Summary
- Sci-fi games with turn-based combat offer deep narratives and strategic choices in the vastness of space.
- Games like Star Traders: Frontiers blend tactical RPG combat with intricate storylines and political intrigue.
- Titles such as Xenogears and Phantasy Star 4 combine cosmic elements with deep narratives for memorable space-faring RPG experiences.
Science fiction and turn-based combat might seem like an odd pairing, but when done well, the result is a perfect marriage of slow-burn strategy and galaxy-spanning storytelling. These games don’t just let players point and shoot at alien threats; they let them plan, scheme, and savor every tactical choice while soaking in deep-space intrigue.
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These sci-fi games feature deep, resonant narratives that take place against the dramatic backdrop that is the vast expanse of space.
From sprawling space operas with decades of lore to indie love letters to 16-bit RPGs, each one uses the turn-based format to make decisions feel weighty and personal. Here are some role-playing games that make sure every turn counts when the fate of planets hangs in the balance.
Star Traders: Frontiers
The Stars Are Your Chessboard
Star Traders: Frontiers
- Released
- November 14, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Star Traders: Frontiers throws players into a sandbox galaxy where allegiances shift faster than light-speed warps. Players build their crew, upgrade their ship, and navigate political intrigue between powerful factions. The turn-based combat here covers both ship-to-ship battles and crew skirmishes, meaning players are just as likely to outmaneuver an enemy cruiser as they are to duel its captain in the ship's corridors.
The real hook is how every decision ripples across the galaxy. A botched smuggling run might start a war, or a single bribe could tip the balance of power. It’s part tactical RPG, part life simulator for a career criminal, mercenary, or benevolent trader, all wrapped in a galaxy that feels alive.
Xenogears
Faith, Fate, And A Mecha-God
Xenogears
- Released
- October 20, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
What starts as a personal story about an exiled man in a quiet village quickly escalates into a saga involving ancient civilizations, warring nations, and a godlike being pulling the strings. The turn-based combat blends standard JRPG attacks with a unique combo system, letting players chain martial arts moves with giant mecha strikes.
The sheer scope of the narrative is unmatched. Themes of religion, psychology, and free will are mixed in with character arcs that feel deeply human despite the cosmic backdrop. Even decades later, Xenogears stands as a testament to how ambitious and strange a spacefaring RPG can get while still landing emotional punches.
Phantasy Star 4: The End Of The Millennium
The Last Stand Of Algo
Phantasy Star IV: The End of the Millennium
- Released
- December 17, 1993
WHERE TO PLAY
Released in the golden days of the Sega Genesis, Phantasy Star 4 wrapped up one of gaming’s earliest sci-fi epics with a flourish. Its turn-based battles introduced macro commands, letting players set up entire attack sequences for efficiency, and combine magic, tech, and special attacks for devastating combos.
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The setting seamlessly blends fantasy elements with space travel, with the characters hopping between planets to stop a centuries-old evil. Manga-style cutscenes punctuate the adventure, making the stakes feel grand without losing its personal touch. For many, it’s the gold standard of classic console sci-fi RPGs.
Cosmic Star Heroine
Stylish Trouble In The Cosmos
Cosmic Star Heroine
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 78 /100 Critics Rec: 63%
- Released
- April 11, 2017
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS Vita, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Stadia
A deliberate throwback to the likes of Chrono Trigger, but with its own cyberpunk-meets-space-opera twist. Cosmic Star Heroine’s combat is turn-based but snappy, with no random encounters and a resource system that forces players to think ahead rather than just spam their strongest move.
The story follows secret agent Alyssa L’Salle as she unravels conspiracies across multiple worlds. It’s packed with colorful characters, witty banter, and a slick visual style that makes each alien location feel distinct. Short, punchy pacing keeps the momentum up, so players are never far from the next plot twist or tactical puzzle.
Battletech (2018)
War Is Big Business
Battletech
- Released
- April 24, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence, Use of Alcohol And Tobacco, Language
- Developer(s)
- Harebrained Schemes
- Genre(s)
- Turn-Based Strategy, Strategy
In Battletech, players are not just commanding giant mechs; they're running a mercenary company in the middle of an interstellar civil war. Every turn-based skirmish is a test of positioning, heat management, and armor preservation, where one bad move can cost both a limb and a paycheck.
Between missions, the story unfolds through tough financial decisions, political alliances, and crew relationships. The mix of tactical gameplay and management means that pkayers are constantly balancing moral choices with cold, hard survival. It’s a slower-paced war story, but every victory feels earned and every loss lingers.
Element: Space
Politics At Lightspeed
Element Space
- Released
- November 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG, Adventure, Indie Games
Players take control of Captain Christopher Pietham, trying to clear his name while navigating ideological conflicts across star systems. Element: Space is a lean, story-focused tactical RPG that drops players into a far-future political crisis. Combat is grid-based and emphasizes flanking, cover, and making the most of limited resources.
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What sets it apart is how dialogue choices shape relationships with factions and crew members, ultimately affecting the ending. The setting mixes shiny utopian facades with the corruption hiding underneath, making every moral decision feel like it’s been pulled straight from a political thriller, just with more laser rifles.
Super Robot Wars 30
The Mecha Multiverse Meets Space Opera
Super Robot Wars 30
- Released
- October 27, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- B.B. Studio, Banpresto
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Simulation, Adventure, Strategy
Super Robot Wars 30 is a rare kind of crossover that feels like a love letter to both mecha anime and tactical storytelling. Its turn-based combat plays out like a chess match with giant robots, each armed with over-the-top attacks straight out of the shows they're inspired by. Watching the animations never gets old, partly because they’re dripping with fan service from decades of anime history.
The narrative is surprisingly cohesive despite juggling dozens of franchises. Characters from Gundam, Mazinger, Code Geass, and more bounce off each other in ways that all feel authentic, and the stakes escalate from political disputes to full-on cosmic warfare. For fans of giant robots, this is pure narrative spectacle.
Star Renegades
Fighting A War That Never Ends
Star Renegades
- Released
- January 1, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Massive Damage
- Genre(s)
- Strategy, RPG
Procedurally generated campaigns give Star Renegades an unusual spin on turn-based combat. Players fight against an endless empire across parallel dimensions, with each run telling its own bittersweet story. The timeline-based battle system makes turn order itself a weapon, letting players interrupt enemy attacks or set up devastating combos.
The art style bursts with neon color, but the story is surprisingly grim. Heroes die permanently, victories are temporary, and the empire always adapts. It’s less about a final win and more about slowing the inevitable, making each battle feel like part of a much larger, more tragic war.
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