Of all the many genres that have combined strategy with storytelling, perhaps none do it so well as Tactical RPGs. This genre has been able to hold its own and continues to offer gamers engrossing and challenging experiences. Here are three stand-out tactical RPGs to play this year, along with a few honorable mentions that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Triangle Strategy
For a long time now, Square Enix has been at the forefront of the tactical RPG genre, and “Triangle Strategy” is one such title to show reasons to back up that statement. First launched in 2022, this title further became able to retain its charm among players with updates and expansions well into 2024. It offers a mix of traditional strategy gameplay and a narrative evolving on the fly based on player choice.
It hauls you through maze-like battlefields and requires careful planning—with a team of diverse characters, each having different abilities. One of the features of this game is what’s called the “Scales of Conviction” system, by which the decisions you make in the game bear on the storyline and loyalties of your companions. Because of this, every playthrough feels different.
“Triangle Strategy” offers a beautiful HD-2D art style, combining classic pixel art and modern visuals to create a beautiful and immersive world. The story, set amidst a war-raged land fighting for its political future, demands one to make challenging decisions that would shape the destiny of an entire nation.
Fire Emblem Engage
The “Fire Emblem” series has stood its ground for generations in the tactical RPG world, while 2023 brought the newest iteration of this iconic series with “Fire Emblem Engage,” boasting new twists on its established formula.
“Engage” introduces a new mechanic where characters can summon and bind with legendary heroes from the series’ previous titles to deepen battles with strategy. This, coupled with in-depth options to customize units, allows one to build an army perfectly to fit their strategy.
Set on the continent of Elyos, “Fire Emblem Engage” hosts a whole new set of characters fighting an ancient evil. Lighter in tone than its predecessor, “Three Houses,” it takes on what is at times some emotional weight and complex relationships. Fire Emblem Engage has been made more approachable to new fans while giving nostalgia to old fans.
Tactics Ogre: Reborn
“Tactics Ogre: Reborn” is remastered from “Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together,” which a lot of fans say is one of the greatest tactical RPGs ever made. This 2022 edition revamped the game with improved visuals, better mechanics, and additional content.
The game doesn’t break its heritage of deep tactical combat, careful contemplation of unit placement, class synergies, and environmental aspects. It adds a remastered AI system for more challenging and engaging battles. The new “Wheel of Fortune” system makes players think about their decisions at certain points in the game, adding more pivotal strategic choices to the game.
“Tactics Ogre: Reborn” has a more mature complex story set within the Valerian Isles, where players follow Denam Pavel engaged in a civil war filled with intriguing politics and betrayal. This remaster enhances visuals and sound but also deepens its narrative, featuring multiple endings and branching storylines.
Honorable Mentions
While the above-mentioned titles are genuinely exceptional in their own right, a few other games within the tactical RPG genre should at least be worth mentioning. These include the following:
Gears Tactics
“Gears Tactics,” set in the famously dark “Gears of War” universe, does something a bit different with the tactical RPG genre by melding cover-based, action-packed combat with deep strategy gameplay. The player takes on a team of soldiers who find themselves opposing the Locust Horde, showing the disposition and detailed tactics needed to complete missions. This sets it apart from other, more strategic RPGs that focus on very aggressive tactics and dynamic objectives.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
A few years old, “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” is still a very good game in modern tactical RPGs. This expansion brings in new factions, enemies, and missions to the original game, enhancing the experience vastly. It’s a well-thought-out mix of strategy, resource management, and turn-based combat that will continue to be an interesting game into the future.
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
Disgaea 7 has exaggerated mechanics with a twist of humor, the “Disgaea” series continues with its “Disgaea 7,” released in early 2024. This version has extremely intuitive character customization, strategic fighting systems, and unconventional storyline elements, which create hours of fun for anyone jumping into it.
Conclusion
2024 promises a veritable smorgasbord of tactical RPGs, from the deeply narrative experience of “Triangle Strategy” to refined classics like “Tactics Ogre: Reborn” and recent series additions like “Fire Emblem Engage.” Finally, honorable mentions like “Gears Tactics” and “XCOM 2: War of the Chosen” will guarantee that there won’t be anything lacking in compelling tactical experiences to look into this year.
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