List of turn-based tactics video games explained

Turn-based tactics is a video game genre. Chris Crawford,[1] Julian Gollop, Strategic Simulations, and Blue Byte developed early turn-based tactical games,[2] which were often inspired by traditional tactical wargames played on tabletops.[3] Because of their low system requirements, turn-based tactical games were popular on early personal computers. This peaked with the released of in 1994.[2] When X-COMs sequels failed to make the same impression, publishers grew cautious of funding similar games on personal computers.[4]

As the 1990s continued, 3D graphics grew popular, and gamers increasingly turned to real time strategy games. Though new tactics games continued to be released on personal computers, tactical combat became more of a component in tactical role-playing games,[2] and tactical games grew more popular on handheld consoles. These complex but accessible games widened the appeal of turn-based tactics.[1] The 2012 release of , a remake of the 1994 video game, reinvigorated the genre on personal computers and led to many new games using streamlined, modern rules.[2] [4]

List of released games

Year Title Developer Setting Platform Notes
1978 Tanktics Historical APPII, ATR, PET, TRS80
1981 Eastern Front (1941) Historical ATR First computer game with a scrolling map
1983 Godzilla Sci-fi C64
1983 Nobunaga's Ambition Historical GB, GEN, MSX, NES, SNES First title in the series.
1984 Rebelstar Raiders[5] Sci-fi ZX
1985 Under Fire! Historical AMI, C64, DOS
1985 Fantasy ZX
1985 Kampfgruppe Historical AMI, APPII, ATR, C64, DOS
1985 Mech Brigade Alternate history APPII, ATR, C64, DOS
1986 Historical AMI, APPII, ATR, C64, DOS
1986 Ogre Sci-fi APPII, AMI, ATR, ST, C64, DOS, MAC Based on the 1977 wargame
1986 Rebelstar Sci-fi ZX, CPC
1987 Breach Sci-fi AMI, ST, DOS
1987 Panzer Strike Historical APPII, C64
1988 Famicom Wars Sci-fi NES First title in the Nintendo Wars series.
1988 Grand Fleet Historical AMI, DOS, ST
1988 Laser Squad Sci-fi AMI, C64, CPC, DOS, ST, ZX By the makers of .
1988 Rebelstar II Sci-fi ZX
1989 Desert Commander Historical NES
1989 Fire Brigade Historical AMI, DOS, MAC, ST
1989 Military Madness[6] Sci-fi DROI, WIN98, DOS, PC98, PS1, PCE, X68K a.k.a. Nectaris
1990 Breach 2 Sci-fi AMI, ST, DOS
1990 Lords of Chaos Fantasy AMI, C64, CPC, ST, ZX
1990 Sci-fi AMI, DOS Based on Renegade Legion
1991 Game Boy Wars Sci-fi GB First title in this sub-series of Nintendo Wars.
1991 The Perfect General Mark Baldwin Historical AMI, DOS First title in the series.
1991 RoboSport Sci-fi AMI, DOS, MAC, WIN 4-player squad combat with simultaneous turns.
1991 Battle Isle Sci-fi AMI, DOS
1992 Gemfire Fantasy DOS, GEN, MSX, NES, SNES
1992 Historical AMI, DOS a.k.a. Great War: 1914-1918
1992 Sabre Team Contemporary AMI, AMI32, DOS, ST
1992 Tegel's Mercenaries Sci-fi DOS First title in the series.
1993 The Grandest Fleet Historical DOS
1993 Metal Marines Contemporary WIN3X, SNES
1993 Patriot Historical DOS
1993 Strike Squad Sci-fi DOS
1993 Sci-fi Amiga
1994 UFO: Enemy Unknown[7] Sci-fi AMI, AMI32, DOS, PS1, WIN a.k.a. X-COM: UFO Defense; first XCOM
1994 Panzer General Historical DOS First title in the series.
1994 Jagged Alliance[8] Contemporary DOS First title in the series.
1994 The Perfect General II Mark Baldwin Historical AMI, DOS
1995 Front Mission SquareSci-Fi SNES
1995 Steel Panthers Historical DOS
1995 [9] Sci-fiDOS, PS1, WIN Part of the XCOM series
1996 [10] Sci-fi WIN
1996 Over the Reich Historical MAC, WIN
1996 Historical DOS
1997 Achtung Spitfire! Historical WIN Prequel to Over the Reich.
1997 Demonworld Fantasy WIN First title in the series.
1997 Fallen Haven Fantasy WIN First title in the series.
1997 Sci-fi WIN
1997 Game Boy Wars Turbo Sci-fi GB Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
1997 Sci-fi WIN Spin-off of Battle Isle.
1997 Steel Panthers III Historical DOS, WIN
1997 [11] Sci-fi DOS, WIN Part of the XCOM series. Option to use real-time.
1998 Historical WIN
1998 Sci-fi WIN
1998 Game Boy Wars 2 Sci-fi GBC Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
1998 Liberation Day Fantasy WIN Sequel to Fallen Haven.
1998 Soldiers at War Historical WIN
1998 Super Famicom Wars Sci-fi SNES Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
1998 Sci-fi WIN
1999 Gorky 17[12] (Odium) Sci-fi WIN, LIN, OSX
1999 Jagged Alliance 2 Contemporary AMIOS, LIN, WIN
2000 Avalon Hill's Squad Leader Historical WIN
2000 Historical MAC, WIN First title in the series.
2000 Hogs of War Infogrames, Sheffield House Fantasy PS1, WIN Also features artillery game elements.
2000 Ring of Red Alternate history PS2
2000 Shadow Watch Sci-fi WIN
2000 Historical WIN Remake of Steel Panthers
2001 Advance Wars[13] Sci-fi GBA First title in this sub-series of Nintendo Wars.
2001 Etherlords Fantasy WIN Card battle game
2001 Fallout Tactics[14] Sci-fi WIN Spin-off of Fallout. Option to use real-time.
2001 Game Boy Wars 3 Sci-fi GBC Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
2002 Combat Mission II Historical WIN
2002 Dynasty Tactics Historical PS2 First title in the series.
2002 Laser Squad Nemesis Sci-fi WIN By the makers of .
2002 Paradise Cracked Sci-fi WIN
2003 Advance Wars 2 Sci-fi GBA Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
2003 Combat Mission 3 Historical WIN
2003 Dai Senryaku VII Historical Xbox
2003 Dynasty Tactics 2 Historical PS2
2003 Etherlords II Fantasy WIN Card battle game. Sequel to Etherlords.
2003 Massive Assault Sci-fi WIN
2003 Silent Storm[15] Alternate history WIN First title in the series.
2004 Ancient Empires Fantasy MOBI First title in the series.
2004 Sci-fi WIN
2004 Zed Two Sci-fi GCN, PS2, WIN, Xbox
2004 The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age Fantasy GBA
2004 Pathway to Glory Historical NGE
2004 Fantasy GBA Based on the anime series YuYu Hakusho.
2005 [16] Sci-fi DS Part of the Nintendo Wars series.
2005 Ancient Empires II Fantasy MOBI
2005 Battles of Prince of Persia Fantasy DS
2005 Domination Sci-fi WIN First title in the series.
2005 Flashpoint Germany Historical WIN
2005 Hammer & Sickle Alternate history WIN Successor to Silent Storm.
2005 High Seize Historical NGE
2005 Night Watch Contemporary WIN Based on the novel of the same name.
2004 Historical NGE Sequel to Pathway to Glory
2005 Sci-fi GBA
2005 Shattered Union[17] Alternate history WIN, Xbox
2005 The Battle for Wesnoth[18] Various Fantasy CROSS
2006 Field Commander Sci-fi PSP
2006 Pocket UFO Sci-fi PPC Clone of .
2007 Band of Bugs Fantasy WIN, X360
2007 Fantasy Wars Fantasy WIN
2007 Panzer Tactics DS Historical DS
2007 [19] Sci-fi WIN Spiritual successor to .
2007 Sci-fi PSP, DS
2007 [20] Contemporary WIN
2008 Alternate history X360
2008 Sci-fi DS Stand alone part of the Nintendo Wars series.
2009 Blood Bowl[21] Fantasy WIN Based on the board game Blood Bowl.
2009 Dragon Quest Wars Fantasy DS
2009 Sci-fi X360, PS3, Wii
2009 Mytran Wars Sci-fi PSP
2010 [22] Contemporary WIN Remake of Jagged Alliance 2
2010 BBC Battle Academy Historical WIN, MAC, IOS
2010 Battle Dex Contemporary WIN Card battle game
2011 Frozen Synapse[23] Sci-fi WIN, MAC, LIN, iOS, DROI
2011 Contemporary 3DS
2012 Sci-fi WIN, Mac, LIN, PS3, X360, PSV Remake of a classical .
2012 [24] Alternate history WIN, Mobile Based on works of H. P. Lovecraft
2013 Arma Tactics Contemporary WIN, LIN, OSX, DROI, iOS
2013 Space Hulk[25] Full Control Sci-fi WIN, MAC Based on the board game Space Hulk.
2013 Skulls of the Shogun[26] Historical WIN, MOBI, X360, MAC, PS4, NX
2014 Xenonauts[27] Sci-fi WIN
2014 Battle Academy 2: Eastern Front Historical WIN, MAC, IOS Sequel to BBC Battle Academy
2014 Fantasy iOS, DROI Tablet adaptation of Blood Bowl
2014 Invisible, Inc. Sci-fi WIN, Mac, LIN, PS4, iOS Stealth tactics in an espionage setting.
2014 Panzer Tactics HD Historical WIN, iOS
2014 [28] Full Control Contemporary WIN, LIN, MAC Part of the Jagged Alliance series.
2014 [29] Full Control Sci-fi WIN, LIN, MAC Based on the board game Space Hulk.
2014 Halfway[30] Robotality Sci-fi LIN, MAC, WIN
2015 Hard West[31] Horror LIN, MAC, WIN, PS4, NX
2015 Massive Chalice Fantasy LIN, MAC, WIN, XOne
2015 [32] Rodeo Games Sci-fi iOS, WIN, PS4
2015 Blood Bowl 2[33] Fantasy Mac, WIN, PS4, XBOX1
2016 Warbits[34] Risky Lab Sci-fi iOS
2016 XCOM 2[35] Sci-fi WIN, Mac, LIN, PS4, XBOX1, NX Sequel of .
2017 [36] Black Lab Games Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1, NX
2017 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle Fantasy NX
2017 Tiny Metal Contemporary WIN, NX, PS4
2018 Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics Sci-fi, Fantasy WIN, NX, XOne, PS4
2018 Attack of the Earthlings[37] Team Junkfish Sci-fi Win, PS4, XBO
2018 Into the Breach[38] Subset Games Sci-fi WIN, Mac, LIN, NX, Stadia
2018 BattleTech Sci-fi WIN
2018 Fantasy WIN, MAC
2018 Phantom Doctrine[39] CreativeForge Games Alternate history WIN, XBOX1, PS4, NX Strategic turn-based espionage thriller.
2018 Bulwark Studios Sci-fi WIN, LIN, MAC
2018 [40] Cliffhanger Productions Contemporary WIN, PS4, XBOX1 Set 20 years after the first Jagged Alliance.
2018 The Bearded Ladies Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1
2018 [41] Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1
2018 Football, Tactics & Glory[42] Creoteam Contemporary WIN Sports game
2018 All Walls Must Fall[43] Inbetweengames Sci-fi WIN
2018 Frozen Synapse 2[44] Sci-fi WIN, MAC, LIN, iOS, DROI
2019 Wargroove[45] Fantasy WIN, XBOX1, PS4, NX, STADIA
2019 Pathway[46] Robotality Sci-fi LIN, MAC, WIN, NX
2019 Druidstone[47] Ctrl Alt Ninja Fantasy WIN
2019 Phoenix Point Sci-fi WIN, MAC, XBOX1, PS4, Stadia
2019 Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1, MAC 4X game with turn-based, tactical battles
2019 Rebel Cops[48] Weappy Studio Contemporary WIN, MAC, LIN, PS4, XBOX1, NX, DROI, iOS
2020 Corruption 2029[49] The Bearded Ladies Sci-fi WIN
2020 Gears Tactics[50] Sci-fi WIN, XBOX1, X/S
2020 [51] Sci-fi WIN
2020 Treachery in Beatdown City[52] NuChallenger, HurakanWorks Contemporary WIN, NX Mix of real-time brawling and turn-based tactics
2020 Rogue Factor Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1
2020 Fort Triumph[53] CookieByte Entertainment Fantasy WIN, MAC, LIN, PS4, XBOX1, NX Mix of turn-based tactics and strategy game
2021 [54] Black Lab Games Sci-fi WIN, PS4, XBOX1, X/S
2022 Hard West 2[55] Ice Code Games Horror WIN
2022 Fantasy WIN, NX, DROI, iOS
2022 Marvel's Midnight Suns[56] Sci-fi PS5, WIN, X/S, PS4, XBOX1
2022 Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope Fantasy NX Sequel to Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
2022 WH40K: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters Complex Games Scifi WIN
2023 Showgunners[57] Artificer Sci-fi WIN
2023 Jagged Alliance 3 Contemporary WIN, PS4, PS5, X/S Sequel to Jagged Alliance 2
2023 Miasma Chronicles[58] The Bearded Ladies Sci-fi WIN, PS5, X/S
2023 Blood Bowl 3[59] Fantasy PS4, PS5, WIN, XBOX1, X/S
2023 Fights in Tight Spaces[60] Ground Shatter Contemporary WIN, XBOX1, X/S, NX, PS4, PS5 Mix of deckbuilding and turn-based tactics
2023 The Lamplighters League[61] Alternate history WIN, XBOX1, X/S
2023 Phantom Brigade Sci-fi WIN
TBA Crimson Fields Various Sci-fi CROSS Open source clone of Battle Isle.
TBA Various Sci-fi CROSS Open source clone of .

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Turn-based tactics is het ouderwetse genre van de toekomst. Bruges. Walter. Gamer.nl. 2020-05-05. 2023-06-11.
  2. Web site: Gaming's Defining Moments - Xcom: Enemy Unknown. Holmes. Mike. Gamereactor. 2018-10-07. 2023-06-11.
  3. Book: Tringham, Neal. Science Fiction Video Games. CRC Press. 2015. 978-1-4822-0388-2. 327. CRC Press.
  4. Web site: The history of the strategy game. Brown. Fraser. PC Gamer. 2021-11-20. 2023-06-11.
  5. Web site: The Story of X-Com. Bickham. Al. Eurogamer. 2010-11-28. 2023-06-09.
  6. Web site: PC Engine CoreGrafx Mini. Holmes. Mike. Gamereactor. 2020-04-30. 2023-06-12.
  7. Web site: The best old games and PC classics to play 2023. Forward. Jordan. PCGamesN. 2023-05-15. 2023-06-09.
  8. Web site: Titan Quest and Jagged Alliance are free to keep right now. Smith. Graham. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2021-09-16. 2023-06-09.
  9. Web site: The Art of XCOM: Enemy Unknown — Firaxis' second developer diary emphasizes terror. Savillo. Rob. VentureBeat. 2012-05-02. 2023-06-09.
  10. Reviews: Mech Commander. Wildgoose. David. PC PowerPlay. 27. August 1998. 66.
  11. Web site: XCOM: Firaxis saved a brand "gone so badly awry", says creator. Hillier. Brenna. VG247. 2013-04-18. 2023-06-09.
  12. Book: Vanderhoef, John. Game History and the Local. Indie Games of No Nation. Swalwell. Melanie. Palgrave Macmillan. 2021. 978-3-030-66421-3. 165. https://books.google.com/books?id=svYvEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA165. One of the earliest international Polish hits was a turn-based tactics game from Metropolis called Gorky 17.
  13. Web site: Advance Wars is coming to Switch this December. Wood. Austin. GamesRadar. 2021-06-15. 2023-06-09.
  14. Web site: Why the time is right for a Fallout: Tactics sequel. Forward. Jordan. PCGamesN. 2017-10-06. 2023-06-09.
  15. Web site: Silent Storm Review. Butts. Steve. IGN. 2018-12-13. 2004-01-27. 2023-06-09.
  16. Web site: Advance Wars: Dual Strike Now Available On Wii U Virtual Console. https://web.archive.org/web/20161214112804/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2016/12/01/advance-wars-dual-strike-now-for-virtual-console-on-wii-u.aspx. dead. December 14, 2016. Boudreau. Ian. GameInformer. 2016-12-01. 2023-06-09.
  17. Bruckheimer Sees Box Office Gold in 2K's Shattered Union Game. Mastrapa. Gus. Wired. 2009-10-27. 2023-06-12.
  18. Web site: Classic Games in the Making: Old-School RPGs Are New Again. Harac. Ian. PC World. 2011-09-30. 2023-06-10.
  19. Web site: UFO: Extraterrestrials. Gillen. Kieron. Eurogamer. 2007-07-15. 2023-06-12.
  20. Web site: Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge Review. Butts. Steve. IGN. 2012-05-11. 2023-06-09.
  21. Web site: Football Tactics scores an Early Access release. Purslow. Matt. PCGamesN. 2015-06-03. 2023-06-09.
  22. Web site: Jagged Alliance: Back in Action DLC mission released. O'Connor. Alice. Shacknews. 2012-05-16. 2023-06-09.
  23. Web site: Turn-based tactics won the decade. Brown. Fraser. PC Gamer. 2019-12-12. 2023-06-09.
  24. Web site: Call Of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land Has Risen. Smith. Adam. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2012-05-03. 2023-06-09.
  25. Web site: Space Hulk review. Zacny. Rob. IGN. 2013-08-30. 2023-06-09.
  26. Web site: Overlooked strategy games that are worth playing today. Senior. Tom. PC Gamer. 2015-09-11. 2023-06-11.
  27. Web site: The best games like XCOM. Bassil. Matt. Wargamer. 2022-08-12. 2023-06-09.
  28. Web site: Jagged Alliance: Flashback headed to Steam Early Access. Phillips. Tom. Eurogamer. 2014-04-03. 2023-06-09.
  29. Web site: Space Hulk rises above criticism with RPG-infused Ascension edition. Peel. Jeremy. PCGamesN. 2014-08-12. 2023-06-09.
  30. Web site: Wot I Think: Halfway. Davies. Marsh. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2014-08-01. 2023-06-01.
  31. Web site: Hard West Review. Ingenito. Vince. IGN. 2017-05-01. 2023-06-09.
  32. Web site: Every Warhammer 40,000 game, ranked. Macgregor. Jody. PC Gamer. 2023-01-04. 2023-06-09.
  33. Web site: Building on Blood Bowl 2: can high fantasy football succeed as an e-sport?. Peel. Jeremy. PCGamesN. 2015-10-02. 2023-06-09.
  34. Web site: Advance Wars-esque strategy game Warbits lands on iOS next month. Valentin. Christian. Pocket Gamer. 2016-03-28. 2023-06-09.
  35. Web site: XCOM 2 review. Peel. Jeremy. PCGamesN. 2016-02-05. 2023-06-09.
  36. Web site: The Best PC Strategy and Tactics Games for 2023. Wilson. Jeffrey. Zamora. Gabriel. PC Magazine. 2022-12-21. 2023-06-09.
  37. Web site: Attack of the Earthlings Review. Tucker. Jake. Bit-Tech. 2018-02-19. 2024-02-12.
  38. Web site: The Best PC Indie Games. Minor. Jordan. PC Magazine. 2022-05-12. 2023-06-09.
  39. Web site: Phantom Doctrine is an XCOM-like tactics game that needs your attention, literally. Hall. Charlie. Polygon. 2018-08-14. 2023-06-09.
  40. Web site: Wot I Think - Jagged Alliance: Rage. Bratt. Chris. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2018-12-12. 2023-06-09.
  41. Web site: Space Hulk: Tactics lets you play a Genestealers campaign for the first time. Jones. Ali. PCGamesN. 2018-05-30. 2023-06-09.
  42. Web site: The Sports Desk – A Tactical View. https://web.archive.org/web/20190711111902/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/04/09/the-sports-desk-a-tactical-view.aspx. dead. July 11, 2019. Kato. Matthew. GameInformer. 2018-04-09. 2023-06-09.
  43. Web site: All Walls Must Fall review. Hatfield. Tom. PC Gamer. 2018-02-23. 2023-06-09.
  44. Web site: Frozen Synapse 2 review. Bratt. Chris. PC Gamer. 2018-09-13. 2023-06-09.
  45. Web site: Best turn-based strategy games on PC 2023. Irwin. Dave. PCGamesN. 2023-05-10. 2023-06-09.
  46. Web site: Pathway review. Horti. Samuel. PC Gamer. 2019-04-15. 2023-06-02.
  47. Web site: The 50 best strategy games to play on PC in 2023. Castle. Katherine. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2023-05-03. 2023-06-09.
  48. Web site: Rebel Cops is a turn-based tactical combat spinoff of This Is the Police. Chalk. Andy. PC Gamer. 2019-09-06. 2024-01-12.
  49. Web site: Wot I Think: Corruption 2029. Vega. Sin. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2020-02-27. 2023-05-24.
  50. Web site: Gears Tactics gets the turn-based fundamentals right, but isn't consistently fun. Hall. Charlie. Polygon. 2020-04-27. 2023-06-09.
  51. Web site: XCOM: Chimera Squad review. Senior. Tom. PC Gamer. 2020-04-24. 2023-06-09.
  52. Web site: She Dreams Elsewhere, Samurai Zero and more of our favourite indies this week. Saed. Sherif. VG247. 2020-06-05. 2023-06-09.
  53. Web site: Fort Triumph makes turn-based tactics into slapstick comedy. Macgregor. Jody. PC Gamer. 2022-08-11. 2023-06-09.
  54. Web site: Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector review. Macgregor. Jody. PC Gamer. 2021-07-21. 2023-06-09.
  55. Web site: In a tornado of turn-based tactics, Hard West 2 went unfairly overlooked. Macgregor. Jody. PC Gamer. 2022-12-19. 2023-06-09.
  56. Web site: In a tornado of turn-based tactics, Hard West 2 went unfairly overlooked. Macgregor. Jody. PC Gamer. 2022-12-19. 2023-06-09.
  57. Web site: Homicidal All-Stars asks: 'What if Running Man was a turn-based tactics game?'. Castle. Katherine. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2022-09-30. 2023-06-08.
  58. Web site: Miasma Chronicles review: this tactically sound turn-based post-apocalypse is short on fresh ideas. Bailes. Jon. Rock Paper Shotgun. 2023-05-24. 2023-05-24.
  59. Web site: Blood Bowl 3 review: disem-bowl-ed. Tucker. Jake. NME. 2023-02-24. 2023-06-09.
  60. Web site: Fights in Tight Spaces reimagines the deck-building genre as a John Wick-style brawl. Hall. Charlie. Polygon. 2020-03-16. 2023-06-09.
  61. Web site: This tactics game is going all-in on pulp classics, mashing up Indiana Jones, The Mummy, and XCOM to make something surprisingly original. Lahti. Evan. PC Gamer. 2023-03-28. 2023-06-09.

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