Great RPGs With Tactical Combat
Maybe you’re trying to find a new genre to switch over to while the world continues with the Fortnite bandwagon. Or maybe you want to feel like the leader of your army as you command your troops to victory. You want to be able to use tactics in a role-playing game. Whatever your reason, these 17 games will satisfy all your tactical needs. Did I mention the word tactics yet?
17. Troubleshooter
Let’s Play Troubleshooter Gameplay
Troubleshooter is a tactical RPG for the otaku in you. This anime art style game has the combat mechanics of XCOM 2 with the character growth of Final Fantasy: Tactics. As Albus Bernstein the latest troubleshooter, befriend and recruit allies to defend your city when crime is too much for the police force to handle.
Troubleshooter fight scene: The enemy gets too close for comfort and ends up burning for it
Troubleshooter Art Style: Not only do you get to enjoy the beautiful graphics but also a hot bowl of ramen
16. Wasteland 3
Wasteland 3 Gameplay Trailer
As the last surviving Ranger of Team November it is up to you to save the frozen land of Colorado or watch it succumb to frostbite. This tactical RPG is a sequel to the 2014 Game of the Year, Wasteland 2. Will you choose to ally with certain gangs or will your reputation precede you and leave the not so nice people with shooting first and asking questions later.
Aquaman 2.0: This sarcasting gang member is just asking for a world of hurt
#Squad: This group of Rangers pose for their arctic photoshoot
15. Shadowrun: Returns
Shadowrun: Returns Gameplay
Hoi chummer, in this tactical RPG you take on the role of a shadowrunner, a mercenary who gets the job done. To avoid becoming broke you take on the mission of a mysterious killer. How far will you have to dig into this case to get to the truth? Will it be every corner of every slum and megacorporation? Shadowrun is returning alright and it’s bring with it a new generation of fans.
Cadaver Clues: Dresden fills you in on the Modus Operandi and likely physical characteristics of the killer
Matrix: This fight takes place in the data world against some nasty viruses
14. Hard West
Hard West Gameplay trailer
When life hands you tragedy it’s up to you to exact vengeance in this Western tactical RPG. Use the environment to take down cowboys and outlaws or take cover from them. With luck as a combat mechanic, you’ll get to find out just how lucky you are? Item bonuses are based on poker hands, can you get a royal flush?
666: Oh look some sort of satanic ritual
Stealth Fail: Enemies have been alerted so much for darkness being an ally
13. This Is the Police 2
Run the law as you see fit in this genre blending game Make the tough choices for both your police officers and citizens and don’t end up in your own jail. Tactics, management, epic, visual novel? Check. Blue Blood? Check.
This is the Police 2 Gameplay
Tough Job: It isn’t easy being a cop with life and death choices on the daily
Go to Jail: Gang leader does not get to pass go, go directly to jail after apprehension
12. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden Gameplay
This tactical adventure game is filled with...Mutants. Humans are gone and you get to decide how you want to play, will you be a duck ninja or a bulldozer boar? This gritty game is filled with exploration and dynamic environments as well as beautiful graphics. Just make sure you weren’t hoping this was a beauty contest.
Pub crawl: Just three amigos sitting and chilling
Electrify: Zap your opponents and use teamwork to make the dreamwork
11. Phantom Doctrine
Phantom Doctrine Gameplay
Phantom Doctrine is a turn-based strategic, espionage thriller set in the Cold War era. Use tactics and even call in reinforcements if necessary...but who can you really trust? Your allies, your government? Despite all these challenges it is up to you to make sure humanity doesn’t collapse in on itself.
Nice wall: Unleash your inner detective as you solve the case
Locked and Loaded: Take aim and fire, it’s lights out for them
10. Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark Gameplay
This turn-based RPG has a focus on storytelling and strategic battles. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Markhas tons of customization options from classes, equipments, to abilities and appearances. It is your duty as Arbiter to defend the lands and uncover the truth because everything is not what it seems.
Negotiate: Sometimes combat just isn’t what you want to do as a first option
Water style jutsu: Fizz’s shark ultimate has a cameo in this game
9. Vigilantes
Vigilantes Gameplay
Vigilantes is a gritty, neo-noir turn-based tactical RPG with a focus on combat. Enemy AI learn and react to your tactics and with the Adversary system will grow more powerful if you do not manage to defeat them. It’s vigilantes versus the criminal underworld in this hard-boiled game.
Stats: When you put your hand in your pocket be sure to have a gun in the other hand
Trippy: Colorful combat in front of a pedestrian, what do you think he ate?
8. Sword Legacy Omen
Sword Legacy Omen Gameplay
Experience Britannia as it’s never been experiences before in this turn-based RPG. As Uther take your party of Arthurian legends on a quest for the Excalibur despite the hardships along the way. Free-roam, solves puzzles, and loot outside of combat. While in combat, use anything and everything at your disposal including skills and the environment. Their round table might be dark and broken, but getting a copy of the game sure isn’t going to be.
Gwen: Your skills are nice but would you rather heal Arthur or Lancelot?
Combat: Just a dwarf breathing fire and burning people
7. UnderRail
Let’s Play UnderRail Gameplay
UnderRail is an old school turn-based RPG that takes place in the post-apocalyptic distant future. Humanity now lives underground in what is known as the UnderRail, a system of metro station-states Do you have what it takes to survive in this dangerous underground environment?
Stats: This detailed stats screen provides tons of options for customization
Combat: What appears to be two dude beings casually burned alive
6. Battle Brothers
Battle Brothers Gameplay
Lead a group of mercenaries in this turn-based tactical RPG. Decide on everything including who to hire, how to train and level up each fighter, and what to equip them with. Do you have what it takes to survive in this gritty world or will you fall to the undead, the orcs, or even rivaling nobles?
Stats: equip your warriors and make them masters of any weapon of your choosing
Bloodbath: This active warzone is littered with bodies of the fallen
5. Valkyria Chronicles
Valkyria Chronicles Gameplay
Take the role of Lieutenant Welkin Gunther as he leads Squad 7 against the might of the Empire set in a fictitious continent with a 1930s theme. This anime artstyle, turn-based RPG has several classes and over 100 customizable characters. If you can’t get enough of this game there is also an anime that you can watch to satisfy your Valkyria Chronicles craving.
Fairy tale: the fate of Squad 7 and Welkin progresses in a storybook like fashion
Edelweiss!: Look out below unless you want to be roadkill for this tank
4. King's Bounty: The Legend
King’s Bounty: The Legend Gameplay
King’s Bounty: The Legend is a fantasy adventure game with tactical and RPG elements. When not in combat, explore the land taking on quests and finding valuable treasure. Although your hero won’t be participating in combat, it is his duty to make your troops are victorious using various spells and attacks. Be the legend you were meant to be.
What time is it?: After choosing your class, it’s adventure time!
Combat: Battle mythical creatures in this fantasy setting
3. The Age of Decadence
The Age of Decadence Gameplay
“The Age of Decadence is an experiment, an attempt to explore a different direction, taking you back to the PnP roots of the genre. It doesn’t mean that the game is awesome. In fact, there is a good chance that you won’t like it, precisely because we took too many liberties with the established design.”
This game warns the player ahead of time that it might not be their cup of tea. The fact that it can boldly say this, makes it that much more interesting. Will you like this unique turn-based RPG?
Stats: This detailed stats screen makes you want to decadently get this game
Combat: Grid like combat with attack and defense rating, the whole 9 yards
2. Divinity: Original Sin 2
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Gameplay
Everyone’s favorite tactical cooperative RPG is back with a new an improved sequel. Choose from 6 unique origin characters and play either online or split screen multiplayer. Work together with your team with an option of 200 different skills to choose from but don’t trust completely. Who will truly win in the end?
Character Creation: Is that you Mr.Bones? Why yes, you get to be Mr. Bones in this game
Split-screen Combat: Divinity can be played solo or splitscreen in this expansive and cooperative tactical RPG
1. Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon Gameplay
Can you survive with your ragtag team of worn-down heroes? Darkest Dungeon is a gothic dungeon crawler with RPG elements which lets you choose from up to 16 playable classes. Can you defeat the horrors plaguing your family’s ancestral estates or will you fall to its horrors or even your own? Is this art style cute or am I already experiencing some negative effects of this game?
Cult-Hit: Who knows Plague Doctors can be courageous?
Combat: Look at that flick of the wrist
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