Blizzard’s Diablo has defined what the action RPG genre feels like for decades. Here are a few games that feel like Diablo on Switch.
Isometric action RPGs are a great way to sit back and relax while grinding through dungeons for loot. There’s a specific gameplay loop that Diablo perfected and few other games have mastered. There are a handful of games that take inspiration from Diablo on Switch, so we’ve highlighted them below.
Diablo III: Eternal Collection
Diablo 3 had a rough PC launch, but thankfully the game has been mostly ironed out by the time its Switch launch came around. The game on Switch includes the base game, the Reaper of Souls expansion pack, and the Necromancer pack. There are a total of seven classes and five acts to navigate, making this the modern Diablo experience on Switch.
Diablo 3 is also the first Blizzard game on a Nintendo console in 15 years, paving the way for Diablo II: Resurrected and Overwatch. It’s worth noting that you’ll need an online connection to create seasonal characters and if you want to play online, a Nintendo Switch Online subscription is needed.
Diablo II: Resurrected
Diablo II is arguably one of the best action RPGs ever produced. The experience feels naturally at home on the Switch, although you shouldn’t expect entirely offline play. You’ll need to connect to the internet to download updates and create seasonal characters, just like Diablo 3. Port developer Vicarious Visions says you’ll need to periodically connect to Battle.net, too.
If you want to pick up Diablo II & Diablo III for a good price, the Diablo Prime Evil Edition often goes on sale on Nintendo Switch. That version includes Diablo 3 and its DLC and Diablo 2 and several DLC packs.
The Diablo Prime Evil Collection includes:
- Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Base Game + Reaper of Souls)
- Diablo II: Resurrected
- Hatred’s Grasp Wings DLC (Diablo 3)
- Mephisto Pet DLC (Diablo 3)
Children of Morta
Children of Morta sits more in the dungeon-crawling roguelite category, but it clearly draws inspiration from games like Diablo. Each character in the family serves as a specific class with unique abilities for navigating the world. The pixel art is unique enough and builds a cohesive feeling world that is worth exploring.
Victor Vran
Victor Vran rode the coat tails of the Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing on PC when it released in 2014. The game eventually made the jump to Switch as Victor Vran: Overkill Edition. It hasn’t gone on sale once since it released on Switch back in 2019.
The game draws much of its gameplay inspiration from Diablo, while the story feels ripped from a Mary Shelley fan fiction. Of course, you’re not playing games like Diablo on Switch for the story. (If you are, play Children of Morta first.)
Minecraft Dungeons
Minecraft Dungeons is a great entry point to the action RPG genre for kids who are curious and love Minecraft. The game does a good job of easing you into action RPG mechanics like learning abilities and cycling loot to create a more powerful character. Plus the levels are infinitely replayable and the story isn’t too bad, either.
Torchlight III
Torchlight II got a lot of love when Diablo 3 originally released on PC in such a bad state. But Blizzard has taken the decade since then to continually update Diablo, while the Torchlight series feels stagnant. If you just want a dungeon crawler without much story at all, it’s a great alternative to Diablo on Switch.
Titan Quest
Titan Quest is similar to Diablo, but it’s more of a precusor to Path of Exile than anything else. It’s also the action RPG on this list with the most original setting – exploring ancient Greece, Egypt, and beyond. The original developers of the game went on to create Grim Dawn on PC, which is another aRPG worth checking out. Unfortunately, it’s not available on Switch.
Titan Quest is unique in that it lets you create mash-up classes with abilities that compliment each other. You’ll need a character planner to avoid messing up your build, but it’s worth it for some of the more unique classes available to players.
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