Our parents probably didn’t have the Nintendo Switch in mind when they told us to “go outside and play” during the summer, but with so many great turn-based RPGs available for Nintendo’s lovely portable console, I, for one, will take advantage of the warmer weather to slay demons in the fresh air.
If you’re looking for a game for that summer road trip or to enjoy by the shore, there are a bunch of fantastic picks available at a discount right now.
It’s a particularly good time to be an anime JRPG fan, so if you’re looking for that particular brand of adventure, the Switch has a lot of offerings from the likes of Marvelous and Idea Factory on sale. There are also perennial favorites at an eye-popping discount in other subgenres, so we’re sure you’ll find something to enjoy. Check out our picks below!
Darkest Dungeon 1 & 2
- Developer: Red Hook Studios
- Release Date: 19 January, 2016
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS
- Nintendo Shop Page
Darkest Dungeon on the Switch is a surprisingly satisfying experience; pick an appropriately dark and stormy night and curl up with the console in handheld mode for a tale of terror in the dark, and you’ll see what I mean.
Both games offer nearly-limitless challenge and replay value, too, so you can always pick them back up again after some time away and have just as much fun as you did on your previous playthroughs.
Both Darkest Dungeon titles are on sale for the Switch right now, with the original dungeon-delving masterpiece down 85% from $24.99 to $3.74 and the thematic, allegory-filled sequel down 69% from $39.99 to $12.39. They’re each fantastic in their own right, and now is a great time to get both; act before the sale ends on 8 August.
DEMON GAZE EXTRA Digital Deluxe Edition
- Developer: Dragami Games, Experience, Inc.
- Release Date: 6 April, 2022
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
With its dungeon-crawler gameplay and demonic adversaries, Demon Gaze feels a bit like what would happen if Shin Megami Tensei took a turn for the cutesy.
It’s still got some frightening demons to contend with, but the heroes and banter are much more lighthearted than SMT‘s tragic casts. Originally a cult Vita hit in Japan, Demon Gaze Extra brings the game to modern consoles with enhanced graphics and quality-of-life improvements.
If you’ve been meaning to give Demon Gaze a try, now is a great time to pick up the Digital Deluxe Edition on the Switch. It normally goes for $64.99 and includes all the DLC, including bonus items and an extra class, but until 30 July it’s discounted 90% to just $6.49!
Jack Move
- Developer: So Romantic
- Release Date: 8 September, 2022
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Mac
- Nintendo Shop Page
Jack Move offers a fun, pixelated cyberpunk JRPG where you’ll unravel a conspiracy at the heart of the Monomind Corporation. As Noa, you can change combat roles on the fly during battles in cyberspace while investigating the mysterious disappearance of your father.
This is a great pick for anyone looking for an indie RPG that’s a bit different from the norm, and the Switch version is 88% off until 2 August. It’s normally $19.99, but you can get it for just $2.39 if you pick it up during this sale.
Loop8: Summer of Gods
- Developer: Marvelous Inc.
- Release Date: 1 June, 2023
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
With its sleepy summer town as a backdrop, Loop8 is a perfect game for this time of year. As you live out your life in small-town Japan in August of 1983, you’ll build relationships with the townsfolk… while preparing to defeat the invasion of the monstrous Kegai in turn-based battles! Relive the month over and over again until you find the path that saves the world.
Appropriately, Loop8: Summer of Gods is 88% off for the Switch until 30 July. You can get it for $4.79 rather than its standard price of $39.99, so if you want to really play through the game in August, be sure to grab it in July.
Children of Zodiarcs
- Developer: Cardboard Utopia
- Release Date: 18 July, 2017
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Mac
- Nintendo Shop Page
Cards, dice, and a tale of overthrowing the corrupt, Children of Zodiarcs has it all! As a band of plucky outcasts, you’ll use a clever tactical combat system to put each character’s strengths to use. By crafting dice and pushing your luck with re-rolls, you can seize the advantage as you face off against brutal guards and greedy nobles.
Children of Zodiarcs is pretty reasonable at its regular price of $17.99, but the current deal on the Switch version is too good to pass up. At 88% off, you can get the game for just $2.15 as long as you buy before 30 July.
Astria Ascending
- Developer: Artisan Studios
- Release Date: 30 September, 2021
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
Between its beautiful visuals, rewarding combat, and soundtrack from Hitoshi Sakimoto, Astria Ascending is a work of art for JRPG fans.
It dispenses with the trope of fated teenagers saving the world, focusing instead on complex, adult characters, but it’s not all serious – there are plenty of mini-games as well, including a card game!
Astria Ascending was practically made for the Switch, and there’s a great opportunity right now to get it on the platform. Discounted 80% until 30 July, it’s down to just $7.99 from its usual price of $39.99.
Death end re;Quest 2
- Developer: Idea Factory, Compile Heart
- Release Date: 13 February, 2020
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
Horror JRPGs can be a tricky combination to manage, but Death End takes a smart approach. By day, you’ll explore the game’s haunted locations in a visual novel, but at night you’ll have to fight for survival in turn-based RPG battles. In true horror fashion, though, you run the risk of encountering the Berserker, an unstoppable foe where your only hope is to flee!
If you’re interested in the storytelling of horror but traditional games in the genre have too many jumpscares and stress, Death End‘s RPG approach might be just the ticket. The Switch version of the second game, re;Quest 2, is 80% off until 28 July, making now a great time to give it a try with a low investment.
Mary Skelter Finale & Mary Skelter 2
- Developer: Idea Factory, Compile Heart
- Release Date: 19 September, 2017
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
If you like the idea of anime horror JRPGs, you should also check out the Mary Skelter trilogy. In this high concept series, you’ll command the Blood Maidens, warriors inspired by fairy tales, as you navigate first-person dungeons and fight or flee against dangerous Nightmares.
The Switch version of Mary Skelter 2 includes the first game in the series, Mary Skelter: Nightmare, and is 80% off until 28 July. It normally goes for $39.99, but you can get it on sale for $7.99 and have money left over for the third and final installment, Mary Skelter Finale, which is also discounted 80% from $49.99 to $9.99.
SOULVARS
- Developer: ginolabo, SUCCESS Corp.
- Release Date: 8 January, 2022
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Android, iOS
- Nintendo Shop Page
A mobile game gone to consoles, Soulvars offers excellent deckbuilder combat and some very cool pixel animations to bring its dark sci-fi dystopia to life. As Yakumo and his band of enhanced Soulbearers, you’ll have to fight against the Dominators, monstrous robots bent on the destruction of humanity.
Since it was built for mobile, Soulvars makes a great fit for the Switch’s portability. At 80% off, you can get this smart, innovative RPG on the Switch for just $3.39 until 30 July, at which point it will go back up to its usual $16.99.
Born of Bread
- Developer: Wildarts Studio, Inc.
- Release Date: 5 December, 2023
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
If you have a Switch and you’re visiting this site, there’s a pretty good chance you have fond memories of Paper Mario. That being the case, you’ll feel right at home with the whimsical story and timing-based battles of Born of Bread, a fun, colorful adventure for all ages starring a fresh-baked flour golem and his friends!
You can get Born of Bread for the Switch at 75% off until 30 July, taking its price from $29.99 down to just $7.49. There’s also a free demo available so you can give it a try before committing to a purchase.
Death end re;Quest
- Developer: Idea Factory, Compile Heart
- Release Date: 12 April, 2018
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
We usually group games in the same franchise together for these lists, but the Death End re;Quest deserves an extra shout-out since it’s got such a different feel from its sequel.
The split visual-novel/RPG gameplay is still there, but its story around an abandoned video game and haunted code gives it a more techno-horror feel than its more traditional successor.
Luckily, the original game is also on sale for the Switch until 28 July, down 75% from $29.99 to $7.49. The Switch version includes all the DLC from previous iterations of the game elsewhere, so you’re getting the full experience in one go.
Fairy Fencer F: Refrain Chord
- Developer: Idea Factory
- Release Date: 25 April, 2023
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
If you’re in the mood for a more traditional fantasy JRPG, the Fairy Fencer F series has built up a dedicated following with its ongoing tale of a war between good and evil, with a young swordsman caught up in the middle.
Refrain Chord expands the lore of the series further while swapping out standard JRPG fights for grid-based tactical battles, making it an exciting change-up for returning fans.
The Switch version of Refrain Chord is just $12.49 until 28 July, letting you save 75% off its standard price of $49.99. Note that this discount doesn’t apply to the Deluxe Bundle, so if you were hoping to pick up the artbook and soundtrack you’ll have to get them separately.
Megadimension Neptunia VII
- Developer: Idea Factory, Compile Heart
- Release Date: 28 July, 2020
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
The Neptunia series started out as a quirky JRPG parody of the video game industry as a whole, and has managed to spin off into a long-running franchise with a cult following.
Then again, Idea Factory has a track record of success with offbeat ideas for dedicated JRPG fans, so if anybody was going to pull this off, it was them. Megadimension Neptunia VII sees the sisters traversing multiple dimensions as the world they knew is upended overnight, making it a great jumping-on point for new players while still being full of surprises for longtime fans.
You can get the Switch version of Megadimension Neptunia VII for $7.49 until 28 July, saving 75% off its regular price of $29.99. There’s some extra DLC to pick up as well if you want it, and it’s all either free or just a few bucks, so you’ll still save plenty with this sale even if you decide to splurge a bit.
The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos – Chicken Edition
- Developer: Artefacts Studio
- Release Date: 24 June, 2021
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows, Mac
- Nintendo Shop Page
The fantasy parody of The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk is played for laughs, but the game itself is a deceptively solid tactical RPG. Your heroes aren’t exactly the cream of the crop, but by cleverly using their skills and developing them as a team, you can survive the dungeons and slay the bosses… probably.
The Chicken Edition on the Switch includes bonus content that was limited to DLC elsewhere, making it good value to begin with, but at 75% off it’s a great deal. It’s normally $39.99, but you can get it for $9.99 until 30 July!
SteamWorld Heist: Ultimate Edition
- Developer: Image & Form
- Release Date: 28 December, 2017
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS
- Nintendo Shop Page
SteamWorld Heist is one of the best strategy games of the 2010s, thanks to its smart ricochet-based tactical gameplay and SteamWorld‘s signature storytelling. It’s the perfect starting point for the series, and a must-play for new fans starting elsewhere in the franchise. Its spacefaring themes also make it very different from its nautical sequel, so playing them both is well worth your time.
The Ultimate Edition, exclusive to the Switch, includes the Outsider DLC campaign, and is just $4.99 until 8 August. Normally priced at $19.99, it’s pretty reasonable to begin with, but saving 75% feels like a heist of its own!
Black Book
- Developer: Morteshka
- Release Date: 10 August, 2021
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Mac
- Nintendo Shop Page
If your preferred brand of mischief involves the occult, Black Book blends Slavic folklore with RPG gameplay. As a witch seeking a powerful artifact, you can summon and bind demons to fulfill quests and torment your foes while you explore the game’s rural, rustic world.
Black Book‘s hand-drawn visuals and compelling story make it a great pick, and you can get it on the Switch for just $6.24 until 2 August. That’s a 75% savings off its regular price of $24.99.
Thea: The Awakening
- Developer: MuHa Games
- Release Date: 20 November, 2015
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
Another great RPG steeped in Slavic folklore, but a very different experience from Black Book, is Thea.
In this survival strategy RPG, you’ll treat with ancient gods and other beings as you manage your small village. Whether your villagers stay at home to work or risk their lives to go out and explore, possibly becoming heroes, is up to you, but you’ll need both to have any chance of living through the days of darkness.
Thea is a great game for coming back to every now and then, so the Switch is a perfect platform for it. It’s available there for $5.39 until 29 July, a discount of 70% off its regular price of $17.99.
Bloomtown: A Different Story
- Developer: Different Sense Games, Lazy Bear Games
- Release Date: 24 September, 2024
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows, Android
- Nintendo Shop Page
Part Mother, part Stranger Things, Bloomtown blends childlike curiosity with 1960s Americana and weird horror for a delightful RPG experience.
Not only will you visit demonic realms lurking beneath the surface of a quiet town, but you’ll also catch and fuse their inhabitants, Shin Megami Tensei-style, to add to your roster! This is one indie game that truly takes the best from a lot of different sources and combines them into its own great adventure.
The Switch version of Bloomtown is 60% off until 9 August, letting you get it for $9.99 rather than the usual $24.99. There’s also a free demo available to get your journey started at no cost.
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
- Developer: Konami
- Release Date: 6 March, 2025
- Platform: Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
There are plenty of ways to play the classics on the Switch – that’s one of its main draws, after all – and with the release of the Suikoden I & II HD Remaster, there’s one more, even though this storied RPG franchise wasn’t originally on Nintendo consoles.
These standouts of the PS1’s golden age of JRPGs are famous for their epic narratives and massive cast of playable characters, so whether you’re in it for the nostalgia or to play them for the first time, you’re in for a real treat.
Suikoden I & II are offered as two games in a single title, and the Switch version is 50% off until 30 July, taking the price down from $49.99 to $24.99. The same goes for the Switch 2 version, but be warned that unlike a lot of the games on this list, which just have the standard level of backward compatibility, these are two separate items.
Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi
- Developer: Experience, Inc., Poppyworks
- Release Date: 28 October, 2021
- Platform: Switch, PlayStation, Xbox, Windows
- Nintendo Shop Page
Finally, Undernauts offers a classic dungeon-crawling experience in the vein of classics like Wizardry, but with a decidedly modern JRPG flair. Taking a party of six into a first-person dungeon is certainly a familiar concept, but Labyrinth of Yomi executes it so well that it makes this well-trodden path feel new again.
It’s usually pretty pricey at $59.99, but right now the Switch version of Undernauts is discounted 50% to $29.99. If you’ve had your eye on this one while waiting for the price to drop, you have until 27 July to take advantage of this deal.
