Turn-based games are in a niche of the role-playing genre that is still home to some of the most popular franchises out there. And, while it's a realm in gaming that is, frankly, dominated by the Japanese market, the West should not be underestimated, having put out a number of fantastic turn-based RPGs.
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Of course, no game's mechanics are without their influences, but some transform them into something fresh, whether that's by way of presentation, tightening gameplay, or something else entirely. Here are some of the most unique turn-based battle systems found in Western games.
5 West of Loathing
Watch Out For Your Anger Meter
West Of Loathing
Aside from its hilarious, well done stick-figure art style, West of Loathing includes plenty of interesting aspects in its combat to keep player's interest. While the game's grid-based combat is nothing new to RPGs, there are a few other bits that are.
For instance, an anger meter grows each time the player gets knocked out, forcing them to go home when it gets filled up. To avoid the fate of some lost progress, the player utilizes some ridiculous classes like the Beanslinger, who summons beans (yes, the food) to do their bidding, making it easily one of the weirdest RPGs out there.
4 SteamWorld Heist
Wall Bangs Are Core To Combat
SteamWorld Heist
In SteamWorld Heist, you command a steam-driven pirate crew in a series of epic tactical shootouts. It's turn-based strategy with a twist: You manually aim the guns of your robots, allowing for insane skill shots and bullet-bouncing action!
As the captain you will board, loot and shoot your way through enemy spaceships. Overcome the challenges of the vast frontier by upgrading your recruits with unique abilities, weapons - and even stylish hats!
Strategy focused on skill rather than chance
Procedurally generated levels
15-20 hours of playtime, followed by New Game+
Kind to newcomers, deep and challenging for veterans
Expand the game with DLC
Soundtrack by Steam Powered Giraffe
The SteamWorld games have bounced around genres over the years, but are all held together by nuts and bolts made of pure fun. SteamWorld Heist is no different, taking the fun of strategy games and enclosing it within the hulls of the various Scrapper ships that the player must board and rummage through.
Those small spaces make for the perfect environment to have a little fun with Heist's interesting ricocheting mechanic. Wall bangs are the name of the game here, as players bounce bullets off steel to hit an enemy hiding behind cover. With a little time and practice, players will be skillfully blasting holes in enemy bots in no time.
3 Darkest Dungeon
Keeps Track Of Party Member's Stress Levels
Darkest Dungeon
The moment-to-moment stresses of delving deep into a cavern to face the unknown are heartily highlighted in Darkest Dungeon. Yet, the game seems to take pleasure leaning into those horrors, essentially torturing the player's party in this punishing roguelike.
As a given run goes on, characters are adversely affected by the dark and terrible locations they visit and enemies they encounter. Whether someone is killed in front of them, or everyone is met with some sort of horrifying eldritch beast, players have to keep track of their party member's stress levels. Let them get too high, and it could lead to a slew of debilitating vices — or even a heart attack induced insta-kill.
2 Wasteland 3
Put Wild Animals To Work During Combat
Wasteland 3
- Released
- August 28, 2020
- Developer(s)
- inXile entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Deep Silver
- Platform(s)
- PC
- Genre(s)
- RPG, Strategy
Wasteland 3's dire world, brought on by nuclear fallout, is a brutal one to be sure, and one that requires a fair bit of strategy to survive. Luckily, players and their squad don't have to go it alone. Along with the traditional guns and melee weapons, wild animals can be enlisted to give the player an edge in battle.
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Once they're let loose on the battlefield, these feral friends will wreak havoc for as long as they live. As such, they add a hefty bit of unpredictability to a skirmish. Though, in the post-apocalypse, is anything for certain?
1 South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Microaggression Mechanic Is Simple But Effective
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
- Released
- October 17, 2017
- Developer(s)
- Ubisoft San Francisco
- Publisher(s)
- Ubisoft
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- RPG
The Fractured But Whole is another excellent entry in the series of modern South Park RPGs that take tried and true role-playing game mechanics and place them in the wild world of the show. This time around, the game is one long play on today's superhero craze.
The same gut-busting social commentary of the show, as well as the last game, is present here. To see it, players need to look no further than the game's "Microaggressions." Here, enemies will make offensive remarks, giving the player a chance to rebut with a quick and powerful hit to their health bar. It's a simple mechanic, but one that can make a huge difference in battle.
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