The Nintendo Switch is the ideal platform to play role-playing games (RPGs). When traveling to work, school, or something else, players can open up the Switch and play. In today's world, RPGs are rich, diverse, and have deep stories and other fleshed-out mechanics, so having these worlds on the go is always fun.

Bringing the hit game Skyrim over to the platform, the Switch became a bigger deal. Now, gamers don't have to go home on their respective platform to play these big games. With the Switch, they can pop in and pop out and still be engaged. Much like Skyrim, these games are big and robust and push the Switch to deliver a great experience.

Updated on February 5, 2024, by Ritwik Mitra: The Nintendo Switch may be on its last legs right now, but that shouldn't take away from the wealth of experiences it has to offer. There are games across a wealth of genres that fans can check out on this hybrid console, with many games in the RPG genre being quite worthwhile for players to check out. Fans who want to check out great role-playing games on the Switch will find Skyrim to be an easy recommendation, but most players have probably already checked it out. Thankfully, there are many other RPGs in the same vein that'll be perfect for players who want to get lost in a grand adventure.

20 Octopath Traveler

An Excellent JRPG Featuring Eight Playable Characters In A Grand Adventure

This RPG game is a quirky one to play as it features eight travelers with eight separate stories to be told throughout the game, and fans of Skyrim would be advised to give it a go. It was developed by Square Enix in association with Acquire and was released in 2018.

It's a captivating fantasy world like nothing seen before on this platform, featuring stunning combat, and the individual storylines are captivating as the player discovers the glorious world of Orsterra. Fans gave it generally good reviews on its release, and it continues to be popular on the Nintendo Switch to this day.

19 Dark Souls

A Tough As Nails Action RPG With Many Fantasy Creatures, Including Dragons That Can Wreck Unsuspecting Players

Funnily enough, this game was released the same year as Skyrim but has always lived in its shadow, but fans should check it out if they want a similar type of game. Sequels and remasters have followed, but nothing compares to the original.

Dragon-based games are still all the rage and this game was one of the first ones to burst onto the scene, alongside Skyrim. The game is played from the third-person perspective, and the aim is to fight enemies whilst exploring different environments. To progress, the player must battle bosses while interacting with other characters.

18 Bravely Default 2

A Classic JRPG With A Robust Job System And A Wonderful Adventure To Boot

From the makers of Octopath Traveller, this game is another that features the kind of content that fans of Skyrim would appreciate. It's set on a continent called Excillant which is divided into five different kingdoms. It was released on the Nintendo Switch in 2021 and has been a massive success ever since.

Bravely Default 2 is the third game in the Bravely series, but features a new story and all new characters. There are four main characters to follow in the game, a young sailor called Seth, a princess called Gloria, a traveling scholar called Elvis, and Adelle, who is a mercenary. The aim of the game is to retrieve the crystals of the four elements, and once the player gets into the game, there's no going back from there.

The game is stunning when it features turn-based battles and also features an updated variant of what is known as the 'Brave Point' system. This allows for the collection of different asterisks to change the job class of a character.

17 Pokemon Legends: Arceus

A Huge Shift In The Established Pokemon Formula That Ended Up Working Out Pretty Well

A massive departure from older Pokemon games which would be played with a top-down view and because the tech was limited, gameplay would also be limited. However, as games became more and more advanced so did Pokemon. Pokemon Legends: Arceus is evidence of that as it provided players with a vast space to explore. This style of open-world gameplay is quite similar to that of Skyrim, though on a smaller scale.

Pokemon Legends: Arceus has what made Pokemon great plus more and that allows players to get fully involved with the world they're engaging, plus giving players more freedom in what they do from how they catch the Pokemon to how they interact makes up for the perfect Pokemon game in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.

16 Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

Capcom's Action RPG Is Full To The Brim With Amazing Combat Encounters And A Fun Adventure

Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is the perfect game for players who want more Skyrim, featuring all the freedom and choices that Skyrim gives players Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen is a great addition for players to have in their game catalog. Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen offers the same excitement that Skyrim does for players from the combat to how the players build their character. Players will note how deep almost all the mechanics are, which gives them the freedom to play Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen how they want to.

On top of that, this lengthy game is highly replayable. Players can finish up one story as one class and start another by doing things differently which gives players an incentive to keep on playing. If players are traveling, they'll notice how quickly Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen sucks them in because of massive and engaging the world is.

15 Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age

A Great, Experimental Final Fantasy Adventure That Implements Everything Square Enix Learned From Final Fantasy 11

One of the many things that have made the Switch a success story is that it allows players to go out in the world and keep these rich games on them almost at all times. Final Fantasy 12: Zodiac Age does just that and then some, by giving players this whole world that is open and so many things to do, and the best part is it's all balanced, so players won't feel overwhelmed.

The world is so massive in Final Fantasy 12: Zodiac Age that players will surely get lost in it and that's the best part because while players are exploring they'll discover so much which can make playing while traveling even more enjoyable. What makes Final Fantasy 12: Zodiac Age one of the better RPGs on the Switch is that it gives players challenges in everything and that the learning curve sticks out in the combat. While combat can be difficult, players will learn it quickly allowing them to progress more which can make everything easier on the player.

14 Dying Light

A Fun Action RPG With A Great Movement System That Makes Exploration A Blast

This zombie-free running-first-person game has quite a lot going for it. It has a deep and intriguing story along with mechanics that complement gameplay quite well. Dying Light can be hard at the start, however, as players level up things become much easier. With so much content, players will be spending countless hours in Dying Light and a story that the player can be connected to on a personal level gives this game the advantage of keeping players engaged longer.

Players will find enjoyment in many aspects of Dying Light like the day and night mechanic. There is a lot that players can do in this open-world game, so players can feel like they're accomplishing things that impact the world rather than the story which in the end makes Dying Light a great RPG game for the Switch.

13 Castle Crashers

A Fun Co-op Hack-And-Slash Game That's Pretty Engaging With Friends

While not as open as the other games discussed in this article, Castle Crashers is the whole package, and it shows that games don't need massive or overly complicated to appeal to players but rather simple and fun. Castle Crashers has many fun elements to it and if players are playing with friends, the game gets even more interesting because each character that the players select has their own abilities, and that makes things a lot more personal because now each player is bringing something different to the fight which in turn can make things easier.

The great thing about Castle Crasher is how simple it is which gives the game a better reason for players to play it with friends that's the part where Castle Crashers shines the most because it shows off how simple gameplay mechanics can make Castle Crashers seem overly complicated when in reality it's not and that surprise will drive players to play it alone or with friends.

12 Stardew Valley

A Cozy Farming Simulation Where Players Can Form Bonds With Various Residents In The Eponymous Town

Unlike most other recommended RPGs, Stardew Valley teaches players about farming and goes into detail about it. Players set up and maintain the farm that their grandfather gave to them. People can expand their farms by going to different regions and growing crops according to that new region.

Stardew Valley doesn't have much action in it, but even without that, it has a very deep relationship system that players can use with NPCs in the world. Much like Skyrim, Stardew Valley's world is engaging and ongoing. It's a great game for players to have on them for long trips.

11 Child Of Light

An Interesting, Poetic RPG That Doesn't Overstay Its Welcome

This platformer-style RPG has a lot of heart. Child of Light isn't as long as many others in the genre, but it does have the replayability factor. Players can upgrade other things and experiment with play styles, even the combat can add some time to gameplay.

The active-time battle system makes the fighting challenging. When upgrading the characters' stats, the game gets easier to play and, in turn, the battle system becomes more fluid. Child of Light is special in many ways, not just its rhyming dialogue.

10 Diablo 3

Another Entry In The Beloved Hack-and-Slash Genre That Overcame A Rough Launch To Become Something Special

Blizzard's golden fleece made its way on the Switch, and it was a perfect fit. Diablo 3 already has a legacy behind it, and it's the most accessible entry in the series. Not only that, Diablo 3 has a deep and interesting world that players can easily enjoy.

Pulling from the console and PC versions, Diablo 3 has everything that RPG fans want and like. Backed by a deep leveling system that allows for all sorts of builds to be explored, Diablo 3 has something for everyone. Much like Skyrim, it has a huge and carefully crafted world that is evolving with every step the player makes.

9 Pokemon Sword & Shield

The Open-World Wild Area Marks A Huge, Welcome Shift For Pokemon

A Nintendo console with handheld capabilities wouldn't be complete without a Pokemon game, and the Switch is no exception. While traveling to school, gamers can explore the vast depths of the Galar Region. What makes Pokemon Sword and Shield so appealing is how fun and deep it is for a series that has been running for almost three decades now.

Catching new Pokemon is always a rewarding experience and the fact that all of this can be done while the player is traveling is amazing. Pokemon Sword and Shield puts a big world with so much to do in the player's back pocket.

8 Dragon Quest 11

The Most Accessible Title In The Series, With A Heightened Focus On Exploration Along With Fun Dungeon-Crawling

Dragon Quest 11 is one of the best JRPGs that fans can check out. The series hasn't really been the most accessible one around for Western fans, which is why the eleventh mainline entry is such a huge achievement.

The shift to bigger hub zones and open-ended exploration worked in favor of this excellent title that serves up some classic JRPG goodness for players to enjoy. Dragon Quest 11 may have moments where grinding is necessary to progress, but that's a small price to pay for what is otherwise a splendid game.

7 Xenoblade Chronicles 2

An Excellent Open-World JRPG Where Exploration Is A Blast

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has everything an open-world triple-A game should have. It boasts a massive open world with tons to do, even when not at home players can get lost in Alrest. The game offers a compelling story that is easy to follow.

The fact that this big of a game can be put on the Switch, and it works effortlessly showcases what the console can offer. The fighting system is great, even if Xenoblade Chronicles 2 does throw a lot of mechanics at the player.

6 Monster Hunter Rise

Hunting Down Monsters Is More Engaging Than Ever Before With Better Traversal Options

The Monster Hunter games are big in, generally speaking, both their worlds and the monsters in them. Hunting monsters has never been more fun than it is on the go. It's even better with a companion. One of the newest features in Monster Hunter Rise is that players now have a companion.

There is a dog-like creature, Palamutes, that helps the players in the world of Monster Hunter Rise. They can help the players in many ways like being mounts or straight-up attacking the monsters. However, players still don't know much about them. Doing all this though, on the go is something not many games can offer.

5 Octopath Traveler 2

A Near-Perfect Sequel That Improves Upon Everything In Its Predecessor, Making For A Sublime Adventure

While Octopath Traveler was a great game in its own right, there were some parts of this JRPG that didn't really resonate with fans. Thankfully, these issues have been cleared up with the advent of its sequel.

It's not an exaggeration that Octopath Traveler 2 is one of the best sequels ever made. Almost every complaint from its predecessor has been addressed, with the gameplay and sense of adventure being two of its strongest pillars that are more than enough to carry people to the end of an excellent game.

4 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild

A Revolutionary Open World Where Every Corner Has Something Beautiful To Find

Before Bethesda's game was ported to Nintendo's system, Breath of the Wild was the Skyrim of the Switch. It shows in the game's massive world and its focus on player freedom, even if Breath of the Wild does lack certain features synonymous with RPGs and could be considered an adventure game instead. Regardless, fans of Skyrim should check this one out.

This game perfected the art of traveling, ensuring that the journey is far more engaging than the destination. Not only that but it's a fresh new take on The Legend of Zelda series, making for a great entry point. Much like the port of Skyrim, Breath of the Wild shows off what the Switch can do and that is delivering a great experience. Even while traveling, kids can pop this on during a road trip and get lost in the world.

3 The Outer Worlds

Obsidian's AA Sci-Fi Adventure Makes For A Short And Fun Ride, With Exploration Being One Of Its Strongest Facets

Borrowing a lot of elements from Skyrim and Fallout, The Outer Worlds feels like it's in the same universe. The colorful cast of characters that both come along or go against the players is something that brings people back. What makes The Outer Worlds so fun to play is that not one playthrough is the same.

Much like Skyrim, The Outer Worlds has a very rich story and the fighting is a challenge. Following Skyrim's lead, The Outer Worlds is open-ended. Therefore, the game evolves with the character choices and the endings are different. That makes every play-through a different experience and the ideal situation for traveling.

2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

One Of The Greatest Western RPGs Of All Time, With Everything From Combat To Exploration Being Sublime

The Witcher 3 is the premier RPG game, many argue it's better than Skyrim since it takes those elements and makes them better. Built from the ground up for higher-end platforms, The Witcher 3 looks surprisingly great on the Switch.

Taking this realized world on the go will have players carrying around charge kits, because of how much power this game uses. The best part of taking Geralt on the go is it's the full package since it comes with all the DLC. Adding on the Death March difficulty it offers, makes the game harder.

1 South Park: The Fractured But Whole

A Hilarious Strategic RPG Encompassing The Adventures Of Would-Be Pre-Pubescent Superheroes In South Park

South Park: The Fractured But Whole will have players laughing along because of the content. This colorful, adult-themed RPG has a lot to offer. Not only is the combat really easy to grasp, but the whole game also has a small learning curve, which is good for this type of RPG.

Players creating their characters and going along with the boys of South Park feels like a choose-your-own-adventure type of game. While not as deep as Skyrim, it does offer other things to replace that. The humor and the characters fix those issues, adding on surprises to throw the players off is typical South Park fashion.