The Nintendo Switch has done an amazing job of allowing gamers to experience classic RPGs since it’s launch. We have had the chance to play some games that we haven’t gotten to enjoy since our childhood, along with some titles that never made it outside of Japan. Despite all of this, there are still some amazing titles that I would love to see ported over to the Switch as soon as possible. In the list below, I will be naming 5 RPGs that I hope we get to experience on our current favorite console in the near future. Keep in mind that this is a list of more traditional RPGs.
5. Legend of Dragoon
Legend of Dragoon is a turn-based RPG that I felt has been forgotten by time. This was a game that had me obsessed before it even came out due to the gorgeous trailers and artwork released before launch. The big selling point to me for this game was the transformations and the more immersive take on turn-based combat. If you chose to attack, a quick time event-type mechanic called “Addition” would give you the chance to have additional attacks and deal additional damage to foes.
I will admit, it took me while to get used this mechanic as it involved timing a button press perfectly when two blue squares appeared and converged on the screen. Once I mastered this mechanic, I couldn’t stop playing this game all summer. If Legend of Dragoon dropped on the eShop today, this would be a must buy for me.
4. Skies of Arcadia
Skies of Arcadia was the RPG for me on the Dreamcast. I remember not only staying up past my bedtime but being sent back to bed by my angry parents for waking up too early to play this game. In Skies of Arcadia, you take the role of a group of sky pirates, and you get a chance to explore this big world on a flying pirate ship. You can even recruit a crew to give your ship perks and benefits that help with exploration and battle.
The combat was quick, fun, and constantly evolving. The story was filled with twists. There was also a darker change of direction that I was surprised was put in a game that had such a bright and colorful aesthetic. The beautiful and gorgeous art style that was completely different than anything I had ever seen before. Last, but not least, I was able to embrace being a true sky pirate by being allowed to plunder various locations for treasure. Just talking about Skies of Arcadia makes me want to play it right now. I hope everyone gets the pleasure to experience this game on the Nintendo Switch.
3. Xenogears
Xenogears is a cult classic turn-based RPG that has one massive selling point: giant mechs. This is on my top ten list of greatest games of all times. The art has an anime aesthetic that makes the action and combat look very fluid and fun. The story was very deep featuring many religious and mythological references that were expertly weaved in. The stakes and challenges that the characters have to deal with really escalate as the narrative progresses to a level that I didn’t expect.
The combat allowed you to play out fights as a human or in a giant mech. As you can imagine, I took every opportunity to play out fights in a mech, though unfortunately, they weren’t available in every fight. All the characters were memorable and had stories of their own that were quite engrossing. It is criminal that Xenogears has seemingly been forgotten by time and has yet to be ported to the Nintendo Switch.
2. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
Honestly, I want all of the Mario RPGs on the Nintendo Switch. Most of all, I want a remake (Not just a port) of this game. Super Mario RPG was one of the best RPGs on the Super Nintendo. This game took some of our favorite characters from the Mario lore and allowed you to play as them in a turn-based battle system. Super Mario RPG really blew me away with how they integrated classic attacks and items from the various Mario games. The story was the best you had seen in a Mario game at that time. The characters were solid and unique. It even introduced some great characters such as Geno and Mallow that remain favorites of mine to this day.
For some reason, Nintendo seems to want to pretend this game never existed. They even ignore request for fan favorite characters from this game to be included in Smash games, even though much more obscure characters such as the Wii Fit Trainer have been featured. Though I don’t think it is very likely, I hope one day we get an announcement that this will be brought to the Nintendo Switch.
1. Persona 5
Persona 5 is one of the best games I have ever played. Upon release, there had certainly been a lack of turn-based RPGs on a AAA level. Back when Persona 5 was just released, I remember wondering if we would ever get another great turn-based RPG. A friend then told me that I had to drop everything and play this game immediately and he was right. The art style is the definition of gorgeous and looks just like a playable anime. The battle system is one of the best, fair, and exciting turn-based combat systems ever.
I love the fact that Persona 5 rewards you for taking the time to plan out when, how, and where to attack. All the options that are available to you in combat keeps it from ever getting stale or boring. It also got rid of one of the most hated aspects of video games: grinding. If you progress through the game and fight all the enemies, you will be able to get through it without having to spend hours and hours fighting the same monsters and revisiting the same areas just to be able to move forward. I hate games that waste my time, so this was huge to me. The story is fantastic, and I spent countless hours playing each session just because I wanted to know what would happen next and discover the answers behind the overarching mystery.
The “calendar” mechanic made you feel just like you were the main character as you must manage your time carefully between your studies, chores, friends, extra-curricular actives, and exploring dungeons. The characters are fully fleshed out, and by the end of the game, you actually feel like you are saying goodbye to a group of friends.
The only thing holding me back from playing Persona 5 again on the PS4 is the fact that the developers keep teasing us with a port for the Switch if the demand is shown. This is complete and utter nonsense, as that is the one request that they keep hearing constantly. I could write an entire article praising this game, but trust me, Persona 5 is near perfection. The release of a Dynasty Warrior-type sequel to the Switch will be released in English in a few months, though. This gives me hope that before the end of the year, I could be playing Persona 5 on my Nintendo Switch.
That concludes my list of 5 RPGs that I would love to see brought to the Nintendo Switch. Do you agree with my list? What classic RPGs you would like to see brought to the eShop? Let us know in the comments! Thank you for stopping by Switchwatch.co.uk. See you next time!
