Summary
Tactical RPGs are a subgenre ofroleplaying gamesthat focus more on turn-based, strategic combat and the use of the right units for the right tasks. Sharing common traits with real-time strategy games, and often bringing in other game mechanics such as survival, exploration, and map control.
However, tactical RPGs also rely heavily on features that come from the roleplaying side of their parentage, with the player needing to level up units, choose skills, and manage their core team. Overall, they represent a fun melding of gameplay elements that give in-game combat a completely unique flavor. They are also great games for people who prefer to set the pace of gameplay, as combat takes placeturn by turn. The games on this list are ranked on how tough they are overall to learn. This can vary from simply being very complex simulations, to the need to micromanage every aspect of the game. However, primarily the ranking is driven by how difficult it is to put together the right team of units, with the right skills, to handle specific tasks as a unified whole.
Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Markis a modern take on the tactical RPG genre, which openly admits that it took a lot of inspiration from previous titles, most notablyFinal Fantasy Tactics. The game can become incredibly complex, as the player must choose from dozens of different classes and hundreds of skills to build a balanced team.
In fact, learning how to build complementary, synergistic teams is something that everyFell Seal: Arbiter’s Markwill have to master in order to do well in this game. This is doubly true when it comes to boss encounters, as the team makeup can make the difference between an easy fight and complete failure.
Set shortly into the future,Front Mission 5is a game that follows a very recognizable tactical RPG formation, but with a bit of a twist. Namely, in the fact that theplayer controls mechs, known as Wanzers, rather than biological troops. This makes unit progression very different, as the player needs to choose from a vast array of weapons, and Wanzer parts, to build a unit while keeping an eye on weight, mobility, and power.
The storyline is noteworthy, as player agency is a large part of the game, and depending on choices made, the player will work through different branches of the main plot. As tactical RPGs go, this is one of the more challenging ones to master.
6Phantom Brave (PC)
Asian-Inspired Tactical RPG
Phantom Braveis very heavily inspired by Asian culture, with manga-style graphics and cutesy animations. Unfortunately, there is a demographic of gamers that will miss out on an excellent tactical RPG, simply because they cannot engage with this aesthetic.
The reasonPhantom Bravemade this list, is for the interesting summoning mechanic. Units have to be summoned to objects on the game map, and only stay summoned for a set number of turns. The result is a battle system that requires the player to think ahead and decide when best to summon specific units to achieve their goals.
5XCOM 2: War Of The Chosen
Saving Humanity From Alien Domination
XCOM 2is a great tactical RPG, but it is theWar of the ChosenDLC that really makes it fantastic. Adding a whole new depth to the strategic gameplay, including befriending other alien factions, and having to defeat each of the three Chosen.
Tactical gameplay is exceptional inXCOM 2: With War of the Chosen, with the player needing to ensure that troops are positioned properly during combat. A single mistake can lead to a total team wipe and a failed mission, which will have a negative impact on the strategic situation on the world map.
Darkest Dungeonis a game that manages to bridge genres in a way that results in something unique. The game relies heavily on roguelike mechanics, which at first glance, doesn’t seem to fit well with tactical RPG elements. However, it has been done so well that it makes the game both fun but also challenging.
Rather than leveling up units in the normal RPG fashion, they gain traits in a roguelike way, and this includes negative traits such as fears and other quirks. Because of this, no two playthroughs will be the same. The dungeon crawling is tough, as the player needs to defeat some verydangerous bossesusing limited resources.
Battle Brotherscan be a brutal game at times, as the player attempts to manage and improve their team of medieval mercenaries. This brutality includes permanent injuries and even death of key units if the player makes a mistake.
During battles, the player has to take a lot of variables into account to do well. This includes the reach of the weapon a unit is using, how much stamina they have left to use, and the state of their equipment and armor. The game does a great job on a strategic level, requiring the player to fund, feed, and equip their mercenary band, whilst tackling some very tough events such as fighting undead hordes.
Readers may be forgiven for being surprised to findDivinity: Original Sin 2on this list. However, playing the game in tactician mode converts it into a very challenging tactical RPG game. Combat and encounters require the player tosolve a puzzle, on how to best use the game map and its features to achieve their tactical goals.
Party synergy is a huge consideration, which can be tough to master at first, due to the open-ended class system leading to highly specialized characters. Building a character that doesn’t work well in a team is not an option, as this will lead to the player being handicapped significantly during the toughest battles.
1The Legend of Heroes: Trails In The Sky The 3rd
One Of The Most Challenging Tactical RPGs
Despite its somewhat odd name,Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rdderives the top place on this list due to the significant challenge it can pose even the most experienced player. Combat in this game requires the player to juggle a whole host of variables, and also use tricks such as positioning and turn-order manipulation to gain an advantage.
Team composition is a major consideration in this game, as buffs and debuffs are not simply useful, they are a requirement to do well in the toughest fights. The dungeons inLegend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rdcan be grueling, and making sure to take the right team in to get the job done is crucial.
