{"id":101877,"date":"2019-10-15T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nintendolife.com\/news\/2019\/10\/feature_best_nintendo_switch_action-rpgs"},"modified":"2019-10-15T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-15T19:00:00","slug":"feature-best-nintendo-switch-action-rpgs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/2019\/10\/15\/feature-best-nintendo-switch-action-rpgs\/","title":{"rendered":"Feature: Best Nintendo Switch Action-RPGs"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When does an RPG become an action RPG<\/em>? Is it the moment turn-based battles are switched out for real-time combat? When does an action RPG stray into hack-and-slash territory, then? Do numbers have to go up? What year is this? Who is the President?<\/em><\/p>\n

It’s questions like these that keep the more fastidious among us up at night, and it’s certainly fun to debate the ins-and-outs<\/em> and the ifs-and-buts<\/em> of video game genres. However, the cross-pollination of mechanics across categories makes it ever-more difficult to break them out into specific, contained groups.<\/p>\n

So, keeping in mind that variety is a beautiful thing, we present to you – in no particular order – our pick of the best action-RPGs on Nintendo Switch. These are RPGs with realtime combat including<\/em> those with a hack-and-slash flavour. This selection will be updated as and when new titles are released, so you’ll always know what’s worth sinking your precious time into.<\/p>\n

And please understand that we know<\/em> there are edge cases, crossovers and genre-straddlers which don’t fit snugly under one label – it’s a broad church! If you’re more a fan of turn-based battling you’ll want to check out our picks for the best RPGs on Switch<\/a>, a grand selection of more traditional (J)RPGs and turn-based dungeon crawlers. Alternatively, strategy and tactics fans may want to peruse our list of the best strategy games for Switch<\/a>.<\/p>\n

And remember, if you’re in doubt about a game or exactly what it entails, simply click the ‘Our Review’ button for a more in-depth look to help decide whether or not it’s your sort of thing.<\/p>\n

Okay, preamble over! Let’s dive right in…<\/p>\n

Please note that some links on this page are affiliate links, which means if you click them and make a purchase we may receive a small percentage of the sale which helps support the site. Please read our FTC Disclosure<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n

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\"The\"The<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Nintendo SPD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>3rd Mar 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 3rd Mar 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild<\/a><\/strong> was a landmark release for its franchise and Nintendo. It’s the first time that Nintendo truly took on the open-world genre in a current-generation sense; in arriving late to the party, though, it embraces some strengths from top-of-the-class games while also forging its own identity. This game is a revolution for the franchise, but the Legend of Zelda essence is still there – its soul remains. The end result is a captivating experience. This is in the running as the best game in the IP’s history, and it is a leading contender in the broader open-world genre. Nintendo bravely took one of its biggest franchises in a new direction, and delivered a triumph.<\/p>\n

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\"Dragon's\"Dragon's<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>23rd Apr 2019 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 23rd Apr 2019 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Some will argue Dragon\u2019s Dogma<\/strong><\/a> was hardly a perfect game when it was first released, and the passage of time will have done little to pacify those naysayers. The world of Gransys may lack the epic, intricate lore of Lordran, Drangleic and Lothric, but it more than makes up for this shortcoming in sheer scope; exploring the landscape is addictive in itself, and there\u2019s always some new nook or cranny to investigate, even when you\u2019re many, many hours in. Add in some of the most enjoyable real-time combat ever seen in an RPG and it becomes easier to appreciate just why this game has become so beloved over the past few years, even though Capcom has done little to spruce it up. Dragon\u2019s Dogma nonetheless remains a fantastically gripping role-playing experience that manages to straddle the divide between exhilarating real-time action and stat-based adventuring.<\/p>\n

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\"Dark\"Dark<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Bandai Namco<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>FromSoftware<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>19th Oct 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 19th Oct 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

While we\u2019ve had to wait a little longer than those playing on PS4 and Xbox One, the wait has been more than worth it. Dark Souls: Remastered<\/a><\/strong> is a faithful remaster of a touchstone in video game design that improves overall performance while preserving all of the character traits that made the original such a memorable experience. While it\u2019s no less forgiving – and its menus are a little fiddly – this slick Nintendo Switch iteration offers the only<\/em> way to experience Lordran\u2019s ultra-challenging odyssey in true handheld form. Praise the Sun, indeed.<\/p>\n

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\"The\"The<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Bethesda Softworks<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Bethesda Game Studios<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>17th Nov 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 17th Nov 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Switch isn\u2019t short of games that have already taken a bow, or several, on other hardware, but Skyrim<\/a><\/strong> might be the one that most deserves another look from both hardy Elder Scrolls adventurers and absolute beginners alike. Despite its age showing, with countless little cracks in its already fractured fa\u00e7ade, it still delivers a palpable sense of space that few games before or since have managed. May its dancing northern lights never dim.<\/p>\n

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\"Monster\"Monster<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Capcom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>28th Aug 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 28th Aug 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate<\/a><\/strong> may lack the smoothness and accessibility that made Monster Hunter: World<\/strong> such a smash hit, but it more than makes up for it by being a sort of \u2018greatest hits\u2019 collection of the high points of the series, giving you hundreds of hours of content to play through. Couple this with the HD visuals, easy to use multiplayer, and the ability to play the full experience on the go, and you\u2019ve got a game that will easily appeal to both veterans and newcomers alike. It may not necessarily represent the future of the series, but Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate is an utterly fantastic experience in its own right and a worthy follow up to the 3DS original, and one that no Switch owner will want to be without.<\/p>\n

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\"Bastion\"Bastion<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Supergiant Games<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Supergiant Games<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>13th Sep 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 13th Sep 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Bastion<\/a><\/strong> is an unforgettable and enjoyable piece of software with a charismatic narrator, beautiful visuals, and intense action gameplay. Heavy character customisation make this a fairytale that you\u2019ll want to dive into again and again, and while the isometric view sometimes gets in the way of the gameplay, the other aspects of Bastion more than make up for this slight misstep. We\u2019d highly recommend you give Bastion a try if you haven\u2019t played it elsewhere already; although this Switch port brings nothing new to the table, Bastion is a memorable modern classic and an absolute must-play.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ys\"Ys<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>NIS America<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Nihon Falcom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>26th Jun 2018 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 29th Jun 2018 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

With fun, fast-paced combat, likable characters, and an enjoyable story that takes full advantage of its beautiful shipwrecked setting, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana<\/a><\/strong> is a top-shelf action RPG. Exploring the Isle of Seiren is as rewarding as mastering the character-swapping, hack-and-slash battle system, and both fit into an addictive feedback loop of adventuring that keeps everything moving at a quick clip. Editing issues and inconsistent image quality in handheld mode are small blemishes on an otherwise polished production, but don\u2019t let them deter you; Ys VIII is a true gem.<\/p>\n

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\"Marvel\"Marvel<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>Nintendo<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Koei Tecmo<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>19th Jul 2019 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 19th Jul 2019 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order<\/strong><\/a> isn\u2019t a groundbreaking, narrative-heavy reinterpretation of the comic characters you know and love, but then again neither were the first two games. In that regard, it\u2019s a very faithful hack-and-slash sequel that mines the vast roster of characters from the comics while including plenty of nods to the current state of the more modern Marvel Cinematic Universe. While it doesn\u2019t do anything particularly new or outstanding, it embraces the brainless fun of its brawler combat with gusto, and it\u2019s at its absolute best when played with a team of player-controlled supers. Excelsior!<\/p>\n

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\"Portal\"Portal<\/a><\/p>\n
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Publisher: <\/span>505 Games<\/strong> \/ Developer: <\/span>Keen Games<\/strong><\/p>\n

Release Date: <\/span>23rd Nov 2017 (USA<\/abbr>)<\/strong> \/ 23rd Nov 2017 (UK\/EU<\/abbr>)<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Portal Knights<\/strong><\/a> has been designed in such a way that encourages co-operative play; sharing the fun of exploring the worlds and discovering new things together is undoubtedly one of the game\u2019s largest selling points. If you would rather play the game alone, though, there is nothing stopping you from doing so and you\u2019ll still find that there is an enjoyable adventure to be had (albeit with a slightly different focus on how to go about completing tasks).<\/p>\n

Sitting somewhere between the Minecraft<\/a><\/strong>-type gameplay of building and exploring, and the RPG-like features of crafting, battling, and upgrading your character\u2019s skills and abilities, Portal Knights feels like it would most suit families, friends or even distant friends online, looking for a sometimes challenging – but usually charming – package.<\/p>\n

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<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When does an RPG become an action RPG? Is it the moment turn-based battles are switched out for real-time combat? When does an action RPG stray into hack-and-slash territory, then? Do numbers have to go up? What year is this? Who is the President? It’s questions like these that keep the more fastidious among us […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101877","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-nintendo-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101877","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101877"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101877\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101877"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101877"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sickgaming.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101877"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}