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Since the world of turn-based RPGs has made its way on new consoles like the Xbox Series X/S, they look better and play better, resulting in a larger player base. New players can get exposed to these types of games that they otherwise would have ignored.Since more people now own the Xbox Series X/S, it’s a good time to visit some of the best turn-based games the console has to offer.
5 Wasteland 3
This squad-based-turn-based RPG game has it all for new and old players. Wasteland 3 is really a fleshed-out game, featuring characters, weapons, and armor that can be highly customizable. All of these players can unlock by grinding away. On top of that Wasteland 3 is a multiplayer game, so players can strategize much better when others are present since the A.I. isn’t the game’s strongest suit.
The turn-based combat can be appealing if players play it right because it’s difficult to learn first, but rewarding when executed properly. Because it’s not real-time fighting, players can create a strategy while fighting and overcome the enemies with the time they are given to think about their next move.
Players who aren’t familiar with the turn-based combat of these games should pick up Wasteland 3 since it can be highly rewarding and even more so with a friend as an opponent.
4 Gear Tactics
The Gears of War series has helped to make the Xbox brand what it is today, and because of that Gears of War is still an influential series to the console. When Gears Tactics was announced many players were confused as to why this Gears game was going toward a turn-based style and away from a third-person shooter play style.
However, what players got in the end, was a really deep and comprehensive story with some rich gameplay mechanics that reminded fans why Gears of War is still an important series. Since it was originally planned to be a board game, some of the mechanics can seem straight out of a table-top game.
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What makes Gears Tactics such an appealing game for mainstream players is that, unlike most turn-based games, it gives players the freedom to explore without being on the grid. What separates Gears Tactics from the rest of the Gears of War franchise is that it offers customizations and a skill tree which makes gameplay even more exciting and diverse.
3 South Park: The Fractured But Whole
For a South Park game, this game has surprising depth. South Park: The Fractured But Whole has a lot of the same features that many heavier RPG games have in a neat little package. Being relatively easy to play, players will have no time picking up the combat and leveling up quickly.
Since South Park: The Fractured But Whole has many secrets for players to discover, the gameplay experience feels like a joy rather than a grind. The turn-based combat is quite simple and really enjoyable because it leans into South Park humor which keeps it light-hearted and accessible.
Combat gets progressively harder, but so will players as they get more attack types. Rewards are also plentiful by the third act, and any missing upgrades can be accessed easier towards the end of the game.
2 XCOM 2
This long-running turn-based RPG game has a legacy behind it that has jumped from genre to genre but has stayed true to its strategy element, and XCOM 2 continues that. XCOM 2 has both turn-based RPG elements and traditional strategy mechanics with the player controlling specific characters for the turn-based side and management of resources for the strategy side.
The best part about XCOM 2 being on console is how easy it plays while still being decently challenging. With this alone, it’s easy to see why so many consider it one of the best strategy games on the consoles.
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XCOM 2 has a ton of customizations for players who want that and since there are five separate classes, and it gets deeper within each class, players will be spending time going through each class to make them better. The game alternates between combat and resource management, which provides players with a nice diverse gameplay experience.
1 South Park The Stick of Truth
Considered probably the best South Park game to date, The Stick of Truth has changed where the game series is heading with a turn-based RPG play style. Much like Fractured But Whole, The Stick of Truth has a very easy learning curve that gets harder over time, but the combat gets more rewarding.
The Stick of Truth is a shorter game than most RPGs which doesn’t give players enough time to learn the best of the combat. However, there is a wide variety of side missions that are given by the colorful cast of South Park, so it’s always a good idea to check those out before going on.
The Stick of Truth is also a great game for new players to the strategy genre to dip their toes into because of how forgiving the game is.
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