Turn-Based Strategy Games With The Best Stories, Ranked

Key Takeaways

• Turn-based strategy games offer more than just gameplay; the narratives in games like Banner Saga 3 and Fire Emblem shine.
• Banner Saga 3 delivers a satisfying conclusion with player-driven choices shaping the story in a beautiful, melancholic winter tale.
• From Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance to Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis, these games balance complex narratives and gameplay flawlessly.

Turn-based strategy games are a genre focused heavily on gameplay, be it the actual battles themselves or the micromanaging of the player’s armies and equipment. The best part about this genre is that it features some incredible, and often under-appreciated, stories that drive the gameplay forward. With the recent renaissance of the genre through Unicorn Overlord, Project Triangle Strategy, and the recent Fire Emblem games, this is the ideal time to delve deep into the best narratives the genre has to offer.

While many games in the genre have very similar themes underscoring their stories, it has been fascinating to see how different developers and different franchises have tackled these themes and made them their own. A lot of turn-based strategy games have decent, serviceable stories, but the games below surely stand out, not only in the genre but in strategy games generally.

Updated on December 4, 2024, by Musaab Ahmed: The turn-based strategy genre is one that is fortunate to have received a constant stream of incredible games over the past few years. Be it ambitious mainstream titles such as Fire Emblem or more niche projects that consistently try to reinvent the wheel. With the recent uptick of high-quality turn-based releases, fans of the genre have been spoiled for choice. With the recent release of Metal Slug Tactics and the upcoming release of two new turn-based games; Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus 2 and MENACE, this is the perfect time to revisit the turn-based strategy games with the best stories.

7 Project Triangle Strategy

A Modern Retelling Of A Classic Medieval Trope

Project Triangle Strategy is one of the more underrated recent strategy games. While it doesn’t quite have the glamour of a Fire Emblem game, nor was it an astonishing success like Unicorn Overlord, it’s a great turn-based strategy game with an amazing story in its own right. Triangle Strategy is centered around the struggle of three nations and their ruling classes to control the region’s resources. The game doesn’t feature a fantastical story, it is rather realistic, which makes Serenoa’s decisions even more gripping. Be it the harsh mirror to reality that can be drawn through the Rosellan’s fate, the harsh realities of royal blood depicted through Roland, or decisions pitting personal vengeance in contention with the greater good, there’s a lot this game offers.

Triangle Strategy is full of entertaining antagonists, cunning political ploys, and a riveting story told at a rapid pace. All of this is neatly tied together with some solid voice acting and wonderful art and animation. While some of the characters may be a bit generic or one-dimensional, the larger overarching narrative is strong, and the world-building is good enough to get players invested.

6 The Banner Saga 3

Satisfying Conclusion To A Wonderful Trilogy

The Banner Saga Trilogy is one of the best indie-developed strategy series out there. Stoic Games has crafted an astounding trilogy, solid gameplay incredible visuals and art, and a superb story. Banner Saga 3 picks up where the previous two titles left off. A small Viking convoy is trying to survive the apocalypse. The story in Banner Sage 3 is shaped directly by player choices in the two previous games, not only does this make every difficult decision extremely important, it makes sure players live with the consequences of their actions for hours upon hours.

While a little short, Banner Saga 3 is the culmination of a beautiful and melancholic story, which is aptly supported by incredible visuals and a great soundtrack. A cold, brutal, winter’s tale, it’s a shame the game ends so quickly because it has one of the best stories any strategy game has churned out in years.

5 Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Ike’s Coming-of-Age Story Hits All The Right Notes

Fire Emblem as a franchise is one with solid stories, albeit a bit formulaic and often barebones. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is very different. The story follows Ike and his inherited band of mercenaries as they navigate a complex, political world on the brink of disaster. The game features tons of loveable characters, such as Mordecai, Mist, Oscar, and Boyd to name a few. The support conversations of most of the main cast do a great job of fleshing out their personalities and filling out the gaps in the main narrative.

Path of Radiance is a story with tons of themes; slavery, racism, class divides, and, of course, a fantastical fantasy narrative full of political intrigue, tragedy, and tons of action. The game does well to balance out all of this and presents a solid and entertaining story, which is partly why it is one of the fan-favorite games in the franchise.

4 Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis

An Excellent Foray Into The Art of Good Prequels

Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis is an old-school JPRG game with a very rustic and colorful vibe. It stands out as one of the most underrated turn-based strategy games in the genre. Set as a prequel to the other Tactics Ogre games, it follows the story of Alphonse, a knight of Lodis sent to the land of Ovis where he learns about the brutality of those he serves. The game follows Alphonse as he slowly unravels the conspiracies set down by the powers that be, regarding the oppression of the island, continental takeover, and some mystical weapons.

However, as with all Tactics Ogre games, choices are vital. The direction Alphonse’s campaign takes can vary heavily depending on player choices. The story also depends on gameplay, as the deaths of certain important characters have a direct impact on the narrative. What makes Knight of Lodis, so good is how it is able to balance this complex and tragic narrative in a way where players can sympathize with Alphonse’s actions while also recognizing his flaws. The fact that each choosable branch of the story is even in quality is an incredible feat in the GBA era as well.

3 Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions

The Quintessential Turn-Based Story

A common theme with most turn-based strategy games is narratives centering around large-scale wars between kingdoms, clashing ideologies, and political manipulation. While some may feel these tropes are over-used, the fact is that games such as Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions have dealt with these themes so well, that it doesn’t matter.

War of the Lions is an incredible story centered around a young sellsword named Ramza as he comes to terms with the torrid state of his world. The land of Ivalice is one marred with class elitism, manipulative nobles, and religious exploitation. Players watch the complex and thrilling story unfold through Ramza’s eyes. Despite being a strategy game, the game is paced well and never drags on. The cutscenes are a delight, and every interaction between Ramza and his childhood friend Delita is a clear highlight.

2 Fire Emblem: Three Houses

A Route Split With No Losers

Three Houses is one of the most successful games in the genre, and for good reason. The game’s overarching story is centered around three characters, Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude, the would-be rulers of three kingdoms, attending a monastery to train for their incumbent roles. The three lords, and their fellow students each make up a respective ‘house’ of the monastery and players can choose who to join.

The story quickly turns from a tale of ambitious students on everyday missions to an unsettling and mature narrative centered around political conflict; the ends one goes to fuel their ambition and the disconnect between fellowship and duty. Players are treated to three different stories, around each of the three lords. Dimitri’s is a tale of sorrow, trauma, and vengeful spite. Players follow him coming to terms with his own shortcomings and using them to be a better ruler. A more mature tale, it is executed well and represents the epitome of what a Fire Emblem story can be. Edelgard and Claude both have fantastic campaigns as well, based around their own ambitions, personal grievances, and the needs of their lands and people. Overall, this is a fantastic turn-based strategy game and one every entrant to the genre should check out.

1 Tactics Ogre: Reborn

A Gripping and Emotional Story

This game features one of the best stories players can find in any strategy game. The game is rife with gut-wrenching decision-making, it features a dark story that doesn’t shy away from thrusting players into difficult decisions and getting blood on the protagonist, Denam’s hands. He can go from being an idealistic rebel to a cutthroat knight orchestrating a rebellion to something in between. Either way, Denam has to suffer through betrayal and tragedy as he navigates his way around this beautiful, yet tragic world.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn’s voice acting only enriches the story as it adds visceral reactions to some of the hardest parts of the story, be it the decision in Balamusa, or the encounters with Knight Lanselot. The game also features a rich world, chock-full of entertaining and complex characters, tons of lore, and hundreds of hours worth of story to get through. Not only is this one of the best turn-based tactics games out there as a package, but its story is among the best of the best.