So, you’ve finished up Octopath Traveler and you’re looking for some more JRPGs to lose countless hours of your life to? If you’re a hardcore JRPG fan you’ve likely heard of most, if not all, of the titles that’ll be listed below…and that’s okay!
However, this list is meant for those who might be a bit more unfamiliar with the genre and are looking for other titles to try out after finishing Octopath Traveler. As of right now, Switch has fewer JRPGs compared to the PS4 and PS Vita (or even the 3DS), but that library is growing rather quickly and there are already plenty of gems in there that Switch owners should definitely check out.
So without further ado, here are three more JRPGs that I would recommend if you’re looking for a new adventure after Octopath Traveler.
1. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Being Nintendo’s first premiere JRPG on the Switch, it’s hard for me not to recommend Xenoblade Chronicles 2 even if it’s a very different experience compared to Octopath Traveler. There’s no doubt Switch’s hardcore JRPG audience picked this game up when it launched back in December of last year. I know for many players, Octopath Traveler might have been your first JRPG experience on the handheld-hybrid or even the reason you bought a Switch.
If you’re looking for a different flavor of JRPG, though, Xenoblade Chronicles 2 falls into the action RPG sub-genre. Xenoblade Chronicles 2 offers a great story, engaging combat that’s both unique and fun to learn, a killer original soundtrack, and a cast of memorable characters. If you haven’t dived into an action RPG before, don’t be too intimidated by Xenoblade Chronicles 2: it’s a lot of fun.
2. I Am Setsuna
I Am Setsuna was released back when the Switch first launched on March 3, 2017, and it was developed by Square Enix’s own Tokyo RPG Factory as a title that’s meant to be reminiscent of JRPGs from the 1990s. The game uses an Active Time Battle system similar to older Squaresoft titles from the SNES era. I Am Setsuna tells the story of a maiden named Setsuna who must sacrifice herself at a shrine to appease some angry demons.
We reviewed the game back when it first released on PS4. If you were a fan of Octopath Traveler, then there’s a good chance you’ll probably also enjoy I Am Setsuna. Furthermore if you like I Am Setsuna, you can also check out the game’s spiritual successor Lost Sphear, which came out earlier this year.
3. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana
Ys is a long-running JRPG series, and with the eighth main entry, it continues to stay true to what longtime fans have come to love about the games. Unlike Octopath Traveler, Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is a fast-paced action RPG. There are tons of things to do and fight, so players will surely never get bored with Ys VIII‘s endless offerings. The main character, Adol, finds himself shipwrecked on an abandoned island where himself and other survivors must band together and find a way off the island.
Like Final Fantasy and other JRPG series with multiple entries, Ys VIII‘s story is self-contained with slight references to other entries in the series, so don’t worry about ever being lost. You can check out our original review of Ys VIII on PS4 if you want a bit more detail about what the game has to offer.
While the Switch doesn’t have a massive library of JRPGs at this point in its life, games like Octopath Traveler already show that the system has a lot of potential to bring quality JRPG experiences to Switch owners down the line, and these are just a few suggestions if you are looking for more experiences like it.
If I missed anything or you have JRPG suggestions of your own, feel free to mention them in the comments below.