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The genre nowadays is not as restrictive as it used to be. It has gone through a multitude of changes, and there have been inspiring variations. All of this ensures that there are a lot of fun options for newcomers to dive into and explore. The following are some of the most popular franchises in this genre that new players will have no problem getting used to.
Updated October 9, 2022 by Ritwik Mitra: Turn-based tactical games might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but writing them off isn’t a great course of action to take either. After all, certain games have such riveting gameplay that they are engrossing despite the barrier to entry, while others accompany their tactical combat with great stories and amazing worlds that are an absolute joy to explore. Here are some of the best turn-based tactical games that are perfect for people who want an easy time getting into the genre.
20 Divinity: Original Sin
Divinity: Original Sin is a duology that many fans hail to be one of the best modern CRPG games ever made. These games are absolutely loaded with content and are a blast to play through from start to end.
However, the second game has a huge barrier to entry that most people might not be ready for. Thankfully, the first game does a better job of easing people into its gameplay mechanics, even if its sequel might be technically superior on many other levels.
19 Wildermyth
Wildermyth is one of the most underrated indie titles that more people need to check out. This game combines the best of both tactical combat and procedural storytelling to make for a role-playing experience that’s unlike anything that fans have ever experienced.
The fact that each and every campaign is filled to the brim with unique storylines makes Wildermyth a tale for the ages every single time. Players can sink tons of hours into the journey of their heroes, watching old ones either fall or pass the torch over to a new generation.
18 XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM is considered by many to be a pretty hard and challenging series. The threat of permadeath looms over every encounter, making each battle all the more tense and engaging if people have become attached to the characters they’ve controlled over the course of the series.
Of course, newcomers can always play at a lower difficulty to reduce the chances of losing out on their beloved squad members. This helps them enjoy the combat without feeling too overwhelmed, with the story also being entertaining in its own right.
17 FTL: Faster Than Light
FTL: Faster Than Light is another game that might seem pretty hard to get into at first glance. Making a ton of progress only to lose everything and start from scratch might not seem like the most riveting gameplay loop around.
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However, it’s the innovative mechanics and uninhibited charm of FTL that make it such a fun experience from start to end. Players will slowly learn the mechanics of the game with each defeat before finally succeeding in their mission with flying colors!
16 Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon combines hardcore tactical combat with psychological horror elements, turning the player-controlled heroes into extremely fragile beings that need to be taken care of at every step. This might make the title feel more challenging than it has any right to be.
However, one thing to keep in mind for any playthrough of Darkest Dungeon is to never bite off more than a player can chew. Exploring the ruins is great but not at the cost of valuable heroes — a player should just value the progress they’ve already made and kit themselves out before a second excursion.
15 Final Fantasy Tactics
It would be impossible to talk about accessible turn-based strategy games without mentioning the brilliance of Final Fantasy Tactics. There’s a reason why so many people consider it to be one of the greatest Final Fantasy spinoffs ever made.
The story and gameplay are in a class of their own, making for an addictive experience that is hard to put down. The job system and combat mechanics might take a while to wrap one’s head around, but mastering these mechanics will make for an infinitely satisfying experience.
14 The Battle For Wesnoth
The Battle for Wesnoth is a testament to the sheer love that gamers have for the turn-based strategy genre. This free open-source title features an excellent battling system coupled with a wealth of content that will keep players occupied for hours on end.
Featuring a wealth of factions to choose from coupled with a fairly serviceable story, The Battle for Wesnoth is a great game for players aspiring to get into turn-based strategy. The fact that it costs a grand total of zero dollars makes it an even greater entry point to the genre!
13 The Banner Saga
One of the most beautiful games on this list, The Banner Saga is an excellent choice for players wanting to get into turn-based strategy games. The Viking setting serves as a perfect backdrop for this amazing title that will keep players hooked across the trilogy.
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Beginners will certainly appreciate how easy it is to get into the strategic aspect of this title, with the interactive story also being quite excellent in its own right. Thankfully, the game ramps up the challenge over the course of all three titles to make for an engaging experience.
12 Fire Emblem: Three Houses
The Fire Emblem series is easily one of the most notable strategy franchises of all time. The games are full to the brim with political intrigue, memorable characters, and excellent stories that have been a constant of the series since the first entry.
The latest game in the series, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, is considered by many to be the best in the series, and also the most approachable of the lot. Players who want to enjoy a narratively-rich tactical adventure should look no further than this title.
11 Into The Breach
Most people find strategy games to be full to the brim with unnecessary busywork that can turn some people off from enjoying the full experience. However, Into the Breach manages to escape these tropes and deliver a groundbreaking experience.
This game was made by the same people who made FTL: Faster Than Light, so it was only a given that their next title would blow everyone out of the water too. Players who want to enjoy an amazing turn-based tactical experience will have an excellent time with Into the Breach.
10 Civilization 6
The Civilization series is one of the most beloved turn-based strategy games out there, and for good reason. The first game was released as early as 1991 for the MS-DOS, and the latest entry in the franchise is Civilization 6 in 2016. In the course of 25 years, the franchise has achieved tremendous success and has established itself as THE turn-based strategy game to play.
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Players looking to get into this genre can pick up any of the available parts of the franchise. Or, they can directly pick the latest entry that is Civilization 6. Whichever game they pick, players will have a conquest to remember.
9 Age Of Wonders: Planetfall
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is the fifth installment in the Age of Wonders franchise. The game features a Sci-Fi setting, which should interest players who are looking for a change of pace. It has a beautiful user interface that is very approachable. The player can choose from six available factions. Each of these factions has a distinct playstyle and strategy.
The player’s role as the commander of their faction is to lead their faction to victory in the ensuing conflicts. The game offers an interesting mix of complex variety and approachability, and it is a good entry point into the genre.
8 Total War: Three Kingdoms
Total War: Three Kingdoms is the 12th mainline installment in the long-running series. The players have control of one of the twelve factions that the game has to offer. The player’s goal as one of the warlords is to destroy other factions and unite China, becoming the ultimate ruler.
The gameplay features a siege-style battle in which the player destroys the opposing colonels. Occupying important areas in the city is important, and the player’s use of territory is very important. The game’s campaign provides the player with the ability to form meaningful relationships with the characters met in the game. The nature of these relationships directs the game’s direction, which adds quite a bit of depth to the gameplay.
7 Freeciv
Freeciv is an open-source free-to-play strategy game inspired by the Civilization series. Much of its UI is still based on Civilization 2. The game is based around the tribal groups which existed in 4000BC. The players are tasked with leading these tribal groups through the centuries alongside gathering new technologies and expanding the tribe’s units.
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The concept of the game is pretty similar to Civilization games. The world goes through changes across centuries, and the tribe has to evolve with it. The end goal is to either rule the world or colonize space.
6 Europa Universalis 4
Players who enjoy medieval European political gameplay will fall in love with Europa Universalis 4. Most strategy games have two aspects to their strategy; resource management and battle strategy. However, Europa Universalis aims to simulate a kingdom in medieval Europe, and with that are a lot of concepts.
EU4 involves complex politics, inheritance, economic relations, alliances, and blocs. Players are in control of a nation, and they can take whichever approach they would like to rule over all that surrounds them. Whether that is through economic warfare, political underhandedness, or good old-fashioned battling, is the player’s choice.
5 Stellaris
Stellaris is set in a distant space-faring future. Players are given control over a species and a government, in an interstellar setting. The game is set in a time after the discovery of faster-than-light travel, which allows for a giant playground. “Winning” isn’t as clear-cut as other titles and many things can determine how well a player does in the world of Stellaris.
Players can become king of the universe or even a crisis, collect as many resources as possible, or simply exist as a beacon of peace. Players also have the option of creating a backstory for their empire, which allows for a lot of depth in the story of the game.
4 Endless Legend
Endless Legend is a fantasy tactical game, created by the studio behind Endless Space. The goal of the player is to dominate the world of Auriga with one of the available 14 races. The player can use either diplomacy or war while simultaneously developing new technologies, and exploring new lands and cities.
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A big part of the strategy in the game is controlling territory. Setting up cities in the optimum areas is a very important part of the strategy of the game. The variety of methods through which the game can be approached makes it a very immersive experience.
3 Sid Meier’s Alpha Centauri
Alpha Centauri’s story picks up after the events of Civilization 1 and 2. The game borrows from Civilization 2 in the gameplay aspect but is ever so slightly tweaked. The gameplay is based around squares, which are occupied by players or machinery. Terraforming is another mechanic, which lets players modify each map square for movement, combat, and resources.
The player has a variety of useful resources to either feed population, construct units or control the energy supply. The game offers both single-player and multiplayer game modes and offers a lot of versatility to the player.
2 Warhammer 40,000: Gladius - Relics Of War
Gladius - Relics of War is one of the first strategy games set in the Warhammer 40k universe. Its 4 iconic factions each offer a unique playstyle. This game’s setting is highly aggressive mostly because it is a Warhammer game. There are no diplomatic options in this game unlike some other games on the list. War is the only answer.
There are a variety of gameplay mechanisms through which the game can proceed. The player can construct cities, buildings, and fortifications in order to expand their empires. They can recruit hero units that possess distinct special abilities. These heroes can also be equipped with powerful relics. Each faction has a different storyline on the gladius prime and only one faction can emerge as dominant.
1 Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
Sigma Theory is a futuristic punk strategy game. In this world sigma is a skill tree for which research has to be done. The factions in this world are battling over this new power. The main goal of the game is to complete sigma research before others. Whether that will be done through chummy diplomacy or filthy espionage is up to the player.
The player proceeds with the research by employing scientists who go ahead with research and double agents in order to extract others’ research and implement it on their own. The agents in this game can use the player’s research against them. They can also infiltrate other bases to acquire data, and ultimately use such data for either furthering the research or hampering others’ research.
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