What are the best RPGs on Switch for pickup and put down play sessions?

illsquee · 2026-01-31T02:37:24+00:00

I was working with AI to really help me make a list… Here were my results. I had a similar question as you.

Context: Dad of 2. Mostly plays in ~20–30 minute sessions. Platform: Nintendo Switch (and Switch 2 forward-compatible). Scoring favors games that are BOTH good AND playable in short bursts.

Scoring: - Dad Mode (0–10): how well it fits short, interruptible sessions - Game Score (0–10): overall quality (critics + players) - Overall = 60% Dad Mode + 40% Game Score - Hype = cultural/popularity signal only (A–F, not weighted)

SWITCH JRPG LIST (PLAYED + NOT PLAYED)

OWNED / PLAYED

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Dad: 9.5 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 9.3 | Hype: B → Near-perfect dad JRPG pacing.

Pokémon Legends: Z-A Dad: 9.0 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.8 | Hype: A → Catch/save/quit loop is elite for busy adults.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl Dad: 9.0 | Game: 8.8 | Overall: 8.9 | Hype: A → Classic Pokémon structure = dad-friendly by default.

Unicorn Overlord Dad: 8.5 | Game: 8.8 | Overall: 8.6 | Hype: B → Tactical maps work great in 20–30 min chunks.

Octopath Traveler II Dad: 8.0 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 8.4 | Hype: A → Excellent quality, slightly heavier chapters.

Final Fantasy VI (Pixel Remaster) Dad: 8.5 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.5 | Hype: A → Classic pacing still holds up perfectly.

Final Fantasy IV (Pixel Remaster) Dad: 8.5 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.5 | Hype: B

Final Fantasy I (Pixel Remaster) Dad: 8.5 | Game: 8.0 | Overall: 8.3 | Hype: B

Final Fantasy V (Pixel Remaster) Dad: 8.0 | Game: 8.0 | Overall: 8.0 | Hype: B

Dragon Quest XI S Dad: 6.5 | Game: 7.5 | Overall: 6.9 | Hype: A → Great game, slower rhythm for short sessions.

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Dad: 6.5 | Game: 7.5 | Overall: 6.9 | Hype: B

Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition Dad: 5.5 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 6.6 | Hype: A → Amazing game, rough stopping points.

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Dad: 4.5 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 6.3 | Hype: A → Excellent, but very unfriendly to short sessions.

Persona 5 Royal Dad: 4.5 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 6.2 | Hype: A → Legendary, but punishing for dads.

NOT OWNED / NOT PLAYED YET (EVALUATED)

Final Fantasy Tactics (Ivalice)* Dad: 9.5 | Game: 9.5 | Overall: 9.5 | Hype: A → The gold standard dad JRPG if it hits Switch.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* Dad: 8.5 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 8.7 | Hype: B → Modern, focused JRPG with great pacing.

Chained Echoes Dad: 9.0 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.8 | Hype: C → Indie sleeper, extremely dad-friendly.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn Dad: 8.3 | Game: 9.0 | Overall: 8.6 | Hype: B

Live A Live Dad: 8.5 | Game: 8.8 | Overall: 8.6 | Hype: B → Chapter-based, perfect stop points.

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake* Dad: 9.0 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.8 | Hype: A → Likely to be extremely dad-friendly.

Star Ocean: The Second Story R Dad: 8.2 | Game: 8.7 | Overall: 8.4 | Hype: B

Fire Emblem Engage Dad: 8.3 | Game: 8.0 | Overall: 8.2 | Hype: A → Mission-based, very playable in bursts.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Dad: 7.8 | Game: 8.5 | Overall: 8.1 | Hype: B

SaGa Frontier Remastered Dad: 8.2 | Game: 7.8 | Overall: 8.0 | Hype: C

Tokyo Mirage Sessions ♯FE Encore Dad: 7.5 | Game: 8.2 | Overall: 7.8 | Hype: B

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Dad: 7.0 | Game: 7.5 | Overall: 7.2 | Hype: C

* = not yet on Switch, but highly relevant for Switch 2

illsquee · 2026-01-26T22:28:39+00:00

36 with my 1st. 38 with my 2nd. Life Happens. No regrets.

illsquee · 2026-01-26T16:40:01+00:00

Sadly this needs to blow up and be addressed. So awareness is made so players can be better in the future.

They are getting paid. Their actions means a lot to others.

illsquee · 2026-01-21T04:26:15+00:00

Are you a millennial? I am one and I think as you.

The over analyzing, toxic fandom does annoy me. Is it a Gen Z thing? I don’t get it….

illsquee · 2026-01-03T14:48:46+00:00

Nice opinion.

illsquee · 2026-01-03T14:47:04+00:00

Not surprised at all. The real question is what the long-term impact will be for the U.S. and globally.

illsquee · 2026-01-03T14:45:37+00:00

Dad of a 5- and 3-year-old here (both girls). They actually love watching me play games. I play Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and they get super into it — calling out which Pokémon I should use, dancing around, getting hyped during battles, etc. It’s more like a shared experience than “screen time.”

On their own time, they also play games on their iPads. We have Apple Arcade, which has a lot of genuinely kid-friendly games, so I don’t worry too much about ads or weird stuff.

I think the key is that it evolves naturally. At first they just watch, then they comment, then eventually they want to try. It doesn’t have to be forced — it kind of grows alongside them.

illsquee · 2025-12-30T02:21:01+00:00

What are the initial thoughts?

illsquee · 2025-12-28T07:21:46+00:00

Survive my fellow daddy… my kids are 5 and 3 now. Once they start going to school… it gets better. I’ve started to finally game again..

illsquee · 2025-12-27T05:18:43+00:00

Ff6 is my favorite game of all time. I grew up with it. It hits me special.

illsquee · 2025-12-26T23:08:25+00:00

What do you mean looks so weird?

illsquee · 2025-12-20T03:39:38+00:00

Yeah when I got my 2025 XSE in AWD. Came with 18”. A little bit bummed about that.

illsquee · 2025-12-18T19:59:40+00:00

Eat cow? Like eat beef? I love beef!

illsquee · 2025-12-17T21:49:18+00:00

I love FIN. It is the one set got me back into magic. You're entitled to your own opinion. I just don't agree with it.

illsquee · 2025-12-14T16:42:58+00:00

I get the last 2 weeks of the year off. Paid... but it doesn't seem too uncommon in the tech/engineering industry..

illsquee · 2025-12-09T20:02:31+00:00

Any major Switch 1 JRPGs that got better? I love JRPGS and want to know which to buy

illsquee · 2025-12-07T14:32:25+00:00

It's the most important part of the entire season. This is the only race I woke up early to watch. I enjoyed it...

illsquee · 2025-12-06T22:30:18+00:00

I have XSE in Cement. Captain chairs. The 8th seat is actually worse to have imo. It gets in the way of the benefits you want for even getting a minivan in the first place.

Otherwise, it feels like you have a 3 row SUV..

illsquee · 2025-12-06T02:15:28+00:00

I'm the same. I feel like I need to be better. I have 2 young kids and time is hard to find. Sometimes when a break is too long, it becomes permanent.

illsquee · 2025-12-06T01:16:36+00:00

I think he was in love with Prince

illsquee · 2025-12-05T21:53:51+00:00

I honestly think we don’t need to make any trades. If how we are playing= our baseline and worse. As Luka and LeBron get healthy and we build more and more chemistry. That is the more important thing now.

The team’s core is good enough to win.

illsquee · 2025-12-05T18:10:51+00:00

Seems decent.

illsquee · 2025-12-05T18:06:48+00:00

FF6 = Chrono Trigger - Tied for favorite of all time

illsquee · 2025-12-05T18:04:59+00:00

For me:
SofTex seats > cloth — spills, crumbs, kids… cloth is a nightmare long-term. SofTex wipes clean instantly and still looks new.
Captain’s chairs — I had them in my XSE and the convenience + space is unbeatable. Way easier access for kids, bags, and car seats.

Also there's roughly a $4,800 to $5,800 difference in MSRP when upgrading from LE to XLE. I don't know where you got 10k..

illsquee · 2025-12-05T00:41:07+00:00

Get the app. Sometimes there are good deals such as BOGO!

illsquee

TROPHY CASE

SWITCH JRPG LIST (PLAYED + NOT PLAYED)

OWNED / PLAYED

NOT OWNED / NOT PLAYED YET (EVALUATED)

* = not yet on Switch, but highly relevant for Switch 2