Summary
The Switch was released in March 2017, meaning that Nintendo has had almost eight full years of dominance with their portable/console hybrid. This might be one of the longest gaps between a new Nintendo console, and fans are getting thirsty for any scrap of news regarding its announcement. Sadly, no, it didn’t even show up at Geoff Keighley’s 2024 The Game Awards.
While fans wait for any scrap of news, they can look back fondly at the system and look at all the amazing games released for it. There are quite a few JRPGs that began on the Switch and haven’t had a sequel yet. Will that ever happen on the Switch 2? Hard to say, but this list runs down some of those original JRPGs for players interested in an engrossing JRPG experience without all of that baggage from previous (or even future) entries.
Code of Princesswas first released on the 3DS in 2012, but eventually, there was a Switch port in 2018 that enhanced the game by adding co-op. The game is a 2D brawler with very short missions meant to be replayed to gather 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 guitar. It’s kind of like a 2D version ofDynasty Warriorsbecausethose Musou gamesare stacked with playable characters. While Code of Princess has yet to receive a sequel, characters have been featured in other games likeBlade StrangersandCrystal Crisis.
Dragon Marked For Deathwas developed by Inti Creates, a company best known for its third-party work on licensed projects like theBloodstainedandMega Man Zerogames. They have made some original titles too, and many of them have been one-offs.Dragon Marked For Deathcould be purchased initially in two versions, with each version giving players two sets of classes.
The game was designed around a quick mission structure likeCode of Princess— and a bit likeMonster Hunter. Take a quest, hunt for monsters and loot, level up, and head back to town, which becomes more accepting to the player as they progress. Plus, there is co-op to help with the repetitive nature of the action RPG missions.
5Dragon Star Varnir
A Layered Witch Hunt
Dragon Star Varniris one of the many RPGs that Compile Heart and Idea Factory have produced together. Fans of theirs can expect their RPGs to have a heavy dose of anime, humor, and fan service like theNeptuniafranchise.Dragon Star Varnirstars a male witch hunter, Zephy, who gainsmagic from witchesand goes on a journey to understand their side of the story. The combat is turn-based, with characters jumping on various objects to glide. Combat arenas have layers in the field that characters can rise or lower into, creating a bit of strategy in the witchy confrontations.
Square Enix announced a game and a studio during a press event that wasI am Setsuna,developed by Tokyo RPG Factory. Their goal with this division was to make smaller RPGs as an homage to the classic 90s games, withI am Setsunaclearly beinginspired byChrono Trigger.
I am Setsunais ableak turn-based JRPGfeaturing dual and triple attacks, customizable magic, and a haunting piano score. Tokyo RPG Factory made two unrelated games after this, includingLost SphearandOninaki. As of January 2024, they shut down after ten years of operation. Whether Square Enix will ever sequelize any of these titles internally is a mystery.
NIS is the juggernaut of creating niche, one-off RPGs while they occasionally pump out sequels to their belovedDisgaeaseries.Lapis X Labyrinthis 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 for adventurers, as they would venture into a labyrinth nearby. Now that business has dried up, players will be determined to help rejuvenate it as their created character.
They can choose their class and hire comrades to join the fight for various combat and platforming combos. The strangest thing is that party members stack on top of their heads, which is strange but adorable, as is the rest of the game in this joyful 2D actionRPG dungeon crawler.
2Little Town Hero
Shadow Of The Poke-Lossus
Game Freak is best knownfor thePokemonseries, but they have experimented on side projects — and on different platforms too.Little Town Herois likeShadow of the Colossusif it were more anime-influenced and cute. Players control a young warrior determined to protect their town from monster invasions. Until battles commence, players can prepare for fights by aiding NPCs around town with fetch quests.
When these titans come to town, battles are turn-based, with both monsters and the player throwing out numbered bubbles to do damage. It’s kind of like a typical card-based RPG mixed with a game of rock, paper, scissors that is a little hard to discern at first, but it will become easier to understand over time.
Triangle Strategyis not so old of a game that fans have had time to start worrying about Square Enix not making a sequel. They just released a VR version that works on devices like the Meta Quest. Will there be a year-one release on the Switch 2, or will Square Enix abandon it faster than they abandoned their other tactical franchise,Final Fantasy Tactics?
Either way,Triangle Strategyshould be celebrated as a great spiritual successor toFF Tacticswith plenty of great ideas. The Job system, branching storylines, andsuperb HD-2D graphicshelped make it shine bright when it launched on the Switch first in 2022.
