Tactical RPGs can take a while to get used to, as they are one of the most complex types of RPGs out there. Players must learn hero and enemy types, moves, classes, mechanics, and more. Additionally, some of the best tactical RPGs have missions that can easily take an hour or longer to complete on a regular basis.
Tactical RPGs are a big investment, but they're rewarding, especially when the mechanics, complicated or not, have satisfying gameplay loops. From classics from past decades to more recent examples, these tactical RPGs can be addictive despite their simple ideas. They still rank among the best of what the genre has to offer.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Tactical brilliance
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is back and better than ever before with this remaster. It was addictive on the PS1 and even better now on consoles like the Switch 2, as players never have to stop playing.
The game involves a typical grid-based setup where players can choose their characters and classes called jobs. Leveling up these jobs and unlocking skills or new jobs is what makes it such an addictive hook, and it's great to see this classic return for so many first-timers.
Fire Emblem Awakening
No longer a prisoner of fearful scumming
Fire Emblem Awakening was the first game in the series in the West to have a Casual mode that did not add permadeath to combat. This greatly simplified the grid-based tactical gameplay as players did not have to worry about permanently losing units. The system was still there if players wanted, but they could also approach it as a more relaxing experience. Mechanically, it worked well as a 3DS game for on-the-go play, and it's still fun now for anyone who still has the system.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope
Mario finally gets a gun
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the second game in the series featuring Mario and his familiar friends teaming up with the Rabbids, who interact as citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. Each character has their own distinct role, and combat was improved over the original, with combo moves to gain an advantage over enemies.
The difficulty was also toned down, making the game more fun and whimsical instead of focusing on difficult maps. It's a good game to put on the Switch 2 now, as it also runs better, and overall it's a good Mario-based RPG.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Coon and friends
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a direct sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truthstarring the new kid South Park. These are both good South Park game, but this time, instead of a fantasy world, the kids are now playing superheroes.
The turn-based gameplay of the previous game was thrown out in favor of adding grid-based tactical elements, but they aren't difficult to understand since the game is more about comedy. Players can choose the powers for their customizable new baby, from using ice to moving at incredible speeds.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Card-based tactics
Marvel's Midnight Suns has many great elements to make it an immersive Marvel game, like a fully customizable hero and the ability to interact with familiar heroes at the base. The campaign is mostly linear, with players moving from map to map, but there are some side activities as well.
In battle, each character has a distinct deck that can be used for movement or action. Players can create some clever strategies if they want, and the card-based mechanics aren't as complex as other trading card RPGs like Yu-Gi-Oh.
Unicorn Overlord
An RTS RPG
Unicorn Overlord is the latest game from Vanillaware, whose games often have easy-to-understand gameplay features. Instead of marching individual units onto grid-based boards, players create mini-groups of characters.
Players march freely on the map, similar to an RTS, and when troops encounter enemies, battles will play out automatically. They have to worry about how to place characters in each team, because it makes a difference. But overall, this unique approach to tactical RPGs is great for beginners, while still having innovative mechanics for those looking to dive deep.
Persona 5 Tactics
Wave the red flag
Persona 5 Tactics is a tactical, non-canon spinoff to Persona 5 whereupon the Phantom Thieves are whisked away to another world. In this game, they don't have to worry about school or spend much time with teammates. Instead, it's about the game.
Each character has their strengths without being able to switch between classes. It is a less complex version of one Persona game and a tactical RPG, making it a good starting point, but fans of Persona 5 Will definitely get a lot more out of it.
Pokemon conquest
An ambitious crossover
Pokemon conquest has yet to leave the DS, but if players are thinking of playing Fire Emblem Awakening on 3DS they might as well look for a cartridge of this game too. It is a crossover with Nobunaga's Ambition strategy series. Each historical figure in Japan gets a Pokémon as their partner, and the goal is to unify Japan one province at a time through grid-based battles on relatively small maps. The Pokemon have limited moves, similar to the main games, so it shouldn't be too hard to figure out which Pokemon is strong against which.
