Whether it be turn-based or real-time, tactics games are a rather unique genre that can be niche to many gamers. These games swap the fast-paced movement and quick reflexes that are often required in many action games for a slower, more methodical approach to gameplay.
Tactics-based gamesemerged mostly in the 1980s on the PC platform, adding a new layer to the mechanics of traditional turn-based RPGs and strategy games. Factoring in aspects like resource management, unit positioning, and terrain-based effects, just to name a few; tactics games have a lot to offer players who are up to the challenge. Due to the often heavy focus on strategy and planning, it’s obvious to see why the genre has had a reputation for its complexity ever since.
Final Fantasy Tacticswas the first game in theever-popular seriesto bring more tactics-focused gameplay instead of its turn-based RPG formula fans were used to. Set in the now unstable Kingdom of Ivalice following the Fifty Years War, and on the brink of yet another conflict, the game brings the usual deep storylines, characters, and lore the franchise is known for.
While its new tactics-based gameplay may be easier for long-time fans to pick up, it may be a different story for those unfamiliar with the series. Having to manage up to five party members in battle can be daunting for new players, not to mention having over 20 different classes and hundreds of abilities to mix and match. With the limitless possibilities for different character builds, this classic TRPG can require some careful planning across its 30+ hour main story.
Inspired by the classicAdvance Wars series,Wargrooveis a more recent release that has a surprising amount of depth for an indie project. Taking place on the fictional continent of Aurania in the middle of an all-out war, the player must travel to various locations, gathering an army to repel an impending invasion.
Wargroovefollows the general turn-based tactics formula, making its gameplay familiar and easy to follow. The game’s complexity comes when taking a look into its vast range of commanders to choose from, each having their own abilities that influence how specific units perform in certain situations. For example, biome and terrain tiles each have different movement costs, which can be influenced by the chosen commander or units and their abilities. On top of positioning these units effectively, managing their resources, and long-term planning overall, makes for some complex gameplay with many parts to manage.
While the 16-bit graphics can come off as “simple”,Wargroove’slarge number of different play style options to choose from can get complex pretty quickly.
Solasta: Crown of the Magisteris a tactical RPG that is a bit unique on this list, as it’s largely inspired by the popular and expansiveDungeons and Dragonstabletop RPG. Having a game based on the concepts of such a complex and long-running tabletop RPG isn’t exactly a small or easy undertaking for an indie project, making it all the more ambitious.Solastahas the player create a party of four characters, guiding them through ruins and dungeons to find and retrieve the fabled “Crown of the Magister”.
Naturally, having gameplay that is faithfully rooted in the rules ofDungeons & Dragons, it’s obvious to see where its complexity comes from. An experienced player probably won’t have much trouble here, but those unfamiliar withDnDcould easily find many aspects ofSolastaconfusing at first glance. Right off the bat, take its character creation, for example; picking a background, class, and race, it offers the usual RPG options. However, each of these choices can have a huge impact on the group’s performance, which can make the common dungeon-crawling and puzzle-solving experience much harder.
Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogunis perhaps most well-known for its complex, stealth-focused, real-time combat; making it stand out from the usual turn-based tactics battle systems. Players must navigate the intricate and sprawling environments of Edo-period Japan, coordinating a party of five characters, each having their own unique skill sets, such as proficiency in ranged attacks or traps.
The game’s complexity stems from itsreal-time nature, where effective combat is based on timing various character actions simultaneously. Especially as it mixes in a focus on stealth, the player also needs to prioritize staying hidden while also being quick on their feet, which factors in a bit of skill in problem-solving at times.Blades of Shoguncan be confusing at first, but once players get used to planning unit positions based on situation and abilities, it can generally be a challenging but rewarding experience.
The Banner Saga 3is the final installment ofStoic Studio’s trilogy, taking place in the same Viking-themed universe as the previous releases, but bringing in more detail to its plot and characters, ultimately wrapping up the storyline of the trilogy. Following the same turn-based tactics gameplay featured in the previous two installments, which are well-crafted and aim to be easy to grasp, the game still provides a good challenge, especially with the game’s scarcity of resources.
The Banner Saga 3’scomplexity doesn’t come much from its gameplay, but rather its plot and the many different options to pick from. Its story focuses quite a bit on the various player-made choices throughout the game, whether it be through actions or dialogue. Both can have a large influence on what happens next, and the choices aren’t always easy either, often having a pretty heavy moral weight to them, making some decisions very difficult to make once invested in the story and characters.
WhileFire Emblem: Thracia 776isn’t the most well-known of theFire Emblemseries, it certainly is regarded among fans as one of its more difficult and complex entries. This fifth installment in theFire Emblemfranchise was a bit more intricate than the previous games, especially for those new to the tactics genre. Past just managing the basics of an often large party of characters, players also have to manage the group’s fatigue values both in and out of combat. With the scarcity of resources, it can make the early game especially punishing.
Add in the fact that the map designs can be pretty unforgiving at times, with challenging terrain and hard-hitting enemies; the player has to constantly juggle a fair amount of different things while playing. This is all without even mentioning the permadeath mechanic that is common in the Fire Emblem series, just to add a bit more difficulty into the mix.
Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Togetheris renowned in the series for its complex gameplay and systems, with branching storylines and overall difficulty. Its combat system factored terrain and positioning of units into its gameplay, along with limited available resources, such as money and spell items, demanding careful and precise planning.
Permadeath raised the stakes even more, as losing a character meant they were gone permanently. The game’s intricate narrative, which is shaped by player choices, creates a hefty dose of extra complexity, which makes the game both challenging and rewarding for strategy enthusiasts.
Mostly due to its age,X-COM: UFO Defenseis easily the most complex on this list, and has become a cult classic in the genre. It also marked the start of theever-popular serieswhen it debuted in 1994.
UFO Defensetasks the player with commanding individual troops to defend Earth from an alien invasion, as well as building defenses and researching further developments. Its complexity comes from the game’s unique blending of turn-based tactics with real-time simulation and management. The player would have to manage both building and research tasks in real time, while methodically planning out turns in combat, making the journey through this classic tactics title both rewarding and challenging.
