Create custom experiences with these Switch games that allow you to mix and match various attributes of the character you control.
Nintendo Switch games with character customization
Miitopia, Saints Row The Third, and XCOM 2 have some of the best character customization options on Switch. The best Switch games with character customization overall are Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Divinity Original Sin 2, and Disco Elysium.
This article lists 15 great Nintendo Switch games with character customization and features new and old titles from a range of genres and price points.
Let’s begin! In no particular order:
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen
Dragon’s Dogma flew under some gamers’ radars (including mine) when it was originally released by back in 2012.
An improved version – Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen made it onto the Switch in 2019 and, despite the core game being over a decade old, it’s easily one of my favorite action RPGs on this console.
Aesthetic customization options are extensive and the overall gameplay experience differs significantly depending on which of the nine classes you select for your character.
A unique mechanic in Dragon’s Dogma is the ‘Pawn’ companions, who you can give simple orders to and train up to match your play style.
The Outer Worlds
The Outer Worlds is a space colony exploration RPG with both aesthetic and practical character customization options.
At the start of the game, you can modify basically all aspects of your character’s appearance and you get skill points to assign to different attributes like strength, intelligence, and perception.
You get extra skill points every time you level up. How you choose to divide these points determines the paths you are able to take through the game.
While the world can feel a bit empty at times, the game’s real strong point is the NPCs: The stories they tell and quips they make are sometimes hilarious, often touching, and always engrossing.
Miitopia
For most, if not all other games on the list, character customization is secondary to the core gameplay. For Miitopia, the game’s character creator is arguably the most important aspect.
It’s an adventure game following a fairly standard (but quite funny at times) bring-down-the-dark-lord formula.
Your protagonist in this journey is, well, literally anyone you could possibly dream up: That’s because the customization options that you can apply to your base Mii character are unbelievably extensive.
As YouTuber RubberRoss mentions in the video above, it actually takes a little bit of getting used to building facial features that work well with the game’s animations but, once you’ve got the hang of it, the world is your oyster.
Divinity Original Sin 2
A top-quality RPG considered by some to be one of the best of all time.
Select a premade protagonist (with ‘undead’ being one of the available races) or go to town on the customization to create your own character to fight your way through the world of Rivellon (or challenge other players in the online multiplayer arena mode).
Attributes, abilities, talents, and starting skills can all be tweaked and you could easily spend hours in the appearance customizer alone (tip – you can carry on playing while charging your Switch).
Skills can also be crafted throughout the game and, if you’re not feeling comfortable in your own skin, you can change your appearance after Act 1.
A word of warning – a limited physical release and its popularity make this one of the priciest Switch games.
Skyrim
So much has been said about Skyrim that I’m not sure there’s much more I can add to the corpus.
The initial character customization is fairly standard fare for an RPG and, if you become a Vampire or complete the Surgery quest in the Dawnguard DLC, you’ll be able to change your appearance in-game, too.
One of the most popular games (let alone RPGs) of all time, Skyrim’s lasting impact is one of the reasons for its multiple releases and updated editions.
The Skyrim Anniversary Edition is pretty expensive on Switch but you do get every single bit of official content ever created. The standard edition (which still includes all three DLCs) is significantly cheaper.
The developers managed to fit all this into around 13GB, too, which is impressive given how big Switch games can be.
Animal Crossing: New Horizons
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is now Japan’s best-selling game of all time, ousting the original Pokemon Game Boy games from the top spot around 18 months after its release.
That’s an incredible feat and it’s clear that the Switch entry in this smash-hit social simulation series nails that cozy cottagecore sweet spot not just for Japanese consumers but worldwide, too.
There are plenty of customizations available at the start of the game (unlike previous Animal Crossing games), and you can tweak your style at any time later in the game by looking into a mirror or vanity.
Animal Crossing is popular for lots of reasons, one of which is the sound design and one of my favorite bits about New Horizons is the soundtrack. Whoever uploaded the full six hours onto YouTube so I can listen while working: I cannot thank you enough.
Pokemon Sword/Shield
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Never did that apply more to a video game franchise than Pokemon.
While Legends: Arceus introduced fresh mechanics, the tried and tested formula of the mainline games has barely changed in 20 years. And I love it.
It’s by far the best Pokemon game on Switch for character customization. (X and Y on 3DS did customization well, but it’s fiddly to play 3DS games on Switch.)
Head into a salon in any town to change makeup, hair color, and hairstyle, and visit the boutiques to pick from a huge range of clothing and accessories.
Pokemon Sword/Shield received mixed reviews and I wasn’t sure about it at first. However, it grew on me during my playthroughs and it’s now one of my favorites in the franchise.
Immortals Fenyx Rising
When I first saw Immortals Fenyx Rising, I dismissed it as a Breath of the Wild rip-off. Yes, there are a lot of similarities, but Fenyx Rising is a very fun game in its own right.
Character customization is not as deep as some other games on this list, but it strikes a nice balance between options and efficiency.
You can modify Fenyx’s appearance again in-game at any time once you’ve unlocked the Hall of Gods – just head to Aphrodite’s Beauty Chair.
The smooth combat in this Greek mythology-inspired RPG is one of the highlights, while the classic Ubisoft hand-holding style open world means you’re rarely lost.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town
Switch owners are spoiled for choice when it comes to slice-of-life and farming sim-style games like Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town.
Where this game stands out against others in this genre like My Time at Portia is character customization.
Pioneers of Olive Town has a lot more customization options than previous entries in the Story of Seasons series: character motions and voices are fully customizable along with appearance and clothing.
For those of you who are looking for something fresh after committing hundreds of hours to Stardew Valley, this is the one.
Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
Saints Row games are well known for their general craziness and the fourth game in the series – ported to Switch in 2020 – doesn’t let up on the mayhem.
Once you’ve completed the opening mission, you’ll be promoted to customize your character and the options are truly extensive.
In addition to modifying the physical appearance of your character, you can also select from seven different voices plus a long list of compliment and taunt styles.
IV is widely regarded as a much better Switch port than Saints Row The Third and, like with all Saints Row games, maybe don’t play it in front of your grandparents.
Attack on Titan 2
I love action games based on popular anime series as much as the next guy, so Attack on Titan 2 was an easy sell for me.
In Attack on Titan 2, you can modify your character’s voice, clothing, gender, hairstyle, body shape, and facial features.
Once you’re past the initial character creation and tutorial section, head to your private quarters in the barracks and you can change any of these elements during the game at the dresser in this location.
Physical copies of this one are hard to come by, so be prepared to pay a premium if you prefer game cards to digital copies. The digital game with DLC comes in at 20.1GB, so you may have to archive or delete some other Switch content to make room.
Lego DC Super-Villains
Lego games have never-ending appeal and Super-Villains is one of the better recent takes on the classic adventure platform formula.
What makes this game stand out is the fact that you get to play as the Villains this time, rather than fighting them for the greater good.
You can fully customize your Villain character at the start of each playthrough, and you can modify those customizations at any point between missions via the option in the pause menu while you are in the hub.
You can also use the customizer on Stryker’s Island once you’re past the Hall of Doom.
XCOM 2 Collection
I’m a sucker for casual turn-based strategy games and although XCOM 2 can get intense, it’s an incredibly fun game with endless replayability.
Lots of that fun and replayability comes courtesy of the character customization options.
You can modify the appearance, loadout, abilities, and combat animations of any individual in your character pool.
The framerate can drop at times (understandable given the Switch’s power limitations compared to Xbox and PlayStation), but this still stands up as a great port of a great game.
The Collection edition for Switch includes the base game plus all four DLC packs and the War of the Chosen expansion.
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut
Last on the list but by no means least is Disco Elysium – The Final Cut. In fact, it’s probably my favorite game overall on this list and it delivered one of the most interesting gaming experiences I have had in a long time.
You control Harry Du Bois, a troubled cop on the case of a mysterious murder while simultaneously trying to piece together his own complicated back story.
While you can’t customize Harry’s appearance, the choices you make regarding his personality, traits, and abilities are hugely impactful.
Each choice totally changes every subsequent interaction with other characters – interactions that are brought to life with some of the best voice acting I have ever heard in a video game.
Trove
Trove is a Minecraft-inspired free-to-play MMORPG on Switch.
As with many MMOs, the character customization options are excellent. It’s possible to change all sorts of gear, costumes, and mounts, and there’s even a ‘barbershop’ at the main hub.
The early-game grinding can get a bit tedious, but not disastrously so. It’s a sandbox experience and there’s more than enough going on for new players to get started without spending premium currency.
One nice feature is the ability to teleport from the start area of each world to an active group of players, which makes it easy to be social.
Its simplicity and voxel art style make this a great option for kids.
Switch games with character customization – summary
Lots of Switch games have great character customization options. Saints Row IV, Miitopia and XCOM 2 give players some of the most extensive appearance modification options, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Divinity Original Sin 2, and Disco Elysium are three of the best games on this list overall.
