Ever since making its debut in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has amassed a huge library of titles covering all sorts of genres. Putting aside exceptions like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, JRPGs are still designed for niche audiences. This is made doubly so when “action” is thrown into the mix, as JRPGs are generally associated with turn-based gameplay.

While the genre has continued to produce games with traditional mechanics, real-time combat has become quite commonplace in this day and age. Let’s take a look at the best action JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch.

Games like Dark Souls Remastered, Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate, and God Eater 3 will be left out as it is debatable whether they qualify as JRPGs. They are all great, though.

10 Oninaki

From the same company responsible for I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear, Oninaki has a lot going for it but is also held back by sluggish combat and a story that takes quite a while to pick up momentum. Playing as a Watcher who essentially serves as a grim reaper, Oninaki’s world is fascinating but the characters can come across as quite distant. This makes sense within context, but it makes the narrative challenging to fully embrace.

In dungeons, which commonly look fantastic, players can engage in combat that is perhaps a bit too deliberate for its own good.

9 Shining Resonance Refrain

A remaster of a Japanese exclusive PS3 game, Shining Resonance Refrain boasts combat that is somewhat reminiscent of the Tales of… series, which is nearly always a good thing. While the war-themed storyline is a touch tired, Shining Resonance Refrain makes up for it with solid world-building, a unique progression system, and a well-defined roster of characters.

The relationships between the playable heroes can also be developed through repeat interactions. While not really excelling in any one department, Shining Resonance Refrain does almost everything well.

8 Dragon Marked For Death

Dragon Marked For Death is a side-scrolling JRPG, which already makes it quite special. Developed by Inti Creates, a studio primarily known for the Mega Man Zero series, Dragon Marked For Death offers players the pick of four classes before sending them on a quest defined by revenge and colorful pixel art.

When not on missions, players can pick up new items and gear in the main hub town while also talking with the locals. With basic attacks and special moves locked behind a meter, the combat is a bit too simplistic for a game that is meant to last dozens of hours; however, there is still a lot to enjoy here.

7 Dragon Quest Builders 2

A notable improvement over its predecessor, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is a charming sandbox game with accessible RPG elements and shallow combat. As implied by the name, Dragon Quest Builders 2 is all about gathering plenty of material to craft buildings and items. The story is unobtrusive and the visuals are quite pleasing.

Dragon Quest Builders 2 is difficult to recommend solely as an action JRPG, but it is among the better sandbox titles on the Nintendo Switch.

6 Trials Of Mana Remake

A 3D remake of 1995’s Seiken Densetsu 3, Trials of Mana is a faithful recreation of the original. Although a couple of things were fine-tuned or expanded upon, including a slightly more robust combat system and a new unlockable class level, Square Enix did not alter the story, characters, or level design in any meaningful ways.

For better or worse, Trials of Mana feels like a mid-’90s JRPG, albeit one that has aged reasonably well. The remake loses points for not having multiplayer, a huge selling point of the original Super Famicom game.

5 The World Ends with You: Final Remix

The World Ends with You: Final Remix is not the best way to play this fantastic JRPG, but it is nice to have as an option. The Nintendo DS original is among Square Enix’s most unique projects, one that made great use of the console’s dual screens to craft a combat system pivoting around teamwork.

The Nintendo Switch port of the game’s mobile version does a serviceable job adapting the controls to the new system’s requirements, but it is not a seamless transition. The story and setting are still brilliant, though.

4 Rune Factory 4 Special

Rune Factory 4 Special is a delightful cross between Harvest Moon and dungeon crawlers, even if it is undoubtedly better at the former than the latter. Set in a lively town protected by one of four Elder Dragons, Rune Factory 4 Special leaves players to just enjoy their days through farming, NPC interactions, and some straightforward but still rewarding combat. While there is some narrative drive, it is not the central focus.

Rune Factory 4 Special is at its best as a farming sim, but its JRPG elements are handled reasonably well.

3 Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition is not all that different from the original game released in 2008, and that is probably for the best. In a franchise that specializes in action JRPGs, Tales of Vesperia ranks among its strongest entries.

The game’s Linear Motion Battle System is quite barebones compared to the subsequent releases in the series, but Tales of Vesperia’s combat is nevertheless engaging and improves as the story progresses. The characters, especially the refreshingly mature protagonist, heighten an otherwise just decent narrative.

2 Xenoblade Chronicles Series

The Xenoblade Chronicles games are the definitive JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch, especially now that Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition has been released on the console. With ambitious storylines, robust MMO-esque combat systems that take their time to reveal all of their mechanics, and open-worlds that make good use of their sizes, Xenoblade Chronicles and its successors are masterpieces.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 distinguishes itself from its predecessor through a Blade weapons system that allows for the party members to be customized for specific roles. Xenoblade Chronicles 2: Torna – The Golden Country also revamped the battle system, making it more accessible than the main game.

1 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

When it comes to action JRPGs, Nihon Falcom has been perfecting the genre for longer than most studios. The Ys series has been producing gold since the late ’80s, and Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is right up there with the franchise’s best releases. After an attack leaves a cast of colorful characters shipwrecked on a cursed island, Adol sets out to save any survivors, fortify a makeshift village, and explore the quite large area.

The story is fine, but Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is all about its thrilling reflex-based combat. Battles are frantic, instantaneous, and reward precision, especially when it comes to guarding. The boss encounters are also suitably grand, while the six playable characters all bring something different to the table. Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana is an action JRPG that gets both genres right.

NEXT: Every Ys Game From Worst To Best, Ranked