10 Best Nintendo Switch RPGs in 2022 (Gaming Entertainer-Reviewed)

Pros:

• Enormous, beautiful open world
• Hundreds of secrets and treasures to discover
• Clever puzzles and challenges
• Freedom to tackle the game in any order
• Optional additional downloadable content for extra challenges and treasures

Cons:

• Some mini-dungeons are repetitive
• Extensive length

In Breath of the Wild, you're free to journey through the land of Hyrule as you wish. You can climb towers to find new destinations and whisk toward them with your paraglider. You can uncover many puzzles in the 120 Shrines, which can be solved in a variety of ways. As you travel, you will find enemies, wild beasts, and ingredients to help you with your quest. And of course, you can ride horses.

Many reviewers say exploring the map and uncovering new secrets are highlights of this game, even though these take some time. They like the expansive world and fun puzzles, noting that it's great for all ages. Reviewers also appreciate that there are so many things to do, from cooking to battling and more.

Pros:

• Engaging online play
• Huge variety of weapons and armor
• Expansive world of fascinating monsters
• Accessible to newcomers

Cons:

• Numerous tutorials
• Some reviewers feel encounters become repetitive

A new and terrifying monster threatens the world, and it's your job as a monster hunter to stop it. In this action RPG, you will hunt monsters either solo or with your friends. You can craft and upgrade your armor and weapons to help you defeat stronger monsters as you progress.

Gamers that have experience with the Monster Hunter franchise were disappointed by the streamlined nature of the game. However, many reviewers like that it's accessible for newcomers and more fun to play. They also appreciate that you can get to battles and upgrade equipment quickly. 

Pros:

• Dynamic story that responds to your choices
• Vast open world full of quests and monsters
  
• Engaging combat system
• Freedom to advance at your own pace

Cons:

• Lengthy story can take over 80 hours to complete
• Some reviewers encountered bugs and glitches

This open-world RPG casts you as Geralt of Riveria, a legendary monster slayer for hire. You're free to travel around the world as you please, defeating monsters and advancing a complex storyline influenced by your choices. Combat is real-time, and you can upgrade your weapons, armor, and magic to make yourself even stronger.

With a mature storyline, this game is definitely not for younger players. Some reviewers criticize the game's occasional slow performance and bugs. However, many praise its dynamic story, its vast explorable areas and replayability.

Pros:

• Beautiful animation in the style of Studio Ghibli
• Moving and emotional story
• Great voice acting and music
• Puzzles are great for adults and children alike

Cons:

• Some reviewers found the battle system clunky
• Random encounters can be frustrating

With characters and storyboards designed by Studio Ghibli, this stunning game has a heartfelt story. It focuses on an orphan named Oliver and his journey across a magical world to bring back his dead mother. The battle system allows you to switch between characters and animal familiars in a combination of real-time and turn-based combat.

Some reviewers say that the battle system can feel clunky at times. However, the vast majority of reviewers praise character designs and animations. They also like its engaging story and deep world.

Pros:

• Dozens of new Pokémon to battle and collect
• Large open world full of challenges
• Battle and trade with players online
• Beginner-friendly gameplay

Cons:

• Short storyline
• Online play requires subscription

Grab your Poké Balls and set out on an adventure in a brand new region. As always, you catch and train pocket monsters for battle. The game introduces a host of new and returning Pokémon, and gives you the option to battle other trainers in the game or online against your friends.

Some experienced Pokémon players criticize this game for having a short storyline. However, most reviewers praise the beautiful graphics and character designs of the new Pokémon. They like that it has hours of gameplay outside of the story and plenty of Pokémon to catch. 

Pros:

• Captivating, vast open world
• Unique sci-fi story and characters
• Strategic party upgrades
• Thrilling combat

Cons:

• Some reviewers felt the battle system becomes tedious
• Lengthy boss encounters

You play as Shulk, a young man that has the power to wield the mysterious sword Monado. With your sword in hand, you join the fight between man and machine as you journey across a vast land. It's not just machines you need to be wary of, as you and your party will be attacked by monsters, making party upgrades necessary.

Some reviewers feel that the real-time battle system becomes tedious in the late game. However, many players consider this to be a classic. They praise the engaging storyline and the vast open world.

Pros:

• Fascinating dark fantasy world
• Thrilling combat with multiple character classes
• Excellent loot system keeps players engaged
• Play online with up to eight players

Cons:

• Older game design can feel clunky at times
• End-game items require trading

Originally released for the PC in 2000, Diablo II: Resurrected sees the dark fantasy classic revived with brand-new graphics for the modern era. Choose from one of seven character classes, and battle hordes of creatures on your quest to stop evil.

Some reviewers criticize elements of the outdated game design, such as limited inventory space and frequent trips back to town.  But others praise the game's combat variety, MMO-like online play with up to eight players, and its well-tuned loot system.

Pros:

• Fast-paced action combat
• Superb stylish design
• Excellent music and voice cast
• A worthy successor to Persona 5

Cons:

• Fans of Persona 5 may dislike the action-based combat
• Simpler gameplay than Persona 5

This game is a sequel to Persona 5, and sees the Phantom Thieves return for a road trip across Japan. It's not long before they're pulled back into action due to a series of incidents that require their special, metaverse skills. The fast-paced action-based combat allows you to switch between characters as you solve the mystery.

If you haven't played the original game, some of the story and character backgrounds may be confusing. Some reviewers who have played Persona 5 say this game is simplistic in comparison. However, many reviewers like the mix of action and RPG elements. They say the game is stylish and praise the music and voice cast.

Pros:

• Classic RPG mechanics and adventure
• Job system offers depth to customize
• Beautiful art style and music
• Strategic battle mechanics

Cons:

• Traditional combat mechanics are not for everyone
• Random encounters can be frustrating

In this game, your four Heroes of Light travel the world in search of four crystals. At its core, it's a traditional RPG with turn-based combat and a job system featuring offensive "Brave" or defensive "Default" strategies. As well as the main storyline, there are a number of side-quests to complete.

For some reviewers, this game didn't offer anything new to the RPG genre. However, many praise how the job system gives players the ability to customize their characters as they wish. They also like its beautiful art style and music.

Pros:

• Fantastic stories and characters
• Unique and unforgettable worlds
• Multiple side quests and optional bosses
• Interesting combat systems

Cons:

• Random encounters can be annoying
• Final Fantasy X-2 is only downloadable, not on disc

In Final Fantasy X, you play as star athlete Tidus, who gets transported into the future and must help save the world from a creature called Sin. Final Fantasy X-2 follows a character from the first game searching for her lost love. Both games are set in a world of magic and technology and feature expansive, creative stories.

Some reviewers were disappointed that Final Fantasy X-2 must be downloaded rather than being available on the game cartridge. However, most reviewers love that they can own these classic games together, noting that they both have excellent storylines and remastered graphics in HD.