Summary
- Tactical RPGs blend strategy and RPG elements for rewarding gameplay experiences.
- Roguelikes prioritize skill-based gameplay with procedural generation and permanent death.
- Games like XCOM 2 and Darkest Dungeon offer deep tactical combat with RPG elements and permanent death.
Tactical RPGs often offer unique experiences by combining the strategic positioning and movement of tactics games with the character progression of role-playing games. This often results in an experience that feels both rewarding and skill-based.
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Roguelikes, on the other hand, tend to lean more toward skill-based gameplay and strategic thinking than they do permanent progression. Procedural generation, turn-based combat, and permanent death are all in the cards for traditional roguelikes. These titles all include at least one of those three elements, with many of them following roguelite structures as a result of their RPG progression systems.
8
Othercide
Heavily Stylized Tactical Roguelite
- Released
-
February 15, 2020
- ESRB
-
m
This tactical RPG features grid-based combat and a dynamic timeline system, supported by a roguelite structure. The most obvious strength of this title is its stark but slick graphical art style, offering an immersive and unnerving atmosphere.
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Eldritch horrors and a mysterious undertone elevate the overall experience in Othercide, working in tandem with the game’s dark presentation. It’s certainly stylish, though some players may find themselves tiring of its bleak tone.
7
The Last Spell
Tactical Horde Survival With Procedural Generation
- Released
-
March 9, 2023
- ESRB
-
T For Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
The Last Spell tasks players with defending small towns from waves of enemies in a familiar structure. However, the grid-based tactics and RPG character progression work in tandem to offer some expressive, strategic gameplay.
The Last Spell can be unforgiving, but its roguelite structure ensures players are always able to progress. More importantly, however, The Last Spell deftly blends its RPG progression and tactical combat with its roguelite elements, creating a seamless blend between genres.
Turn-Based Tactics With Permadeath
- Released
-
February 5, 2016
- ESRB
-
T For Teen due to Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence
Like its predecessor, XCOM 2 is a deeply tactical combination of management and strategic combat encounters. The combat in particular is an obvious strength, and what players will spend the majority of their time doing, trying their best to keep the best and strongest of their soldiers alive.
Keeping soldiers alive is an important aspect of the game, not only because it’s integral to keep experienced squadmates in the field, but because rookies need to be leveled up to be useful. What’s more, squadmates who go down in combat are permanently dead, an aspect drawn from the roguelike genre that ups the tension dramatically.
5
Quasimorph
Extraction
Shooter
Roguelike
- Released
-
October 2, 2023
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+
This grim-dark tactics game features a unique extraction-shooter gameplay loop that borrows from the roguelike genre with its turn-based combat and permadeath mechanic. Despite runs ending if and when the player dies, they’re able to keep a constant stash of equipment between runs, encouraging constant progression.
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These great roguelites excel not only in their engaging gameplay loops but also in their excellent loot systems to keep every run feeling unique.
Characters are also able to level up in traditional RPG fashion, giving Quasimorph a satisfying sense of progression that counterbalances its unforgiving difficulty. For fans of grim-dark settings and tactical combat, Quasimorph is a worthwhile experience.
4
Darkest Dungeon
A Brutally Difficult Lovecraftian Strategy RPG
- Released
-
January 19, 2016
- ESRB
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T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Mild Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Violence
Darkest Dungeon is a grim-dark fantasy RPG with strategic combat and an emphasis on roguelike dungeon crawling. Featuring brutal permadeath, Darkest Dungeon is a deeply unforgiving experience, but the RPG character progression and ability to retreat before things get too bad keep it from being an overly frustrating title.
Though Darkest Dungeon doesn’t take place on a grid, the ability to move party members during combat and the importance of positioning makes it a deeply tactical experience. For fans of Gothic visuals, Lovecraftian horror, and mechanical turn-based combat, Darkest Dungeon is worth the time investment.
3
Battle Brothers
A Sandbox RPG With Brutal Combat
Indie Games
Tactical
RPG
Strategy
Adventure
- Released
-
April 27, 2015
- ESRB
-
t
Battle Brothers is a sandbox RPG with an emphasis on brutal turn-based tactics and party management. In the game, players control a company of mercenaries in a low-fantasy world, completing dangerous contracts to earn a living.
The game features roguelike elements in the form of procedural generation and permadeath, the latter of which can be fairly unforgiving. However, Battle Brothers makes permadeath somewhat more palatable by including a small chance for characters to survive otherwise fatal injuries. Those who do are left with permanent scars, but it’s a solace that other roguelikes simply don’t afford their players.
2
Caves Of Qud
An Open-World RPG With Optional Permadeath
Caves Of Qud is an open-world RPG that borrows from classic roguelikes with its turn-based combat, procedural generation, and resource management gameplay. Permadeath is also a major factor in Caves Of Qud’s design, but this is entirely optional, and the game is enjoyable without it, although it is somewhat less tense as a result.
The biggest strength of Caves Of Qud is arguably its intricate character creator, which allows for an incredible variety of approaches. This provides truly expressive character creation, allowing players to explore and interact with the unique science-fantasy world in their own way.
1
Into The Breach
A Deeply Strategic Puzzle
- Released
-
February 27, 2018
- ESRB
-
e
Into The Breach is a deeply tactical turn-based roguelike and a lightweight RPG that manages to be immediately accessible. This is thanks to its intricate puzzle-game design, generously offering players a wealth of information that allows them to make consistently informed decisions.
The RPG elements of Into The Breach are admittedly light, but present nonetheless. The game puts players in command of a squad of mechs, and each of their pilots can level up throughout the game. Furthermore, new items can be acquired to bolster a squad’s abilities and make up for potential weaknesses. As a roguelike, each campaign in Into The Breach can be lost, forcing players to start over, but the addition of new mech unlocks keeps things fresh over repeated playthroughs.
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