Bringing the hit game Skyrimover to the platform, the Switch became a bigger deal. Now, gamers don’t have to go home on their respective platform to play these big games. With the Switch, they can pop in and pop out and still be engaged. Much like Skyrim, these games are big and robust and push the Switch to deliver a great experience.
Updated May 17, 2022 by Raza Malik: As the Nintendo Switches life goes on as a console, more and more comes out for the system allowing players to have an even more extensive gaming catalog. Being a portable console that can be taken on the go, players won’t need to put the Switch down while they’re on the move allowing them to take in some great games offered on the system.
Having games like Skyrim playable on this system opens up a whole new world for players, gone of the days when players could only play games like Skyrim at home, now they can be on the go and enjoy these massive worlds with rich stories. As time goes more game makers are putting out Switch versions of games which are either ports or remasters this list will continue to showcase one of the best things about playing open-world games on the go and that is that players won’t forget the story they’re enjoying which plays a huge role in games like Skyrim.
15 Pokémon Legends: Arceus
A massive departure from older Pokemon games where it would be played with a top-down view and because the tech was limited, gameplay would also be limited, however, as games became more and more complicated so did Pokemon. Pokémon Legends: Arceus is evidence of that, a fully diverse game that players have wanted for such a long time has made its way onto the Nintendo Switch, because of the vibrant and alive the story and the world is, players will have a great time playing this on to go especially if players are traveling long distances then they will have hours of entertainment.
Pokemon Legends: Arceus has what made Pokemon great plus more and that allows players to get fully involved with the world they’re engaging, plus giving players more freedom in what they do from how they catch the Pokemon to how they interact makes up for the perfect Pokemon game in Pokemon Legends: Arceus.
14 Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is the perfect game for players who want more Skyrim, featuring all the freedom and choices that Skyrim gives players Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is a great addition for players to have in their game catalog. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen offers the same excitement that Skyrim does for players from the combat to how the players build their character and for being a Switch game, players will note how deep almost all the mechanics are which gives players the freedom to play Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen how they want to.
On top of that, the replayability is also present, players can finish up one story from one class and start another by doing things differently which gives players an incentive to keep on playing and if players are traveling they’ll notice how quick Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen sucks them in because of massive the world is. The world itself is rather massive, players will get lost in it giving them a chance to get further lost in the world which can make traveling less boring for players since the story, character and the world can keep players entertained for hours while on the go.
13 Final Fantasy 7: Zodiac Age
One of the many things that have made the Switch a success story is that it allows players to go out in the world and keep these rich games on them almost at all times. Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age does just that and then some, by giving players this whole world that is open and so many things to do, and the best part is it’s all balanced, so players won’t feel overwhelmed.
The world is so massive in Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age that players will surely get lost in it and that’s the best part because while players are exploring they’ll discover so much which can make playing while traveling even more enjoyable. What makes Final Fantasy XII: Zodiac Age one of the better RPGs on the Switch is that it gives players challenges in everything and that the learning curve sticks out in the combat while it can be difficult, players will learn it quickly allowing them to progress more which can make everything easier on the player.
12 Dying Light
This zombie-free running-first-person game has quite a lot going for it, deep and intriguing story to mechanics that complement gameplay quite well. Dying Light can be hard at the start, however, as players level up things become much easier. And with so much content, players will be spending countless hours in Dying Light and a story that the player can be connected to on a personal level gives the game advantage of keeping players engaged longer.
Players will find enjoyment in many aspects of Dying Light like the day and night mechanic, nighttime being difficult which makes the game itself have a different feel and from the combat, is leaning into the melee side makes things a lot more challenging. On top of that placing players in this open-world with a lot to do so, players can feel like they’re accomplishing things that impact the world rather than the story which in the end makes Dying Light a great RPG game for the Switch.
11 Castle Crashers
While not as open as the other games on this, Castle Crashers is the whole package, and it shows that games don’t need massive or overly complicated in order to appeal to players but rather simple and fun. Castle Crashers has many fun elements to it and if players are playing with friends, the game gets even more interesting because each character that the players select has their own abilities and that makes things a lot more personal because now each player is bringing something different to the fight which in turn can make things easier.
The great thing about Castle Crasher is how simple it is which gives the game a better reason for players to play it with friends that’s the part where Castle Crashers shines the most because it shows off how simple gameplay mechanics can make Castle Crashers seem overly complicated when in reality it’s not and that surprise will drive players to play it alone or with friends.
10 Stardew Valley
Unlike most other recommended RPGs, Stardew Valley teaches players about farming and goes into detail about it. Players set up and maintain the farm that their grandfather gave to them. People can expand the farms by going to different regions and growing crops according to that new region.
Stardew Valley doesn’t have any action but even without that, it has a very deep relationship system that players can use with NPCs in the world. Much like Skyrim, Stardew Valley’s world is engaging and ongoing. A great game for players to have on them for long trips.
9 Child Of Light
This platformer-style RPG has a lot of heart. Child of Light isn’t as long as many others in the genre, but it does have the replayability factor. Players can upgrade other things and experiment with playstyles, even the combat can add some time to gameplay.
The active-time battle system makes the fighting challenging, which is good because when controlling two characters at once. When upgrading the characters’ stats, the game gets easier to play and, in turn, the battle system becomes more fluid. Child of Light is special in many ways, not just its rhyming dialogue.
8 Diablo 3
Blizzard’s golden fleece made its way on the Switch, and it was a perfect fit. Diablo 3 already has a legacy behind it, and it’s the most accessible entry in the series. Not only that, Diablo 3 has a deep and invested world that players can easily enjoy.
Pulling from the console and PC version, Diablo 3 has everything that RPG fans want and like. Backed by a deep leveling system that allows for all sorts of builds to be explored, Diablo 3 has something for everyone. Much like Skyrim, it has a huge and carefully crafted world that is evolving with every step the player makes.
7 Pokemon Sword & Shield
A Nintendo console with handheld capabilities wouldn’t be complete without a Pokemon game, and the Switch is no exception. While traveling to school, gamers can explore the vast depths of the Galar Region. What makes Pokemon Sword and Shield so appealing is how fun and deep it is for a series that has been running for almost three decades now.
Catching new Pokemon is always a rewarding experience and the fact that all of this can be done while the player is traveling is amazing. Pokemon Sword and Shield puts a big world with so much to do in the player’s back pocket.
6 Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Xenoblade Chronicles 2 has everything an open-world triple-A game should have. Boasting a massive open world with tons to do, even when not at home players can get lost in Alrest. The game offers a compelling story that is easy to follow.
The fact that this big of a game can be put on the Switch, and it works effortlessly showcases what the console can offer. Even the fighting system delivers the goods, even if Xenoblade Chronicles 2 does throw a lot of mechanics at the player.
5 Monster Hunter: Rise
The Monster Hunter games are big in, generally speaking, both their worlds and the monsters in them. Hunting monsters has never been more fun than it is on the go. It’s even better with a companion. One of the newest features in Monster Hunter Rise is that players now have a companion.
A dog-like creature, Palamutes that helps the players in the world of Monster Hunter Rise. They can help the players in many ways like being mounts or straight up attacking the monsters. However, players still don’t know much about them. Doing all this though, on the go is something not many games can offer.
4 Breath Of The Wild
Before Bethesda’s game was ported to Nintendo’s system, Breath of the Wild was the Skyrim of the Switch. It shows in the game’s massive world and its focus on player freedom, even if Breath of the Wild does lack certain features synonymous with RPGs and could be considered an adventure game instead. Regardless, fans of Skyrim should definitely check this one out.
This game perfected the art of traveling, ensuring that the journey is far more engaging than the destination. Not only that but it’s a fresh new take on The Legend of Zelda series, making for a great entry point. Much like the port of Skyrim, Breath of the Wild shows off what the Switch can do and that is delivering a great experience. Even while traveling, kids can pop this on during a road trip and get lost in the world.
3 The Outer Worlds
Borrowing a lot of elements from Skyrim and Fallout, The Outer Worlds feels like it’s in the same universe. The color cast of characters that both come along or go against the players is something that brings people back. What makes The Outer Worlds so fun to play is that not one playthrough is the same.
Much like Skyrim, The Outer Worlds has a very rich story but the fighting will be a challenge. Following Skyrim’s led, The Outer Worlds is open-ended. Therefore, the game evolves with the character choices and the endings are different. That makes every play-through a different experience and the ideal situation for traveling.
2 The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3 is the premier RPG game, many argue it’s better than Skyrim since it takes those elements and makes them better. Built from the ground up for higher-end platforms, The Witcher 3 looks surprisingly great on the Switch.
Taking this realized world on the go will have players carrying around charge kits, because of how much power this game uses. The best part of taking Geralt on the go is it’s the full package since it comes with all the DLC. Adding on the “Death March” difficulty it offers, makes the game harder.
1 South Park: The Fractured But Whole
South Park: The Fractured But Whole will have players laughing along because of the content. This colorful, adult-themed RPG has a lot to offer. Not only is the combat really easy to grasp, but the whole game also has a small learning curve, which is good for this type of RPG.
Players creating their own character and going along with the boys of South Park feels like a create-your-adventure type of game. While not as deep as Skyrim, it does offer other things to replace that. The humor and the characters fix those issues, adding on surprises to throw the players off is typical South Park fashion.
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