For seven generations, countless RPGs have been released onNintendoconsoles. Nintendo’s first console, the NES, was the forebear of many JRPGs, while the SNES is considered a golden age for the genre. Since the 2D era, Nintendo’s home consoles have strayed from focusing on RPGs on the N64, GameCube, and Wii, shifting towards more action-oriented games.

Despite this, there has almost always been a sizable niche for RPGs on Nintendo consoles, with the Nintendo Switch back to fully embracing RPGs as a core part of its library. Series ranging from Final Fantasy to isometric Western RPGs have all shined on the Nintendo platform.

The amount of replayability inFinal Fantasyis surprising given its age. This is due to how you’re able to combine six different classes to form four-person parties.

Approaching Final Fantasy from the perspective of a survival game makes it easier to appreciate its strengths. You need to map out dungeons so you may clear them before running out of healing supplies. Final Fantasy doesn’t hold your hand the way modern games do, but if you engage with it as intended, it’s a high-quality RPG.

WhileChrono Trigger’s gameplay isn’t particularly innovative, it may be the best RPG that doesn’t rely on any serious gimmicks. Chrono Trigger presents a time-traveling plot without confusing you with overly elaborate paradoxes or other convolutions. The multiple endings give your choices meaning.

Chrono Trigger is easy on the eyes and might be the best-looking RPG on the SNES. This isn’t just due to its good graphics, but also its art design by Akira Toriyama, which gives your characters a resemblance to Dragon Ball.

5Ogre Battle 64 - N64

The N64 is notorious for having almost no RPGs, especially when its competitor, the PlayStation, had some of thebest RPGs of all time. However, Ogre Battle 64 is still a credible title, with its combination of real-time strategy and role-playing elements giving it a unique, high-paced tactical twist to the genre.

Characters also have alignments that allow them to access different classes. They can move from Chaotic to Lawful, with a good number of classes available for semi-neutral statuses. Ogre Battle 64 does the best job in its series at making you feel like a general, as you also have to organize and command huge battalions.

One of the better X-Men games, X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse, takes RPG elements from Gauntlet Legends, making the movement more agile and combo-oriented.

X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse features an incredible roster of characters, including Magneto, Professor X, Juggernaut, and Iron Man. Learning how to synergize attacks in co-op mode elevates the game’s quality, and the situations where only one party member is left can make X-Men Legends II: Rise of Apocalypse tense and memorable.

The previous Paper Mario games were safer entries regarding static turn-based gameplay. Super Paper Mario combines the RPG elements of the Paper series with the platforming elements that made Mario famous in the first place.

Super Paper Mario is played in real-time, testing players' dexterity and reaction time. you may make platforming easier with Mario by defeating enemies and gaining experience, and you have party members like Bowser and Luigi who provide different platforming abilities. This makes Super Paper Mario one of the more unique action RPGs.

The Wii U was light on RPGs, but it tried to push Xenoblade Chronicles X as its major RPG title. Xenoblade Chronicles X is much larger and less linear than the other Xenoblade games. You’re equipped with a large and powerful flying mech, allowing you to traverse large amounts of land and rewarding you for exploration.

The action in Xenoblade Chronicles X is fast-paced. Even though there are party members present, they are A.I. controlled, giving it the feel of a hack-and-slash game, except you also have access to a giant, dazzling robot. Xenoblade Chronicles X not only leans into a more mechanized art style than other Xeno games but also has some of the strongest graphics on the Wii U.

The Switch is one of the stronger Nintendo consoles for RPGs despite its lack of a flagship exclusive title.Divinity: Original Sin 2is the most expansiveisometric RPG on the Nintendo Switch. While not featuring the deepest plot, Divinity: Original Sin 2 has punchy dialogue and witty writing, like crafting a hammer with potatoes to create mashed potatoes.

The battle system in Divinity: Original Sin 2 is all about manipulating your surroundings. You use spells and attacks to do things like trap your opponents in mud, freeze the pond they’re standing in, or make boulders crash on them.