This month marks the second anniversary of the Nintendo Switch. Ever since the console's reveal in early 2017, Nintendo's unique home and portable device has captivated millions. Since 2017, the Switch has seen evermore titles released for it, from both large studios to countless indie developers, thanks to Nintendo's "Nindies" push. The Switch quickly became so popular that any new promising game that gets announced without a Switch port immediately causes people to ask when the Switch version is coming.
And that's where this feature comes from: That desire to have all of our new and old RPG/adventure favorites available for play whether at home or out and about. Nintendo themselves helped kickstart our thoughts here as they gradually bring over enhanced releases of some of their excellent Wii U titles that simply had no audience on that lackluster platform.
The RPGFan staff got together and, along with some Wii U games we wanted to see get a second life, we went back to earlier consoles like the GameCube and even some PC releases that would be at home with the Switch's growing library of point and click games. And, of course, no Nintendo game wishlist feature would be complete without THAT Game Boy Advance game that has yet to leave Japan.
Settle in and enjoy our list of 45 titles that have us asking, "Switch port when?"
Intro by Mike Salbato
With the imminent demise of the PS Vita, the popularity of Persona Q, and talk of Persona 5 being ported to the Switch, and Shin Megami Tensei V's Switch exclusivity, it seems that SMT/Persona is finding a comfy new home at Nintendo. With such interest, it would seem almost natural for Atlus to solidify this relationship with an HD remake of series favorite Persona 4. Persona 4 Golden was one of the best titles for the PS Vita, and its continued popularity 10 years later shows that the touching themes of social bonds still resonate. Not only that, it creates an opportunity to port the spin-offs — imagine Dancing All Night with joy-con dancing options! Plus, Nanako's joyful presence fits in with the family friendly side of Nintendo. Now, if they'd only really listen to the fans and add Dojima as a playable character, everyone could really go home happy.
Writeup by Lucy Gray
Also read: Persona 4 Golden review
Yes, yes, these games are on a variety of platforms already, but just think about how fun they'd be to play on the Switch! Who doesn't want the ability to insult sword fight on the train? And adding more point-and-click adventures in the user-friendly LucasArts vein can't be a bad thing. If Broken Age can make it to the Switch, at least some of these titles should definitely be there. It beats trying to play them on mobile.
Writeup by Hilary Andreff
Also read:
Monkey Island: LeChuck's Revenge review
Monkey Island 2 Special Edition: LeChuck's Revenge review
This series really is a forgotten trio of gems from the SNES era and would be a great little set of action RPGs to release as a collection. All three games in this loose trilogy feature fun action RPG combat married to world creation simulations, a surprisingly popular combination in the 16-bit era (hello, ActRaiser). It's true that it could be difficult to pull a port off given the current state of the IP, but it's a dream. A collection like this also has the advantage of finally bringing the pensive and pretty Terranigma to the US. Maybe some nice new art and a collector's edition upon release?
Writeup by Hilary Andreff
Also read:
Soul Blazer review
Illusion of Gaia review
Terranigma review
ActRaiser is a genre-bending classic in which a god awakens from slumber to rescue the people of six villages from a demon onslaught. City-building segments (that include a tiny angel shooting arrows at bats) are interspersed with challenging side-scrolling action stages to make one of the most unique games on the SNES, all set to a dope Yuzo Koshiro soundtrack. ActRaiser was on the Wii Online Shop for many years, until said shop shut down in early 2019. It currently isn't available digitally on any platform. So what gives, Square Enix? Let a new generation of RPG fans discover this stunner on the Switch.
Writeup by Michael Sollosi
Also read: ActRaiser review
The first two Lunar games are beloved Sega CD titles that found a larger audience with remakes on the Saturn and PlayStation, with elegant RPG mechanics, delightful animated cutscenes, and character designs that radiate personality and charm. RPGFan itself took its original namesake of LunarNET from this series. Sadly, without owning a disc made in the 1990s, the only ways to play Lunar 1 are on an inferior PSP port or on a mobile phone, and there are no such avenues for Lunar 2. Put it on the Switch.
Writeup by Michael Sollosi
Also read:
Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete review
Lunar 2: Eternal Blue Complete review
The last core game in the long-running Breath of Fire series (we aren't counting the now-defunct, Japan-only, mobile, multiplayer sixth entry), Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter has been long deserving of a remake or remaster. Adopting a more sci-fi spin than the fantasy-based setting of the past entries, Dragon Quarter used a Scenario Overlay system where additional content is unlocked with repeated restarts and reloads of previous saves. This innovative, replay value-enhancing mechanic would be a perfect match for the pick-up-and-go nature of the Nintendo Switch!
Writeup by Jonathan Logan
Also read: Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter review
Castlevania fans enjoyed a run of several excellent Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS games, each of them a nonlinear 2D side-scrolling action RPG made in the image of the much-beloved Symphony of the Night (not going to say the M-word). Of those handheld vampire-hunting RPGs, a personal favorite is Aria of Sorrow, the first game in a duology starring Soma Cruz, who absorbs the powers of slain monsters to attempt to conquer Dracula's castle. There are currently no modern Castlevania games available to play on Switch (this summer's upcoming collection so far looks to focus on the classic, pre-action RPG titles), which feels like a crime. Aria of Sorrow would be an excellent starting point.
Writeup by Michael Sollosi
Also read: Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow review
One of the best reasons to have been an early adopter of the Game Boy Advance, Golden Sun equaled the quality of some of the best 16-bit era RPGs. Its direct sequel, The Lost Age, and the Nintendo DS follow-up, Dark Dawn, measured up to the high bar set by the original, creating a handheld RPG franchise that's loved to this day. There hasn't been a new game in the series since 2010, but a remake of the trilogy (or even a brand-new sequel) would be right at home on the Switch!
Writeup by Jonathan Logan
Also read:
Golden Sun review
Golden Sun: The Lost Age review
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn review
Nintendo have been rereleasing the Mario & Luigi games of late, so why not move onto their other excellent Mario RPG series? Both Paper Mario and its sequel, Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door are two of the best games from their respective consoles, and the latter in particular has never been rereleased. What are you waiting for, Nintendo? Two of the funniest and most endearing games in Nintendo's library deserve to be experienced by a new generation.
Writeup by Alana Hagues
Also read:
Paper Mario review
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door review
It's been done already with Tales of Vesperia, so let's grab Bandai Namco while they're on a winning streak. We're not even sure where to begin with this massive series: perhaps Tales of Phantasia, which is seriously lacking in decent availability in the West (that GBA game is not the ideal way to play it), or Tales of Symphonia, one of the most beloved in the franchise that really kickstarted the series' popularity on this side of the world. Or is this the time to bring over one of those games that never got localized? Anything suits us!
Writeup by Alana Hagues
Also read:
Tales of Phantasia (GBA) review
Tales of Symphonia review
Generations 1, 2 and 3 have all seen remakes on the GBA, DS and 3DS respectively, and as Generation 8 is about to make its way onto Switch, bringing Diamond, Pearl, and Platinum remakes to the console seems like a no-brainer. Imagine exploring the world of Sinnoh in full 3D for the first time? And think about how Game Freak could incorporate it with Sword and Shield! This will likely happen, but that doesn't stop us from begging it to become a thing right this moment.
Writeup by Alana Hagues
Also read:
Pokémon Diamond review
Pokémon Pearl review
Pokémon Platinum review
These three games are the interconnected predecessors to The Legend of Heroes: Trails titles, and all are filled with memorable characters and a whole lot of old-school fantasy adventure and charm. The latest PSP rereleases didn't have the best localizations, so bringing these Falcom gems over to the Switch with better translations would be awesome. Falcom has proven to be no slouch when it comes to ports and remakes, so any way they might choose to approach putting these three games on the Switch would no doubt be golden. Plus, they could be used to gauge interest in bringing other The Legend of Heroes games to the system! [Editor's Note: Crossbell arc, anyone?]
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Also read:
The Legend of Heroes: A Tear of Vermillion review
The Legend of Heroes II: Prophecy of the Moonlight Witch review
The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean review
While this spinoff title isn't as beloved as the original series, there was still a lot of heart and potential in this Nintendo DS game. A Switch port might help revitalize interest in the series as a whole, perhaps paving the way for a new Tierkreis title that might not suffer the same limitations of its handheld predecessor. There are a lot of gamers who would certainly love the opportunity to play any Suikoden game again and, given its Nintendo origins, a port of Suikoden Tierkreis would be a perfect fit for the Switch.
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Also read: Suikoden Tierkreis review
Monster hunting titles can be challenging, addictive fun, so the chance to introduce another series of games in that genre to a new console makes perfect sense. God Eater started off as a handheld title, which makes the Switch a fitting console option for the series. Plus, a port of a GE game on another system could open up even more co-op opportunities, which would be a blast!
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Also read: God Eater 3 review
Winter Wolves' Visual Novel/RPG hybrid would make for an excellent Switch port with its colorful cast of characters, relationship building mechanics, and fantasy lore! Not to mention, if the game did well it could also pave the way for some of Winter Wolves' other Aravorn titles to make their Switch debut. There is plenty to see and do in the world of Aravorn and since the Switch seems quite friendly to indie developers, Loren could easily find a new home on the console.
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Also read: Loren The Amazon Princess review