Top-down RPGs have existed for a long time throughout the history of video games, dating back to the early days of computer gaming in the 1970s. Though nowadays the role-playing video game genre is mainly limited to 3D action games, many indie developers continue to make games that harken back to the genre’s earlier limitations on NES and SNES.
These six top-down RPGs, which are available to play right now on the Nintendo Switch e-shop, not only span the genre’s history but are also some of the best of the best when it comes to 2D RPGs. Overall, these six games are absolute must-plays for any RPG fans who own the Nintendo Switch, especially for those who love top-down 2D fantasy adventures.
6Nobody Saves The World
Released in 2022,Nobody Saves the Worldcomes from the same studio behindGuacamelee, one of the most popular indie games of the 2010s. Players control “Nobody”, a nameless character with no distinguishing features, allowingeach player to customize them throughout their adventurein their own unique ways.
The gameplay involves exploring procedurally-generated dungeons, where players either go it alone or team up with players via co-op to complete quests and gain new abilities. They’re also equipped with magic wands, allowing players to take on many different forms. Overall, it’s a charming top-down RPG that allows for a truly different experience for everybody who plays it.
5Octopath Traveler
Square Enix has a long history of creating some of the greatest top-down RPGs ever made, and their track record continues on Nintendo Switch.Octopath Traveleris unique among top-down RPGs for combining the top-down perspective with a world mixed with 2D and 3D elements, something resembling a 2.5D environment despite running like a top-down RPG.
In the game, players control one of eight characters spread out across the map, recruiting the others into their party as the adventure continues. Like any Square Enix game, it has a wildly complex class system and a vast world for players to explore.Its sequel,Octopath Traveler 2,also recently released on the Nintendo Switch in 2023, which expands on its predecessor’s gameplay mechanics.
4Moonlighter
Moonlighteris a top-down action RPG available for Nintendo Switch, but it was originally released for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in 2018. During the daytime sections of the game, players manage a burgeoning shop in a small village, utilizing resources to increase not only their store but to upgrade the town itself, but at night it’s a much different experience.
At night,players venture outside their shop to explore dungeons, fight enemies, and most importantly, collect loot. Many fans considered it one of the best indie games to be released in 2018, and its Nintendo Switch port is perhaps the best version considering that players can take their shopkeeping on the go while also confronting the various dungeons.
3Wargroove
For fans of Nintendo’sAdvance Warsseries,Wargroovecombinestactical turn-based RPG gameplaywith overworld exploration and more typical RPG fanfare from the company Chucklefish, who were behind 2016’s hit sci-fi adventure gameStarbound.It was initially released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019 alongside ports for the Xbox One and PC.
Part of what makesWargroovesuch an interesting title in the tactical top-down RPG genre is its support of local and online multiplayer, allowing players to take the strategies they’ve learned in their single-player games andapply them against real opponents. Its sequel,Wargroove 2, also has a scheduled release on Nintendo Switch in October 2023.
2Crosscode
InCrosscode, players control a video game fan in a fictional MMORPG eager to escape and recover their memories. The gameplayinvolves players solving puzzlesto progress in the overworld and unlock new abilities that they can use against enemies. These abilities make up a player’s “circuit board,” allowing them to choose between the various abilities they get.
The game was initially released in early access in 2015, later seeing a full release in 2018 for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It has also since received an expansion pack in 2021, which includes more content for the game’s story and world. Overall,Crosscodeis an easy favorite for top-down RPG fans, especially for those who love a heartfelt narrative.
1Stardew Valley
There aren’t many top-down RPGs on the market likeStardew Valley. Since its release in 2016, the indie game has become a mainstay for casual video game fans, taking after older simulation RPGs likeHarvest Moon. In the game,players move to a new town after inheriting a farm, allowing them to interact with townspeople and expand their living space, ultimately creating a new life for themselves in the titular town.
The game has since become one of the most critically acclaimed RPGs of all time, with reviewers citing its easygoing nature and appeal to LGBTQ+ fans as some of its best features. It was ported to Nintendo Switch in 2017 with the help of Chucklefish, but across all consoles, it’s become a commercial hit, with a fan community that is still very much active in 2023.
