2020 might not have been a banner year for the Nintendo Switch, but that does not mean the console failed to produce great games. In fact, it was a pretty stacked year when it comes to third-party titles, with the JRPG genre proving to be especially fruitful. Whether looking for an action romp, a turn-based epic, or a more tactical experience, the Nintendo Switch delivered the goods.

Which 2020 JRPGs released on the Nintendo Switch fared the best on Metacritic? Which titles are worth trying? Which ones garnered a mostly positive critical reception? Let’s take a look at the year’s greatest offerings.

Disclaimer: As there tends to be some debate on what constitutes a “JRPG,” any game created by a Japanese developer that is classified as a role-playing title on Metacritic will be considered. DLC will not be included.

10 Trials Of Mana (74)

A 3D remake of 1995’s Seiken Densetsu 3, Trials of Mana is a solid action-adventure title that modernizes some aspects of the experience but generally tries to retain the original game’s character. The end result is an action-RPG that plays relatively well but follows a structure that feels very 1990s.

That is not necessarily a bad thing, however. As it is a remake of a great game, Trials of Mana has the foundations of something special, and its snappy combat and expanded progression system are a delight. If only the remake included multiplayer.

9 Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia (76)

A surprising sequel to 1998’s Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia is a strategy RPG with ambition, depth, and some challenging combat. Customization is a big part of the package, with Brigandine offering you the pick of six playable nations all striving to dominate the land.

Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia does have a somewhat steep learning curve, mostly because of the number of systems that make up its long battles. While not a great entry point for newcomers to strategy games, veterans of the genre should find something to enjoy here.

8 Moon: Remix RPG Adventure (77)

Originally released in 1997 only in Japan, Moon: Remix RPG Adventure finally made its way to the West in 2020. A precursor to games like Undertale, Moon: Remix RPG Adventure twists the conventions of a traditional JRPG by framing the narrative from the perspective of a character trying to reverse the devastation left by the world’s “hero.”

Featuring a seven-day schedule and no combat, Moon: Remix RPG Adventure is a unique and complex game that deserves more recognition for the risks it takes and the ideas it explores.

7 Paper Mario: The Origami King (80)

It is debatable whether Paper Mario: The Origami King qualifies as a JRPG, as Nintendo did not categorize the title as such. However, it is marked as a role-playing game on Metacritic. Permitting someone is not expecting another Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, The Origami King is a highly enjoyable adventure overflowing with charm and humor.

The battle system is not great or rewarding, but plenty of encounters can be avoided. Paper Mario: The Origami King is a mediocre RPG but a wonderful adventure game.

6 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin (81)

Edelweiss’s Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin mixes side-scrolling action with farming to produce a relaxing but somewhat repetitive experience. Sakuna is a goddess banished to an island with monsters, where she has no choice but to set out on killing sprees while also settling down in the local town.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is a success in nearly every area, especially its combat and farming element. It is just that the levels can grow stale after a while, although how long that takes to set in will vary from player to player.

5 Rune Factory 4 Special (81)

An improved port of a Nintendo 3DS game released in the early 2010s, Rune Factory 4 Special is the ideal pick for those people who wish titles like Harvest Moon, aka Story of Seasons, and Stardew Valley had a touch more (or better) action. Along with deep farming and crafting systems, Rune Factory 4 Special is also a solid dungeon crawler, which adds quite a lot of variety to the campaign.

Rune Factory 4 Special’s vibrant visuals and endless charm are more than enough to mask the fact this Nintendo Switch game debuted on the 3DS.

4 Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (81)

In early 2020, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore made the jump from the Wii U to the Nintendo Switch, bringing new content with it. A crossover between Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei, Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is a stylish turn-based JRPG that opts for a more lighthearted tone than either franchise is known for.

While Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore does not take itself too seriously and is not an especially deep game, it is still a fun romp that fans of either series should love. That said, the focus is more on Shin Megami Tensei than Fire Emblem.

3 Ys Origin (82)

Ys Origin has been around since the mid-2000s, and that is immediately apparent with the Nintendo Switch version. Graphically, Nihon Falcom’s action-RPG franchise has always been a few steps behind series like Final Fantasy; gameplay-wise, Ys tends to set the standard when it comes to JRPGs with real-time combat.

Ys Origin’s frantic combat has aged superbly, and the game’s aesthetic and pacing complement the portable nature of the Nintendo Switch. Despite its age, this is still a game that deserves attention.

2 The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III (84)

When Nihon Falcom is not perfecting action-RPGs, the developer can be found crafting turn-based masterpieces. The Legend of Heroes name is a seal of quality, and Trails of Cold Steel III is no exception.

Newcomers to the franchise should start with the earlier entries in the Trails of Cold Steel series as the third entry builds upon those games’ characters and world-building; more importantly, they are also fantastic. Once those two titles are over and done with, Trails of Cold Steel III will be waiting with roughly a hundred hours more of content.

1 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (89)

In 2020, the best JRPG on the Wii made its way to the Nintendo Switch in the form of a remaster that fine-tunes the base game and adds a new section set after the campaign. The passage of time has done little to dilute Xenoblade Chronicles’ brilliance; in fact, the Definitive Edition represents the critically acclaimed JRPG at its absolute best.

Xenoblade Chronicles features an impressive open-world, enjoyable real-time combat that progresses nicely, and an engaging storyline that only grows more interesting with each passing hour.

NEXT: 10 Free-To-Play Switch Games Actually Worth The Grind