Games · Top 10
The 10 Best RPGs on Nintendo Switch in 2027
Direct answer
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the best RPG on Nintendo Switch, with a Metascore of 89 from 122 critic reviews on Metacritic. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (89) and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (89) tie it on score.
At a glance
| # | Pick | Metascore | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch) | 89 from 122 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | A huge, story-heavy action RPG with deep combat |
| 2 | Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch) | 89 from 102 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Turn-based battles with a school-year story |
| 3 | Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch) | 89 from 92 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Where the Xenoblade series starts |
| 4 | Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch) | 88 from 106 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | A light, funny Mario adventure |
| 5 | Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) | 87 from 93 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Exploring a vast alien planet |
| 6 | The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (Switch) | 85 from 65 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | A mature fantasy story on a handheld |
| 7 | Octopath Traveler II (Switch) | 85 from 59 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Eight separate stories in one pixel-art world |
| 8 | Super Mario RPG (Switch) | 84 from 114 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | A classic, easy-going Mario role-playing game |
| 9 | Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Switch) | 83 from 118 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Catching Pokemon in a big open area |
| 10 | Triangle Strategy (Switch) | 83 from 109 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch) | Political choices and grid-based tactics |
Pick by what you want
Best overall
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)
Best tactics
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)
Lightest tone
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)
Newest
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch)
Mature fantasy
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (Switch)
The ranking
1
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe most critic reviews of the three games tied at 89.
Metascore: 89 from 122 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Jul 29, 2022 (Metacritic)Genre: An action role-playing game in the open-world Xenoblade series (Wikipedia)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has a Metascore of 89 from 122 critic reviews, the most of the three games tied at 89. It is $59.99 and launched Jul 29, 2022.
Go ifA huge, story-heavy action RPG with deep combat
Skip ifYou want a short game
Why #1 over #2: At the same 89 it has more reviews (122) than Fire Emblem: Three Houses (102).
2
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe oldest game in the top five.
Metascore: 89 from 102 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Jul 26, 2019 (Metacritic)Genre: A tactical role-playing game, the sixteenth entry in the Fire Emblem series (Wikipedia)
Fire Emblem: Three Houses scores 89 from 102 critic reviews. It is $59.99 and launched Jul 26, 2019.
Go ifTurn-based battles with a school-year story
Skip ifYou dislike grid-based tactics
Why #2 over #3: At the same 89 it has more reviews (102) than Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (92).
3
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe same 89 as the top two, from fewer reviews.
Metascore: 89 from 92 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: May 29, 2020 (Metacritic)Genre: A Switch remaster of an action role-playing game first released on the Wii (Wikipedia)
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition scores 89 from 92 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched May 29, 2020.
Go ifWhere the Xenoblade series starts
Skip ifYou want the newest graphics
Why #3 over #4: Its 89 is above Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door's 88.
4
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe best-scored Mario role-playing game here.
Metascore: 88 from 106 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: May 23, 2024 (Metacritic)Genre: A role-playing game first released on the GameCube in 2004 (Wikipedia)
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door scores 88 from 106 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched May 23, 2024.
Go ifA light, funny Mario adventure
Skip ifYou want a long, serious story
Why #4 over #5: Its 88 is above Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition's 87.
5
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe newest game in the top five.
Metascore: 87 from 93 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Mar 20, 2025 (Metacritic)Genre: Players explore the open world planet Mira (Wikipedia)
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition scores 87 from 93 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched Mar 20, 2025.
Go ifExploring a vast alien planet
Skip ifYou want a tightly guided plot
Why #5 over #6: Its 87 is above The Witcher 3's 85.
6
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (Switch)
Answrs VerdictMore critic reviews than Octopath Traveler II at the same 85.
Metascore: 85 from 65 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Oct 15, 2019 (Metacritic)Genre: An action role-playing game played in an open world with a third-person perspective (Wikipedia)
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition scores 85 from 65 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched on Switch Oct 15, 2019.
Go ifA mature fantasy story on a handheld
Skip ifYou want the sharpest visuals
Why #6 over #7: At the same 85 it has more reviews (65) than Octopath Traveler II (59).
7
Octopath Traveler II (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe same 85 as The Witcher 3, from fewer reviews.
Metascore: 85 from 59 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Feb 24, 2023 (Metacritic)Genre: A role-playing game with a new cast and setting, a sequel to Octopath Traveler (Wikipedia)
Octopath Traveler II scores 85 from 59 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched Feb 24, 2023.
Go ifEight separate stories in one pixel-art world
Skip ifYou want a single hero
Why #7 over #8: Its 85 is above Super Mario RPG's 84.
8
Super Mario RPG (Switch)
Answrs VerdictA remake of a 1996 original.
Metascore: 84 from 114 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Nov 17, 2023 (Metacritic)Genre: A role-playing game first released on the SNES in 1996 (Wikipedia)
Super Mario RPG scores 84 from 114 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched Nov 17, 2023.
Go ifA classic, easy-going Mario role-playing game
Skip ifYou want a hard game
Why #8 over #9: Its 84 is above Pokemon Legends: Arceus's 83.
9
Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe most critic reviews in the bottom three.
Metascore: 83 from 118 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Jan 28, 2022 (Metacritic)Genre: An action role-playing game and prequel to Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (Wikipedia)
Pokemon Legends: Arceus scores 83 from 118 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched Jan 28, 2022.
Go ifCatching Pokemon in a big open area
Skip ifYou want classic turn-based gym battles
Why #9 over #10: At the same 83 it has more reviews (118) than Triangle Strategy (109).
10
Triangle Strategy (Switch)
Answrs VerdictThe same 83 as Pokemon Legends: Arceus, from fewer reviews.
Metascore: 83 from 109 critic reviews on Metacritic (Nintendo Switch)Price: $59.99 (US Nintendo eShop, checked October 2026)Initial release: Mar 4, 2022 (Metacritic)Genre: A tactical role-playing game co-developed by Square Enix and Artdink (Wikipedia)
Triangle Strategy scores 83 from 109 critic reviews at $59.99. It launched Mar 4, 2022.
Go ifPolitical choices and grid-based tactics
Skip ifYou want fast action
How we ranked these
We ranked RPGs available on Nintendo Switch by the Metacritic Metascore for the Switch version; a tie (Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition at 89; The Witcher 3 and Octopath Traveler II at 85; Pokemon Legends: Arceus and Triangle Strategy at 83) goes to the game with more critic reviews. Prices are US Nintendo eShop list prices checked in October 2026 and change during sales. Only games with a Switch Metascore and a current US eShop listing were considered. For PC players, see our open-world RPG list at answrsnow.com/games/best-open-world-rpgs-on-pc-steam-2027/. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.
Questions people ask
What is the best RPG on Nintendo Switch?
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 leads our list with a Metascore of 89 from 122 critic reviews on Metacritic. Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition also score 89.
How much do these Switch RPGs cost?
All ten were listed at $59.99 on the US Nintendo eShop when checked in October 2026. Nintendo eShop sales change often.
What is the newest RPG on this list?
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, released Mar 20, 2025, with a Metascore of 87 from 93 critic reviews.
Is The Witcher 3 on Nintendo Switch?
Yes. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition has a Metascore of 85 from 65 critic reviews on Switch and is $59.99 on the US Nintendo eShop.
Metacritic Metascore (Nintendo Switch) at a glance
Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Switch)83 points
Triangle Strategy (Switch)83 points
Super Mario RPG (Switch)84 points
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (Switch)85 points
Octopath Traveler II (Switch)85 points
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch)87 points
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch)88 points
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch)89 points
Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)89 points
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch)89 points
Official sites
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (Switch) · nintendo.com
- The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Octopath Traveler II (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Super Mario RPG (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Pokemon Legends: Arceus (Switch) · nintendo.com
- Triangle Strategy (Switch) · nintendo.com
Sources
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- metacritic.com
- en.wikipedia.org
Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.