on the Super Nintendo. In particular, the system played host to a huge selection of excellent role-playing games. As time has passed and technology has improved, however, the genre has gone through some pretty drastic changes.
Random encounters, turn-based combat, and 2D visuals are becoming increasingly difficult to find in modern role-playing games. Granted, this will no doubt suit some people, but there are plenty of others who may find themselves missing that classic RPG feel. Thankfully, there are still some viable options available for those people; especially if they happen to own a Nintendo Switch. With that in mind, what are some of the best Switch RPGs for fans of the genre's classic SNES-era games?
Updated February 16, 2024, by Tom Bowen: Though a lot has changed since the nineties, the essence of classic role-playing games can still be found hidden away in many modern titles if one knows where to look. The Nintendo Switch is a great place to start, as the system boasts an extensive library of excellent RPGs, many of which borrow heavily from some of the fantastic games that came before them. Some of them may look pretty different than their pre-3D pixel art predecessors, but beating beneath their well-polished visuals lies the heart of a classic SNES RPG.
1 Live A Live
Metacritic Rating: 81 (Switch)
With its unique narrative system, Live A Live was one of the most innovative games of its era and likely provided much of the inspiration for Octopath Traveller. 28 years on from its initial release, a remake was developed for the Nintendo Switch, helping to put the game into the hands of a whole new generation of gamers, and, for the first time, players in the west.
Due to the original only selling 270,000 copies in Japan, the decision was made not to localize the game for Western audiences. However, unofficial fan translations began cropping up in the early part of the twenty-first century, which helped the game to expand its cult following outside of Japan. The Switch remake now serves as the definitive version and is a must-play for fans of old-school SNES role-playing games.
Live A Live
- Released
- September 2, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
2 Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition
Metacritic Rating: 77 (Switch)
When it comes to old-school SNES JRPGs, they arguably don't come much better than Chrono Trigger. Sadly, Square's 1995 masterpiece is still not available on the Nintendo Switch at the time of writing, but players can at least get their hands on its oft-misunderstood sequel, which is playable on Switch in the form of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition.
Unfortunately, the 2022 remaster feels a little half-hearted, with very few improvements made despite more than two decades having passed since the release of the original game. Even so, it remains a top-tier RPG and is well worth playing for those who've yet to check it out. Even for those who have, it's highly replayable due to the vast number of potential party members, so a second or third playthrough may be in order.
Chrono Cross
- Released
- August 15, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
3 Sega Ages: Phantasy Star
Metacritic Rating: 82 (Switch)
Though the two companies seem to share a healthy relationship these days, there was once a time when Sega and Nintendo were huge rivals. Kids would typically pick one console over the other and then argue with their friends that their console of choice was superior. This meant that a lot of Sega kids missed out on the likes of Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger, though that's not to say that they didn't have a few great RPGs of their own.
The original Phantasy Star games were among the very best and offered something unique that just couldn't be found on Nintendo consoles at that time. With Sega bowing out of the hardware industry at the turn of the century, many of the company's best games have now been released on Nintendo consoles, including Phantasy Star on Switch via the SEGA AGES Phantasy Star Switch store release. Given that Nintendo fans likely missed out on the game the first time around, it's definitely worth a look.
Phantasy Star
- Released
- December 20, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Sega
- Publisher(s)
- Sega
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Sega Master System, Sega Genesis
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, RPG
4 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Metacritic Rating: 89 (Switch)
When Roy and Marth first made their debuts in Super Smash Bros. Melee for the GameCube, most Western players had no idea who they were. Japanese players, on the other hand, instantly recognized them as characters from the Fire Emblem series, which has been incredibly popular in the country since making its 1990 debut.
Fast forward two decades, however, and Fire Emblem games are now arguably just as popular in the West as they are in the East. The pick of the bunch is perhaps the most recent, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, which some people consider to be one of the best tactical RPGs of all time. It contains a surprising amount of depth and offers a modern take on a classic idea.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
- Released
- July 26, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Intelligent Systems
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
5 Xenoblade Chronicles
Metacritic Rating: 89 (Switch)
Xenogears and the Xenosaga games were some of the very best RPGs that players could get their hands on around the turn of the century. They excelled in the storytelling department and built upon the excellent work done by Square, Enix, and other big nineties studios in further developing narrative-driven gameplay in role-playing games.
Though they are considered spiritual successors rather than sequels, the Xenoblade Chronicles games picked up right where their predecessors left off. The pick of the bunch is definitely the first of the three titles though, and its definitive edition, which was released for the Switch in early 2020, more than lives up to its title.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
- Released
- May 29, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Monolith Soft
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- RPG
6 I Am Setsuna
Metacritic Rating: 75 (Switch)
I Am Setsuna may only be five years old at this point, but it's already starting to show its age in some areas. The graphical department isn't one of them though, with the game's unique and endearing art style still just as charming as ever. That's not all that the game has going for it though.
Extensive character customization options and a tragic yet beautifully told story really help the game to stand out, as too does its fantastic piano score. The combat is solid too, even if the obvious lack of enemy variety does hold it back a little at times. There are definitely better RPGs available on the Switch at this point, but for those who've already played them, I Am Setsuna might just be worth a punt.
I Am Setsuna
- Released
- February 18, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Tokyo RPG Factory
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, PS Vita
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
7 Breath of the Wild
Metacritic Rating: 97 (Switch)
Despite falling squarely into the action-adventure genre, Zelda games have always incorporated ideas and mechanics from RPGs. This is especially true of the series' most recent entries, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and 2023's Tears of the Kingdom, which are somewhat reminiscent of classic action RPGs like Secret of Mana and Terranigma.
Best Games To Play If You Liked Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
The following games may not be Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, but they will certainly scratch the same itch as Nintendo's open-world masterpiece.
Players are able to acquire new armor and upgrade it to increase Link's defensive capabilities. There's also a wide variety of weapons, stat-altering potions, and permanent upgrades to Link's health and stamina. Granted, it's still missing a lot of the elements that make up a traditional RPG, but that's not to say that fans of the genre can't still enjoy it for what it is.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- Released
- March 3, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Nintendo EPD
- Publisher(s)
- Nintendo
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii U, Switch
8 Bravely Default 2
Metacritic Rating: 76 (Switch)
Silicon Studio's Bravely Default games are RPGs through and through. In fact, the first game actually started out as a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and still maintains many of the features one would expect from a Final Fantasy game. It still brings plenty of new ideas to the table though and feels like a natural evolution of the classic JRPGs of yesteryear.
Though the series' first entry is currently unavailable on Switch, its sequel, Bravely Default 2, was released in early 2021. It's not quite as impressive as its predecessor, but its stunning visuals, interesting environments, and innovative job system should still appeal to fans of old-school SNES RPGs.
Bravely Default 2
- Released
- February 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
9 Collection of Mana
Metacritic Rating: 83 (Switch)
The Mana series helped to popularize the action RPG genre and remains incredibly popular even to this day thanks to its wonderful gameplay and excellent storytelling. This should perhaps come as little surprise considering it started life as a Final Fantasy spin-off, although it has since gone on to become a standout series in its own right.
Frustratingly, the 2018 remake of Secret of Mana is still to make its way to the Switch, although this likely won't matter too much to fans of classic RPGs. They'll probably be more interested in the Collection of Mana, which includes the original Mana trilogy as well as a port of the Game Boy game that started it all, Final Fantasy Adventure.
Collection of Mana
- Released
- August 27, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
10 Romancing SaGa
Metacritic Rating: 71 (Switch)
The Mana series isn't the only successful Final Fantasy spin-off series. Far from it, in fact. There have been quite a few of them over the years, although none have had quite as big an impact as SaGa. Like Mana, the series started life on the Game Boy as The Final Fantasy Legend, although picked up the SaGa name after the first three games in the series; all of which can be played on the Switch as part of Collection of SaGa Final Fantasy Legend.
It's perhaps the Romancing SaGa trilogy for the SNES, however, that really helped the series to take off both in the West and in Japan. All three of the games can be played on the Switch through the Nintendo Online Store, as too can the PlayStation classic SaGa Frontier which was remastered for the system in early 2021.
Romancing SaGa
- Released
- January 28, 1992