8 Polarizing Nintendo Switch RPGs That Are Still Worth Trying Out

The Nintendo Switch is home to quality games from numerous genres. Players love the idea of playing everything from action-packed romps to zen experiences that cater to the interests of several players.

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Some of the best RPGs players can check out can be played on the go using the Nintendo Switch. While some other role-playing games may be polarizing for various reasons, people who don’t mind powering through some of the most confusing inclusions in these titles can still have a great time regardless.

8

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

The Game’s Tutorialization Didn’t Sit Right With Many, Even If The Game Itself Is A Joy To Play Through

Systems

Released

December 1, 2017

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Many players were hotly anticipating the launch of Xenoblade Chronicles 2, with players loving how the franchise had enthralled them with its suite of epic RPGs set in massive open worlds. However, the launch of this much-awaited sequel split fans down the middle.

People felt that the over-reliance on tutorials and the main characters, who boasted rather odd personalities, felt like a step down from the previous games in the series. Most Xenoblade Chronicles fans still had a blast with the second mainline entry and considered it to be a worthy entry in the series despite its faults.

7

South Park: The Fractured But Whole

Doesn’t Live Up To The Standards Of Its Predecessor But Is A Fun Game To Play Nevertheless

The Stick of Truth is easily one of the best role-playing games that captures the spirit of South Park. Fans were elated to see how authentic this experience was and assumed that The Fractured but Whole would be more of the same.

Despite having an evolved combat system coupled with trademark South Park humor, most people felt that this title wasn’t as iconic as its predecessor. It may be a step down from The Stick of Truth, but The Fractured but Whole still has several strengths that it brings to the table and is worth it for fans of South Park.

6

Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

The Gameplay Is Improved But The Title’s Vibes And Story Are Inferior To Wrath Of The White Witch

The first Ni no Kuni title’s immaculate charm and captivating story attracted many fans to the series. Revenant Kingdom was lacking in both departments, with fans feeling like this game failed to live up to the standards of Wrath of the White Witch.

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However, the improved combat and simple yet engaging kingdom management ensure that Revenant Kingdom would be a blast to play for players willing to forgive its faults. The cel-shaded art style still looks great and will compel most people to stick with this title till the very end.

5

Octopath Traveler

The Plot’s Structure And Predictability Is Grating, But The Amazing Music, Visuals, And Combat Make Up For It

One of the biggest pain points of Octopath Traveler was its narrative structure, with other party members being forgotten in tales where only a single character could be seen at all times before battles and boss fights brought back the entire cast of heroes out of nowhere. It was hard to adjust to, and the sequel made major strides to make the stories less formulaic for each character.

While this confusing narrative design may be hard for fans to adjust to, the excellent combat and amazing visuals ensure that Octopath Traveler will still be a joy to play for many fans. What makes things better is the HD-2D art style that looks breathtaking to this day, even if the bloom may be a bit too much for many.

4

NEO: The World Ends With You

The First Game Was Way More Innovative, But The Sequel Is Still Worthwhile

Systems

Released

July 27, 2021

Developer(s)

Square Enix
, Square Enix Creative Business Unit I

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The World Ends With You is one of the best action JRPGs on the Nintendo DS that made the most of the dual screen to let players enjoy one of the most innovative combat systems on this handheld. The sequel failed to innovate in this department but it is still a blast to play through in many ways.

The combat in NEO: The World Ends With You is action-packed and the cel-shaded art style felt like a natural evolution of the 2D visuals from the first game. It may not be as iconic as the first game, but NEO is still worth checking out for fans who loved The World Ends With You and were puzzled that this game was ignored by Square Enix for the longest time.

3

Sea Of Stars

Cliches Aside, The Game’s Visuals And Music Are Superb

An indie role-playing game that pays homage to the golden age of JRPGs, many fans were wowed by Sea of Stars‘ presentation. The visuals were out of this world and the music had a fantastical edge to it that fans fell in love with in no time.

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In many ways, the presentation of Sea of Stars helped many players ignore the cliches of the plot and a battle system that wasn’t all that stimulating. Some players will find these faults hard to overlook, while others won’t mind focusing on Sea of Stars‘ strengths and they get immersed in this wonderful title.

2

Paper Mario: The Origami King

The Game Is Loaded With Charm, Even If The Combat’s Depth Is Paper-Thin At Best

Systems

Released

July 17, 2020

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

The prospect of playing a new Paper Mario enticed many fans, with The Origami King enticing many people with its visuals that fans were familiar with. However, once players spent more hours in this game, they realized that the experience could be a bit too shallow at times.

The combat system was too easy and didn’t feature a ton of depth, while certain character designs felt phoned-in. These were valid complaints but didn’t stop many people from having a blast with a new Paper Mario game regardless of its faults.

1

Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

An Open-World Pokemon Game That Has Its Strengths Despite Some Quality Issues

Systems

Released

November 18, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

Pokemon is one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time that players can’t get enough of. Despite its quality issues in recent times, fans can’t get enough of the classic monster-catching gameplay as they beat every gym leader in a certain area and establish themselves as the best Pokemon Trainer of all time.

This is why many people played Pokemon Scarlet & Violet despite its egregious bugs. The implementation of an open world was something fans wanted for a long time, even if the lack of level scaling meant that players still had to follow a fairly linear path to beat every gym. These faults may be too much for some people to handle, but hardcore Pokemon fans still love Scarlet & Violet and can’t get enough of catching every single Pokemon to fill up the Pokedex in this title.

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