Best Turn-Based RPG Games for Tactical Combat
Turn-based role-playing games (RPGs) offer an engaging blend of strategy, storytelling, and immersive gameplay. In these games, players take turns to plan and execute their moves, allowing for tactical depth and thoughtful decision-making. These games are perfect for those who enjoy slow-paced combat where every move counts, and strategic thinking is crucial. Whether you’re an experienced player or new to the genre, the world of turn-based RPGs has something for everyone. Below are some of the best games that stand out due to their tactical combat mechanics.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a standout entry in the long-running Fire Emblem series. It combines deep tactical combat with a compelling story and strong character development. Players are tasked with leading one of three factions at a military academy while managing relationships, teaching students, and participating in turn-based combat. The battles are well-designed, with a focus on positioning, class strengths, and weaknesses. The strategic elements are enriched by the ability to influence characters’ growth, making every decision feel impactful.
One of the key highlights of Fire Emblem: Three Houses is its vast array of characters, each with their own personal story and abilities. This allows players to tailor their strategy and team composition, offering a different tactical approach with each playthrough slot gacor.
XCOM 2
XCOM 2 is a tactical RPG that blends science fiction with intense, strategic combat. Set in a future where humanity is fighting against alien invaders, players lead a resistance force to combat the alien threat. The game emphasizes squad-based combat, where each character has unique abilities, and positioning is critical to success. XCOM 2 is known for its difficulty and the permadeath mechanic, which adds weight to every tactical decision.
The turn-based combat system is both challenging and rewarding. Players must carefully plan their movements, use cover effectively, and coordinate their squad’s abilities to overcome increasingly difficult enemies. XCOM 2 also offers a rich narrative, with multiple ways to approach missions depending on how you customize your squad and the strategies you employ.
Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 is a tactical RPG that offers one of the most intricate and rewarding combat systems in the genre. Set in a fantasy world where players control a group of characters with unique abilities, the game’s turn-based combat is all about positioning and exploiting elemental interactions. For example, casting fire on a wet surface can create steam clouds that obscure vision, or lightning can ignite a pool of oil.
What sets Divinity: Original Sin 2 apart is the level of freedom it gives players in both combat and storytelling. Players can approach fights in multiple ways, whether through brute force, magic, or sneaky tactics. The game also features an engaging story and co-op multiplayer, where friends can team up to tackle the world’s challenges together.
The Banner Saga Trilogy
The Banner Saga trilogy is a series of turn-based RPGs set in a beautiful, Viking-inspired world. Known for its hand-drawn art style and a rich, branching narrative, the game revolves around a caravan of survivors fleeing from a looming apocalypse. The tactical combat in The Banner Saga is simple yet deep, with a focus on managing the health and strength of your characters.
Unlike other tactical RPGs, the Banner Saga series features a limited number of characters, and players must carefully plan each battle to maximize their chances of survival. The consequences of your decisions in combat and during the narrative can drastically affect the story’s outcome, making every choice significant.
Gears Tactics
Set in the Gears of War universe, Gears Tactics is a turn-based tactical RPG that brings the franchise’s signature action to a new genre. The game’s combat system is fast-paced and tactical, with players controlling a small squad of soldiers as they battle against the monstrous enemies that inhabit the world. Each unit has a unique set of abilities, and players must use cover, movement, and tactics to outsmart the enemy.
What makes Gears Tactics stand out is its use of the Gears universe, which brings familiar characters and lore to the game. The gameplay offers deep customization options, allowing players to tweak their squad’s loadouts, abilities, and skill trees to fit their preferred combat style. The game also features a strong narrative that ties into the larger Gears of War saga, providing a compelling story for fans of the series.
Triangle Strategy
Triangle Strategy is a tactical RPG set in a medieval world of political intrigue and warfare. The game features turn-based combat on grid-based maps, where players must use terrain and elevation to their advantage. One of the most interesting aspects of Triangle Strategy is the “conviction” system, which allows players to make decisions that impact the course of the game’s story and the relationships between characters.
The game’s combat system is deep, with a focus on unit placement, elemental abilities, and terrain advantages. Each character has a distinct role in battle, and players must carefully consider how to best utilize their party’s abilities in different situations. With a story that reacts to player choices, Triangle Strategy offers high replay value and a rich narrative experience.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a remaster of the classic tactical RPG, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together. The game’s combat is set on a grid, where players control a group of units with different classes, abilities, and equipment. The combat system is highly tactical, requiring players to think ahead and plan their moves carefully.
What makes Tactics Ogre stand out is its branching story and the impact of player decisions on the world. The game features multiple endings based on the choices players make throughout the narrative, adding layers of depth to the overall experience. The game’s visuals and music are also a highlight, with stunning remastered graphics and a memorable soundtrack.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a dark, atmospheric tactical RPG that combines turn-based combat with a roguelike structure. Players lead a team of adventurers into dungeons filled with danger and madness. The game’s combat system focuses on the psychological stress of the characters, which can affect their performance in battle.
The turn-based combat in Darkest Dungeon is brutal and unforgiving, with players needing to manage not only their characters’ health but also their mental state. The game also features a unique permadeath mechanic, where characters can be lost permanently, adding a layer of tension to every decision.
Shining Force III
Shining Force III is a classic tactical RPG that first released on the Sega Saturn. The game is set in a fantasy world where players control a group of heroes as they fight against an evil empire. The game’s combat system is straightforward, but it offers plenty of strategic depth, especially in later stages of the game.
Shining Force III also features a rich story and a variety of characters, each with unique abilities and personalities. Players must carefully manage their squad, positioning units effectively and utilizing each character’s strengths in battle. The game’s multiple story paths and branching narrative add significant replay value.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the most iconic turn-based RPGs of all time. Set in the world of Ivalice, the game features a complex tactical combat system where players control a group of characters with different classes and abilities. The game’s depth comes from its job system, where characters can change classes and gain new abilities as they level up.
The turn-based combat in Final Fantasy Tactics is strategic and rewarding, with a strong emphasis on positioning, skill usage, and terrain advantages. The game’s story is also highly regarded, with political intrigue, complex characters, and a plot that challenges players’ moral choices.
Whether you’re a seasoned strategist or a newcomer to turn-based RPGs, these games offer some of the most engaging and tactical combat systems available. Each game brings something unique to the table, from deep customization to branching storylines, ensuring there’s a tactical RPG for everyone.
