What makes top-downRPGsso magical? Ever since the NES era, the genre has told awe-inspiring stories about love, war, and the never-ending battle of good versus evil. Top-down RPGs have produced countless whimsical fantasy worlds, blood-curdling horrors, joyful introductions, and heart-wrenching goodbyes. If you want to experience the wonder of top-down RPGs, look no further than theNintendo Switch.
The best top-down RPGs on Nintendo Switch offer an array of enthralling plots, endearing characters, and vast, immersive worlds you can explore for hours. Whether you’re looking for a dose of nostalgia or a new experience, the Nintendo Switch has your back.
What would you do if you found out your dad is a monster? That’s the question asked by Mad Father,a survival-horror RPG. 11-year-old Aya knows her dad conducts weird experiments in the basement, but what that entails is a mystery. Everything changes when Aya enters the mysterious basement to discover the disturbing secret behind her father’s work.
Mad Father has you exploring the creepy laboratory basement, solving puzzles, and encountering many nightmare-inducing horrors. The story is a thrilling psychological horror with plenty of shocking twists to send goosebumps up your arms. There are multiple endings depending on your choices, and the Switch version features a post-game campaign that offers an alternative take on the plot. If you like horror games, this one will give you chills for days.
7CrossCode Is A SNES-Inspired Action-RPG
If you like RPGs from theSuper Nintendoera, then CrossCode is right up your alley. It’s a sci-fi action RPG with SNES-inspired 16-bit graphics and a nice balance of nostalgia and fresh concepts. The game follows a young woman named Lea, who wakes up in a fictional MMORPG with no memory or voice. She must traverse the strange land of CrossWorlds to search for answers.
The gameplay has you explore a vast overworld, discover Zelda-esque dungeons, solve puzzles, and mow down enemies during action-packed fights. The fast-paced combat constantly keeps you on your toes as you dodge and counter before unleashing a barrage of melee attacks on your enemies. Overall, CrossCode is perfect if you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping battles and dungeon-crawling gameplay.
6Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp Revives Two Cult-Classics
No one will blame you if you missed out on Game Boy Advance’s originalAdvance Warstitles. Thankfully, thesecult-classic RPGs are backwith a refreshing new coat of paint to give them a charming anime art style. This remake re-imagines the first two Advance Wars games, which are strategy RPGs similar to theFire Emblemseries.
You command an army of tanks, copters, and battleships to wipe out all enemies on the map. Each battle is like a game of chess since you must consider the strengths and weaknesses of each unit to determine where to send them and which opponents to fight. To top it all off, your team is filled with quirky characters, ensuring that Advance Wars is the most charming top-down RPG on Nintendo Switch.
PlayingDisco Elysiumfeels like stepping into an oil painting and fully immersing yourself in the fascinating world it presents. This mystery CPRG follows Lieutenant Harrier Du Bois, an amnesiac police officer forced to solve a murder while regaining his memories. You explore crime scenes, talk to witnesses, and gather clues as you unravel the thrilling mystery of The Hanged Man.
The phenomenal voice acting perfectly complements the gripping story and helps create a living, breathing world that keeps you engaged from start to finish. Disco Elysium swept up at The Game Awards 2019, winning Best Role-Playing Game, Best Narrative, and Best Independent Game. It’s a must-playif you want a story-rich RPG.
Sometimes, the best games come from the strangest places.Live A Liveis a remake of an obscure Super Nintendo RPG fromSquare Enix. The game’s epic story transcends time, delivering eight campaigns that take place in different time periods. You’ll be locked in a fierce shoot-out in the Wild West, using stealth to assassinate targets in Edo Japan, solving a mystery on a spaceship in the distant future, and much more.
Each campaign features a unique character, storyline, and stunning area to explore. The turn-based combat allows you to move your party members around a grid to attack or avoid enemies, adding a refreshing element of strategy to battles. If you’re interested, you may check out a free demo on the Nintendo Switch eShop.
Stardew Valleyis the best top-down RPG on Nintendo Switch if you want a way to relax after a long day. This endearing farming simulator has you move to the charming village of Pelican Town to take over your late grandfather’s farm. The only problem is the place needs an overhaul, so it’s up to you to bring it back to life.
The gameplay is calming and allows you to go at your own pace. you’re able to tend to your crops, go fishing, craft items, and explore caves to fight monsters and mine resources. If you need a break, you can mingle with the villagers, learn their stories, fall in love, and start a family. There’s even some LGBTQ+ representation, cementing it as a must-play for fans of cozy games.
2Octopath Traveller 2 Is A Must-Play Turn-Based RPG
BothOctopath Travellergames are excellent top-down RPGs on Nintendo Switch, but if you have to pick one, the sequel is the way to go.Octopath Traveller 2stars eight characters, each with a captivating storyline ranging from a warrior prince on a journey to reclaim his throne to a prisoner who escapes jail to kill the man who framed him for murder.
You pick one character to start with and then travel the world to meet the others, add them to your party, and follow their stories. The HD-2D art style is jaw-dropping, creating some ofthe most gorgeous pixel arton Nintendo Switch. Octopath Traveller 2 proves that Square Enix is still the king of turn-based RPGs.
Sea Of Starsis a beautiful love letter to retro RPGs, taking the best parts of classics likeChrono TriggerandSuper Mario RPGand blending them with modern-day quality-of-life improvements. The turn-based battles always keep you engaged, thanks to timed hits and combo attacks. The pixel art is breathtaking, ensuring every second is pure eye candy. The best part is that there are no random encounters and no grinding.
The game tells an epic tale of two adventurers, Valere and Zale, on a journey to stop a wicked alchemist from unleashing an army of monsters. The story strikes a perfect balance of comedy and heartfelt moments and remains enthralling from start to finish. Do yourself a favor and try the free demo on the eShop because it is the best top-down RPG on Nintendo Switch.
