10. Saviours of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited
A collection of two of the best dungeon-crawler RPGs of recent years, this is a bundle you won’t want to miss. Challenge the power of darkness and lead your squires to victory against the evil Overlord, as you customise your party, explore labyrinths, and collect items on your way to victory. With a mixture of tactical turn-based combat and an enthralling visual novel, these are two games that’ll tug on your heartstrings just as much as they challenge your brainpower.
A collection of two of the best dungeon-crawler RPGs of recent years, this is a bundle you won’t want to miss. Challenge the power of darkness and lead your squires to victory against the evil Overlord, as you customise your party, explore labyrinths, and collect items on your way to victory. With a mixture of tactical turn-based combat and an enthralling visual novel, these are two games that’ll tug on your heartstrings just as much as they challenge your brainpower.
9. Catherine Full Body
It’s not often you see developers try to fuse two genres that seem completely incompatible and make it work, but Catherine Full Body pulls it off! A remaster of the PS3/Xbox 360 game Catherine, it’s part puzzle game, part visual novel, choc full of tongue in cheek humour and brilliant storytelling. This is all complimented by some truly engaging puzzles, helping it to stand out from its contemporaries. It’s bombastic, strange and endlessly entertaining.
It’s not often you see developers try to fuse two genres that seem completely incompatible and make it work, but Catherine Full Body pulls it off! A remaster of the PS3/Xbox 360 game Catherine, it’s part puzzle game, part visual novel, choc full of tongue in cheek humour and brilliant storytelling. This is all complimented by some truly engaging puzzles, helping it to stand out from its contemporaries. It’s bombastic, strange and endlessly entertaining.
8. Trials of Mana
A complete rebuild of the ‘90s JRPG classic, Trials of Mana feels right at home on the Switch. Now featuring shiny new 3D graphics, you make your way through a deliciously crafted fantasy world, not too dissimilar to the likes of The Legend of Zelda. Tight combat, a satisfying difficulty curve and charming characters makes it an essential play, balancing all the mod-cons with a warm feeling of nostalgia.
A complete rebuild of the ‘90s JRPG classic, Trials of Mana feels right at home on the Switch. Now featuring shiny new 3D graphics, you make your way through a deliciously crafted fantasy world, not too dissimilar to the likes of The Legend of Zelda. Tight combat, a satisfying difficulty curve and charming characters makes it an essential play, balancing all the mod-cons with a warm feeling of nostalgia.
7. Ys IX: Monstrum Nox
In the 9th instalment of the Ys series, the story of red-haired adventurer Adol Christin continues, taking him and his loyal companion Dogi into the gothic city of Balduq. Before long, chaos ensues, with Adol being transformed into a human/monster hybrid called a Monstrum by a strange woman who enlists you to stop some even nastier monsters from another dimension. It’s a deliciously over the top story, and with plenty of things to do and enemies to defeat within Balduq, this is a game that you’ll quickly lose hundreds of hours to.
6. Valkyria Chronicles 4
Chances are you haven’t played all (if any) Valkyria Chronicles games before, given the series’ sporadic availability, both by region and console. Fortunately, the fourth main entry is a great entry point and is arguably the best game to date. You control a group of elite soldiers in a major world war, engaging in turned-based combat against a beautiful, painterly world. It’s a gripping narrative that offers plenty of replayability.
5. Bravely Default II
While Square Enix’s other series Final Fantasy continues to experiment and iterate from its traditional JRPG roots, Bravely Default II is a throwback in all the best possible ways. Featuring a standalone story that’s friendly for newcomers, you’ll take control of a squad of charming characters in a beautiful fantasy world. Each member of your team has their own interests and goals, and this makes for a superb branching story that’s easy to lose hours to. Expect all the classic turn-based action, character building and magic that makes traditional RPGs so special.
4. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
Putting you in the role of Evan, a young royal who has to protect and grow his kingdom, Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom is an absolute delight. Not only is it chock full of beautiful landscapes, enchanting characters and a thrilling real-time combat system, it also allows you to expand and shape your kingdom in a unique RTS-inspired twist. With accessible controls and Ghibli-inspired art style, this is a great game to introduce younger players to the wider world of RPGs.
3. Owlboy
Inspired by NES classics such as Super Mario 3 and Kid Icarus, this “Hi-Bit” title is an absolute joy from start to finish. You play as Otus, a mute boy from a species of owl people, on an adventure that’s not only a blast to play through, but challenges you with deep, well-crafted themes that really give you pause for thought. More mainstream publishers such as EA and Ubisoft would do well to learn from the nuance found in Owlboy.
2. Mutant Year Zero: The Road To Eden
Adapted from a tabletop RPG, MYZ:RTE employs grid-based tactics ala XCOM against a unique, post-apocalyptic backdrop. Gameplay-wise, what makes the game so interesting is the way it blends turn-based mechanics with real-time stealth. It opens up so many possibilities and variations of ways you can play the game, and this decision making really makes you think about the best ways to approach each situation, making for a very rewarding experience.
1. Hades
There’s nothing quite like Hades. Ostensibly a roguelike set in the Greek Underworld, you play as Hades’ son Zagreus, who has to escape your hellish surroundings with the help of other Olympians. But throw in gorgeous isometric level design, character interactions straight out of a dating sim, and enough variety for near infinite replayability, and it’s no surprise that Hades swept up many awards.
There’s nothing quite like Hades. Ostensibly a roguelike set in the Greek Underworld, you play as Hades’ son Zagreus, who has to escape your hellish surroundings with the help of other Olympians. But throw in gorgeous isometric level design, character interactions straight out of a dating sim, and enough variety for near infinite replayability, and it’s no surprise that Hades swept up many awards.
