The Nintendo Switch 2 is a pretty great console, and it’s only getting better as its library of both exclusive and third-party games gets bigger and more refined. It’s not exactly surprising that Nintendo would release a direct successor to the Switch 1: adhering to the wildly successful handheld/hybrid concept makes sense, especially when you look at competitor products like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally.
What the Nintendo Switch 2 lacks in relative power, it makes up for with convenience and a pretty fantastic spate of games that you can’t play anywhere else. I’ll admit that, despite having a Steam Deck myself, I’ve still chosen to purchase games like Dragon Quest 11 and Persona 4 Golden on the Switch 2, favoring Nintendo’s reliable plug-and-play approach, particularly for JRPGs. Indeed, Japanese role-playing games are often an especially great fit for the hybrid nature of the Nintendo Switch 2, and looking at all the Switch 2 JRPGs that have been released, or are going to release soon, it’s clear that this genre-platform synergy is only getting more potent.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Is Becoming the Ultimate JRPG Machine
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Image via Square Enix -
Image via: Nintendo -
Recent and Upcoming JRPGs for the Switch 2
- BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster — June 5, 2025
- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma — June 5, 2025
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time — June 5, 2025
- Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter — September 19, 2025
- Pokémon Legends: Z-A — October 16, 2025
- Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake — October 30, 2025
- Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade — January 22, 2026
- Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined — February 5, 2026
- Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection — March 13, 2026
- Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition — March 20, 2025
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — June 9, 2026
- Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — June 9, 2026
- Digimon Story Time Stranger — July 10, 2026
- Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave — September 17, 2026
- Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter — September 17, 2026
- Octopath Traveler — October 1, 2026
- Octopath Traveler II — October 1, 2026
- Kingdom Hearts Collection I–III — October 8, 2026
- Tales of Eternia Remastered — October 15, 2026
- Final Fantasy Resonance — October 22, 2026
- Metaphor: ReFantazio — November 12, 2026
- Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World — December 1, 2026
- Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — December 3, 2026
Among this list are several Nintendo Switch 2 exclusives, including Pokemon Legends: Z-A and Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Nintendo Switch 2 Edition—you can’t play Pokemon and Xenoblade anywhere else, at least not legally. Beyond those, the Switch 2 has snagged some of the best third-party JRPGs in recent memory, such as Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Looking into 2027, the console’s JRPG library continues to ramp up, as hotly anticipated games like Persona 4 Revival and Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, not to mention Nintendo-exclusive Xenoblade Genesis, are set to join the platform.
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As previously mentioned, the Nintendo Switch 2 is an especially great choice for traditional JRPGs. There are a few reasons for this, but personally, I enjoy the ease of use that a handheld offers when I’m trying to complete a long game. JRPGs are notoriously lengthy, and my time is limited, so I’ll take 20–30-minute gaming sessions where I can get them. It’s simply easier and more convenient to enjoy these smaller chunks of gaming on a handheld that I can keep on my desk, by the bed, et cetera.
At the same time, I enjoy longer JRPG sessions when possible, and the Switch 2 is arguably better than other handhelds in this respect. It has a larger screen than the Steam Deck OLED, for one thing, but the easy process of docking for big-screen play is quite useful as well. You can connect your Steam Deck or ROG Ally to a TV or monitor, but it’s just not as smooth and seamless. This is to say nothing of the versatility of tabletop mode, which further elevates the Switch 2 above other handhelds, not just traditional home consoles.
Important to point out are the economic factors at play here. JRPG is probably the most “bang for your buck” single-player genre, regularly offering close to 100 hours of solid gameplay per release. And, as of right now, the Nintendo Switch 2 is cheaper than any other leading handheld or current-gen console.
A Strong JRPG Catalog Is a Huge Boon for the Switch 2
Investing in the JRPG space is a clear instance of Nintendo playing to the Switch 2’s strengths. With some notable exceptions (e.g. the Final Fantasy 7 remake saga) JRPGs are less demanding of hardware and tend to age quite well, especially those with turn-based combat. By offering a diverse selection of must-play JRPGs, some of them platform-exclusive, the Switch 2 can carve out an even more spacious niche for itself in the industry.
One of my biggest disappointments with the original Switch is that, for all its great exclusives and cool features, it ultimately wound up collecting dust. I had little reason to buy third-party games on the Switch when they would run and look better on my PC, PlayStation or Xbox. But JRPGs, even ones available on other platforms, are such a great match for the Switch 2 that I could easily see it becoming the preferred console for JRPG fans, full stop.
