Summary
- The dated tech of the Nintendo Switch limits its ability to run newer, more demanding JRPGs effectively.
- Porting JRPGs to the next Nintendo console would expand their player base and reach a broader audience.
- Games like Final Fantasy 14, Tales Of Arise, and Scarlet Nexus could benefit from being ported to the new Nintendo system.
JRPGs are one of the most preferred genres on the Nintendo Switch. Not only are they effective at catching their target audience, but also broad and casual fans like Persona 5. This is in tandem with Nintendo’s main goal of welcoming a broader audience. The console’s portability and playstyles make investing time into longer games more satisfying and convenient.
Related
The PS2 hosts an array of outstanding JRPGs, considered some of the finest ever launched. This list showcases the top titles available on the system.
As video games improve, so do their demanding system specs. Since the Nintendo Switch is reaching 8 years old, its dated tech can’t run the more demanding games properly. Newer JRPGs take much more power to handle the larger worlds, distinct details, dense character development, and explosive action with many particle effects. That’s why its next system will become the perfect opportunity to port the games to grow their player base.
Only JRPGs that never received a port for the first Nintendo Switch will be considered.
9
Final Fantasy 14
Socializing Fantasy
Final Fantasy 14 takes heroes on a grand MMORPG adventure on planet Hydaelyn. It’s very different than other Final Fantasy games since the players can interact with each other and the environments around them. It gives a lot for players to customize to fulfill combat or support needs like their gear, items, skills, Armory classes, and even races. The gear can even be melded with materia for enhanced buffs.
It’s encouraged to party up like a traditional Final Fantasy party and complete required goals with their given utensils, including weapons and limit break techniques. For the community, adding the Nintendo Switch 2 as an option would make Final Fantasy 14 much more popular, breaking its limits to unite all gaming platforms.
8
Tales Of Arise
Painless Journey
- Released
-
September 10, 2021
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Tales Of Arise represents a more modern approach for its Tales Of franchise. It keeps many traditional features like colorful characters, engaging skits, and artes customization. What developed differently over time is the Linear Motion Battle System, the franchise’s main staple feature. The system makes a party member lock to a target and move within a horizontal 2D plane like Street Fighter.
Related
12 Best Tales Of Games, Ranked
As a staple of the JRPG scene, the “Tales of” franchise has produced plenty of great games, but which entries rank the highest overall?
The more recent entries changed Free Run as the default movement for more fluid control over the party, including Tales of Arise. The newer system makes maneuvering around the arena to dodge or angle attacks easier while making party surveillance less stressful. Porting the most recent Tales Of for the Nintendo Switch 2 would strengthen its series’ presence, showing how the system can handle the more explosive anime artes.
7
Scarlet Nexus
Mental Bond
- Released
-
June 25, 2021
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
Scarlet Nexus encourages environmental awareness to earn tactical advantage during exploration and battles. The two protagonists can use their psycho-kinetic abilities to lift their surroundings to open a new pathway or damage enemies during combat. It even strengthens the abilities through the bond system, giving more access to psychic skills from companions. The power of friendship is necessary to down the main targets, The Others.
The game is one of the few that successfully make psychic powers fun like Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Psychonauts. Since it’s a new IP, it would benefit from raising its presence on more gaming platforms, especially for its other media adaptations.
6
Vision of Mana
Expressive Elements
- Release Date: August 29, 2024
- Developer: Ouka Studios
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Systems: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Vision of Mana is designed very similar to the remake Trials of Mana with more vivid colors and details, especially during combat. It brings back the traditional mechanics like the class strikes for unique attacks, character switches for manual party control, and the ring system to customize the party’s items and skills. The most improved feature is the class system.
Like Trials of Mana, characters can change jobs for upgraded techniques and magic, including darker abilities. Visions of Mana takes it a step further by changing the characters’ weapon usage and shifting their fighting style. The gameplay isn’t complex, though it provides enough depth to make the combat engaging. Its expressive design makes the game very appealing to fit the library for Nintendo’s next console along with other familiar franchises like Tales Of and Dragon Quest.
5
Final Fantasy 16
Enflamed Truth
- Release Date: June 22, 2023
- Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit III
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Systems: PC, PlayStation 5
Final Fantasy 16 completely shifts the franchise’s direction for more creative freedom. It’s more action-based similar to Devil May Cry, encouraging combinations of different Eikons to dish out damaging combos. Despite only managing Clive’s kit than other party members, Clive’s customizable Eikons make him feel like a one-man army.
Related
8 Best Action JRPGs From The 1990s, Ranked
The 90s JRPG boom defined the genre’s tropes, but it also created action JRPG, an offshoot that features a few classic games of its own from that era.
It’s also more action-packed with the story, providing some intense scenarios that shift the gameplay or environment. Some interactions will test the player’s reactions through quick-time events, which results in several outcomes like avoiding a punishing consequence or playing through an explosive on-rail shooter. The game’s ambitious new formula should spread more to other gaming platforms to test its compatibility for the future and evolution of Final Fantasy.
4
Blue Dragon
Stuck In Shadows
Blue Dragon is the most appealing turn-based JRPG with the potential to grow. It strongly resembles Dragon Quest with expressive characters, large exploration, and decent combat. Its combat is simple to understand but requires tactical strategy involving row formations, class roles, skill prompts for better damage, and charging skills for stronger effects. The game doesn’t demand much, though it offers a lot with its world and class system.
The journey does get massive during story progression, widening the stakes. Despite the bigger scope of the world, it isn’t overwhelming to scare newer players. It’s a perfect entrance for players wanting to tap into simple turn-based JRPGs.
3
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Breaking Expanded Limits
- Released
-
February 29, 2024
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth expands what was set from its predecessor, providing a more stylistic action experience compared to other traditional Final Fantasy games. The only other game with a similar gameplay formula is Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, except it mainly focuses on one character in a smaller arena rather than a three-man party in a bigger area. It’s a bigger responsibility to supervise everything during combat like the party’s health, positioning, and options.
The party gets to explore an open world outside of Midgar, breaking out from the predecessor’s linear levels. The Nintendo Switch doesn’t have many modern Final Fantasy games because of their demanding design, so it’s beneficial to see how the newer Final Fantasy will grow for the next Nintendo console.
2
Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
A Hero’s Fantasy
- Released
-
January 26, 2024
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth expands a formula that’s unlike other Yakuza games. While Ichiban Kasuga is still the protagonist, he shares some spotlight with Kazuma Kiryu, the original Yakuza protagonist. It’s a good way to have two different leads join together in an amusing RPG reality.
The gameplay is similar to its predecessor’s humorous combat and job system that’s reminiscent of South Park Fractured But Whole. There’s only one Yakuza game on Switch, but more can join the Nintendo Switch 2 library for more users to experience amusing characters and gameplay.
1
The Last Story
Courageous Dream
The Last Story is an early look at a cinematic tactical game with a playable band of mercenaries venturing to follow their personal dreams. It encourages several factors to deduce strategy during real-time combat like environmental awareness, tactical party commands, weapon strengths, and more. The game revolves around the protagonist’s power to gather, raising enemy aggression to himself for the party to play out commanded actions.
The game doesn’t only offer single-player adventure, but online multiplayer as well. It could provide a chance to portray the Nintendo Switch 2 online connection for the game’s online play.
10:48
More
15 Best New JRPGs to Play Right Now (2024 Edition)
Joel RPG returns with their updated list of the best new JRPGs that you will want to play right away.