The best non-franchise Nintendo Switch JRPGs

Summary

• Fans waiting for Nintendo Switch 2 can enjoy original Switch JRPGs like Code of Princess.

• Dragon Marked For Death offers cooperative action RPG missions with a Monster Hunter atmosphere and fast-paced quests.

• Triangle Strategy is the successful spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tactics with HD-2D graphics.

The Switch was released in March 2017, meaning that Nintendo has almost eight full years of dominance with its handheld/console hybrid. This may be one of the longest gaps between a new Nintendo console and fans are starting to thirst for any news regarding its announcement. Unfortunately no, it didn't even appear at Geoff Keighley's 2024 The Game Awards.

While fans wait for any news, they can look back fondly on the system and view all the amazing games that have been released for it. There are quite a few JRPGs that started on the Switch and haven't had a sequel yet. Will this ever happen on Switch 2? It's hard to say, but this list includes some of those original JRPGs for players who are interested in an immersive JRPG experience without all the baggage of previous (or even future) entries.

7

The Princess Code

Bite-Sized Brawling Action

The Princess Code was first released on the 3DS in 2012, but eventually saw a Switch port in 2018 that improved the game by adding co-op. The game is a 2D brawler with very short missions designed to be replayed to get materials and lots of EXP.

There are tons of characters to unlock and they all behave differently, from Solange and her giant sword to Allegro who can play the guitar. It's kind of like a 2D version Dynasty Warriors because those Musou games are full of playable characters. While Code of Princess has yet to see a sequel, the characters have been featured in other games such as Blade of Strangers and The Crystal Crisis.

6

A dragon marked for death

2D Monster Hunter

A dragon marked for death was developed by Inti Creates, a company best known for its third-party work on licensed projects such as Bloodstained and Mega Man Zero games. They also created some original titles and many of them were one-offs. A dragon marked for death could be purchased initially in two versions, with each version giving players two sets of classes.

The game was designed according to a quick mission structure such as The Princess Code – and a little like Monster Hunter. Go on a quest, hunt for monsters and loot, level up and return to a city that is more welcoming to players as you progress. Plus, there's co-op to help with the repetitive nature of action RPG missions.

5

Dragonstar Varnir

A layered witch hunt

• Developer: Compile Heart

• Publisher: Idea Factory

• Released on Switch: May 27, 2021 (Japan); August 3, 2021 (worldwide)

• Platform: PS4, PC, Switch

Dragonstar Varnir is one of the many RPGs that Compile Heart and Idea Factory have created together. Their fans can expect their RPGs to have a heavy dose of anime, humor, and fanservice like the Neptunia franchise. Dragonstar Varnir plays a male witch hunter, Zephy, who obtains magic from witches and embarks on a journey to understand their side of the story. Combat is turn-based, with characters jumping onto various objects to slide. Battle arenas have layers in the field that characters can rise or fall into, creating a bit of strategy in wizarding confrontations.

4

I'm Setsuna

Tribute to Chrono Trigger

Square Enix announced the game and the studio during a press event that was I'm Setsuna developed by Tokyo RPG Factory. Their goal with this division was to create a smaller RPG as an homage to the classic games of the 90s, p I'm Setsuna clearly get inspired Chrono Trigger.

I'm Setsuna is a bleak turn-based JRPG with double and triple attacks, customizable magic, and a haunting piano score. Tokyo RPG Factory then made two unrelated games, incl Lost Sphere and Oninaki. As of January 2024, they shut down after ten years of operation. Whether Square Enix will ever sequel any of these titles internally is a mystery.

3

Labyrinth Lapis X

Stacked adventure

NIS is a pioneer in creating niche, one-off RPGs, while occasionally pumping out sequels to their beloved ones Disgaea series. Labyrinth Lapis X is one of those forgotten gems that hit the West in 2019 on platforms like the Switch. It focuses on a town that used to be popular with adventurers venturing into the nearby labyrinth. Now that the business has dried up, players will be determined to help rejuvenate it as their created character.

They can choose their class and recruit fellow fighters to join the fight for various fighting and platforming combos. The weirdest thing is that the party members fold on their heads, which is weird but adorable, just like the rest of the game in this joyous 2D action RPG dungeon crawler.

2

Small town hero

Shadow Of The Poke-Lossus

• Developer: Game Freak

• Publisher: Game Freak

• Released: October 16, 2019

• Platform: Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox One

Game Freak is best known for Pokemon series, but they've been experimenting with side projects — and across platforms, too. Small town hero is like Shadow of the Colossus if only it was more anime influenced and cute. Players control a young warrior determined to protect their city from monster invasions. Until the battles begin, players can prepare for combat by helping NPCs around town with fetch quests.

When these titans come to town, battles are turn-based, with both monsters and the player throwing numbered bubbles to deal damage. It's kind of like a typical card-based RPG mixed with rock, paper, scissors, which is a little hard to tell at first, but will become more understandable as time goes on.

1

Triangle strategy

Tactical Tour de Force

Triangle strategy the game isn't so old that fans have time to start worrying that Square Enix won't make a sequel. They just released a VR version that works on devices like Meta Quest. Is it going to be a one-year release on Switch 2, or will Square Enix abandon it faster than they abandoned their other tactical franchise, Final Fantasy Tactics?

either way Triangle strategy should be hailed as a great spiritual successor FF tactics with lots of great ideas. The Job system, branching stories, and excellent HD-2D graphics helped it shine when it first launched on Switch in 2022.