There’s no set definition of what a video game needs to be and there’s an increasing amount of genres that cater to all sorts of gaming interests. TheRPG genreis a popular one in the industry due to its length and depth allowing for greater stories than tends to be possible in other games. RPGs can take players through sprawling journeys where they control dozens of characters. Over the years, multiple RPGs have become defining titleson Nintendo consoles.
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Even now, audiences are learning thatthe Nintendo Switchcan be a fantastic home for RPGs, both old and new. The hybrid console reflects Nintendo’s strong relationship with RPGs across their many systems and, with some big projects still in the pipeline, has the potential to further strengthen that reputation in the coming years.
Updated July 16, 2025, by Tom Bowen:With many of the biggest JRPG franchises having started life on Nintendo systems, it would perhaps be fair to say that Nintendo has a stronger relationship with the genre than most other console manufacturers. Over the years, there have been some incredible RPGs on Nintendo consoles. Many of these came back during the golden age of RPGs, when many of the tropes and mechanics that today define the genre were developed and refined to near perfection. That said, there have also been plenty of great RPGs on Nintendo consoles in the 21st century, with the Switch already having more than its fair share of them.
12Fire Emblem Awakening (Nintendo 3DS)
Fire Emblem Awakeningis the 13th game in the largerFire Emblem series, but it’s this game that helped reboot the franchise for a more mainstream audience, allowing the games to become a popular property outside of Japan.
Set thousands of years after the original games in the series,AwakeningsimplifiesFire Emblem’s tactical RPG mechanics in a helpful and modern way.Awakeningis a great entry point for newcomers and characters like Chrom, Robin, and Marth make for engaging protagonists in this gigantic story that puts the fate of the world at stake.
11Ogre Battle: The March Of The Black Queen (Super Nintendo)
There are plenty of standard RPGs for the Super Nintendo, butOgre Battle: March of the Black Queentried to popularize the tactical RPG genre on the 16-bit machine. TheOgre Battleseries has lasted through several generations, but the first entry in the franchise is remarkable and establishes most ofOgre Battle’sstaples.
The game is fantastic for those that desire a more immersive and consuming experience.Ogre Battlefeatures 13 different endings and a wealth of Easter eggs that reward thoroughness and experimentation. It’s also the only SNES game that mixes together wizards, ninjas, angels, vampires, and werewolves.
10Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars (Super Nintendo)
Mario has been Nintendo’s leading mascot for the platforming genre, but it was a stroke of genius when the company teamed up with Square to combine Mario and his universe with the latter’s RPG expertise.Super Mario RPGis an experiment that pays off beautifully and empowers Princess Peach and Bowser.
Both thePaper Marioand theMario & Luigiseries have continued on the tradition ofSuper MarioRPGs, but none of them are quite as emblematic of the genre or as purely entertaining asSuper Mario RPG. With any luck, Nintendo will eventually get around to remastering the title for modern audiences.
9Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride (Nintendo DS)
Dragon Questhas become atouchstone of the RPG genreandDragon Quest Vis a high point for the series.Dragon Quest V’ssense of scope is remarkable. It begins with the Hero’s birth and goes on to show him getting a wife and having children that carry on his legacy.
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There are also many innovative gameplay elements, like how random monsters can join the party.Dragon Quest Voriginally wasn’t available outside of Japan, but a fantastic Nintendo DS remake in 2008 let Western fans play an even better version of the classic game.
8Final Fantasy IV (Super Nintendo)
The firstFinal Fantasyfor the Super Nintendo is also one of the console’s best titles.Final Fantasy IVintroduces the honorable Cecil who’s on a quest to keep the world safe from an evil sorcerer. The game importantly incorporates many of the staples that helped define the series for years, like distinct character classes and a new active battle system.
Though far from the finest,Final Fantasy IVis still considered a defining entry in the long-running franchise. It received sequels many years later too, as well as an impressive 3D remake for the Nintendo DS, which is arguably as good as the original despite some of the questionable changes it made.
7Trials of Mana (Seiken Densetsu 3) (Switch)
TheSeiken Densetsuseriesis another masterpiece from the RPG savants at Square, but the franchise is better known as theManaseries in North America.Seiken Densetsu 3,the sequel to the Super Nintendo’sSecret of Mana, is the franchise’s crown jewel. It elegantly tells a powerful story about a world on the brink of ruin and a team of legendary heroes who must save it.
Seiken Densetsu 3wasn’t available outside of Japan until fairly recently, but the Switch’sCollection of Manafinally localized the title asTrials of Mana.Later on, a 3D remake was also released, though fans of retro RPGs may prefer to stick to theCollection of Manaversion of the game.
6Dragon Quest XI (Switch)
TheDragon Questseries doesn’t get nearly as much respect as it deserves, particularly when compared withFinal Fantasy. Both franchises have helped to define and redefine the RPG genre numerous times throughout the years and between them, they’ve contributed a healthy portion of thebest role-playing gamesever made.Dragon Quest XIdefinitely falls into this category.
Originally released for the 3DS and PS4 back in 2017, a definitive edition of the title followed just a few years later. It’s easily one of the series' strongest installments, if not the verybestDragon Questgameof all time. The definitive edition even allows players to switch from 3D to a 2D world map-style perspective similar to those found in some of the classic JRPGs of yesteryear, making this a must-play for fans of both retro and modern role-playing games alike.
5Skies Of Arcadia: Legends (GameCube)
Skies of Arcadiais one of the most polished RPGs of its generation, and it’s a title that’s been grossly overlooked. The game made its debut onSega’s ill-fated Dreamcast, but an upgraded version was ported over to Nintendo’s GameCube after the console’s untimely demise.
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Skies of Arcadia: Legendsonly prospered from this process, and it is easily the best RPG that the GameCube has to offer. The story inSkies of Arcadia Legendsputs the Earth’s safety in jeopardy from an evil empire as so many RPGs do, but Vyse and his team of sky pirates are an incredibly lovable group of protagonists.
4Earthbound (Super Nintendo)
There’s a lot to be said for the fantastical worlds that RPGs can introduce to their audiences, and there are many effective stories that are immersed in deep fantasy andhard science fiction. However, the Super Nintendo’sEarthboundis such a breath of fresh air because of how incredibly modern it is. In fact, common weapons are things like baseball bats and yo-yos rather than Mythril blades.
Earthbound’sabsurdist point of view makes it feel like something truly special. On top of everything else, its gameplay and battle mechanics are also fantastic. It’s just a shame that not all of theMothertrilogy are readily available to western players in the modern age.
3The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Switch)
There’s a lot of debate as to whetherThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wildshould really be classed as an RPG. On the one hand, it features a wide variety of weapons and armor and allows players to improve Link’s stats (albeit, in a very basic way). It does, however, lack a lot of the features and mechanics that one might expect to find in a traditional JRPG. Whatever it is, there aren’t too many people questioning the game’s quality, with most considering it one of the very best games of the 21st century to date.
Like pretty much all of its predecessors,Breath of the Wildraised the bar to new heights and was able to successfully freshen up a formula that had remained more or less the same for more than three decades. Not everyone will like the move away from more traditional dungeons and weapon durability can be a real pain, but the story, gameplay, and overall presentation are top-notch, making this a must-play for any serious video game fan.
