20. Devil May Cry (Switch eShop)

19. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout (Switch)

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout lifted the series to new heights in 2019 with a reinvigorated, newcomer-friendly alchemy system and an excellent combat overhaul.

The new graphics engine looks glorious and runs beautifully on Switch, the story is thoughtfully paced and heartfelt, and the traditionally slow early hours do a fantastic job of detailing Ryza’s journey from complete beginner to master alchemist.

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Gust did a brilliant job of taking this long-running franchise and making it appeal to the mainstream more than ever here, and Ryza quickly became a firm fan favourite.

18. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Switch)

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is an experience unlike any other on the Switch, expertly blending standard RPG tropes with a heartwarming story, innovative art style, and immersive soundtrack composed by some of the best in the business.

In more ways than one, this is a ‘dream project’ whose very existence is a gift to fans of the genre the world over. That said, it also notably falls short of being an undisputed masterpiece, as pacing issues and shoddy AI drag down an otherwise pitch-perfect experience.

Those issues aside, this still proves to be light-years ahead of many other RPGs. If you consider yourself a fan of the genre – or even if you’re just looking to get your feet wet – you owe it to yourself to give Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch a shot.

17. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (Switch)

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a great example of what developers should aspire to do with remastering old games; this is the best-designed and most enjoyable version of the game classic currently on the market, and it can all be played on the go.

The Gambit-focused combat system is absolutely fantastic, making it dangerously easy for hours to slip by as you work on min-maxing characters to the best of their abilities. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age may have been divisive on the PS2, but this rerelease — and Switch version — are the definitive version of an underappreciated masterpiece.

16. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy (Switch eShop)

The original Ace Attorney is really getting on in years, which is remarkable when you consider just how well it holds up. Sure, it’s been ported plenty of times and the jump to Nintendo DS certainly helped shake off the retro cobwebs, but as a piece of interactive history, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Trilogy is as utterly addictive and truly rewarding as it was back at the turn of the millennium.

Whether you’re brand new to the world of virtual defence law or a veteran attorney, Phoenix Wright’s first adventures remain a fine set of cases to take on.

15. Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection (Switch)

Assassin's Creed: The Rebel Collection has come as something of a surprise to us after the disappointment of Assassin's Creed III Remastered. Here are two excellent swashbuckling epics ported to Nintendo's console in fine fashion. Black Flag is a revelation in portable mode and looks and performs almost flawlessly as you blast your way around the Caribbean on Edward Kenway's captivating pirate adventures. Rogue, although it struggles to keep up slightly here and there, is always eminently playable and together with the excellent Freedom Cry, they give Assassin's Creed fans something they've wanted for a very long time now – this is handheld Assassin's Creed at a standard we weren't sure we'd ever see on Switch.

14. Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition (Switch eShop)

From its opening moments upon a prison ship bound for Fort Joy to non-stop adventures that take you across the high seas to the Reaper’s Coast, Nameless Isle, and beyond, Divinity: Original Sin 2 simply dazzles. In its seemingly endless parade of well-written characters, hilarious narration, deep and rewarding physics-based combat, and the myriad ways in which it allows you to engage and toy with its systems, this is a truly epic RPG that revels in choice more than any other that’s come before it. It takes the old-school isometric style of Baldur’s Gate, layers it with an unparalleled level of attention to detail, and fuses it with a thoroughly modern take on meaningful player decisions, resulting in one of the greatest role-playing games available on any platform; and it’s all here, present and correct on a portable console.

13. Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster (Switch)

Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster is a package of two fantastic games; the 2001 original and its 2003 direct sequel. FFX is probably not the most straightforward introduction for new players, but it presents one of the most engaging worlds in any games in the series and its Conditional Time-Based battle system (which here replaced the standard Active Time Battles of previous entries) spiced things up nicely.

With upgraded visuals and audio and all the content from the 'International' version of the game, Switch is a great place to play X. If you've got dozens of hours to spare, of course.

12. Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy VII's reputation speaks for itself — it's a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come. The Materia system is addictive, and there's a plethora of optional content and superbosses to dig into. Plus, even with the translation issues, this is one of the best stories in the franchise.

As with many early PS1 games, Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time, but that doesn’t mean it’s to be respected any less; if you can look past the antiquated elements, the core game here is as brilliant as it ever was. Even with the Remake on Switch 2, the original is worth checking out.

11. Cuphead (Switch eShop)

Cuphead was an absolute masterpiece when it originally launched on Xbox One and nothing was sacrificed in its move to the Switch.

A run-and-gun boss battler dressed up like a 1930s Fleischer or Disney animated short, it’s the same visually jaw-dropping, aurally delightful, knuckle-whiteningly difficult game it was on Microsoft’s console and the Switch’s library is all the better for its presence. Its focus on intense boss battles won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into, we can’t recommend it enough. Just look at it!

And the Delicious Last Course is the icing on the cake.