Tactical RPGs can take a while to get used to, as they’re one of the most complex types of RPGs out there. Players need to learn hero and enemy types, moves, classes, mechanics, and more. Also, some of the best tactical RPGs have missions that can easily take an hour or longer to complete on a regular basis.
Tactical RPGs are a big investment, but they are rewarding, especially when the mechanics, complicated or not, have satisfying gameplay loops. From classics of decades past to more recent examples, these tactical RPGs can be addictive despite having simple ideas. They still rank among the best of what the genre has to offer.
Best RPGs That Reinvented Tactical Combat
These tactical RPGs didn't just make a mark on the genre; they reinvented the very idea of tactical combat and changed gaming forever.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
Tactical Brilliance
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles
- Released
- September 30, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen / Fantasy Violence, Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Mild Language, Drug Reference
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG, Strategy
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is back and better than ever before with this remaster. It was addictive on the PS1 and even better now on consoles like the Switch 2, as players don’t ever have to stop playing.
The game involves a typical grid-based setup wherein players can choose their characters and classes called Jobs. Leveling up those Jobs and unlocking skills or new Jobs is what makes it such an addictive hook, and it’s great to see this classic return for so many first-time players.
Fire Emblem Awakening
No Longer A Prisoner Of Save Scumming
Fire Emblem: Awakening
- Released
- February 4, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Strategy
Fire Emblem Awakening was the first game in the series in the West to feature a Casual mode that didn’t add permadeath to battle. This greatly simplified the grid-based tactical gameplay as players didn’t have to worry about losing units permanently. The system was still there if players wanted, but they could also approach it as a more relaxing experience. Mechanically, it worked well as a 3DS game for on-the-go gaming, and it’s still fun now for anyone who has the system still lying around.
Mario + Rabbids Sparks Of Hope
Mario Finally Gets A Gun
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope
- Released
- October 20, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Cartoon Violence
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope is the second game in the series starring Mario and his familiar friends teaming up with Rabbids, which are cosplaying as citizens from the Mushroom Kingdom. Each character has their own distinct role, and the combat was improved over the original, featuring combo moves to get an advantage over enemies.
8 Best Tactical RPGs That Get Better As You Play
Stick with these tactical RPGs to have a magical experience.
The difficulty was also toned down, adding more fun and whimsy to the gameplay instead of focusing on difficult maps. It’s a good game to put on the Switch 2 now, as it runs better too, and overall it’s a good Mario-based RPG.
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
Coon And Friends
South Park: The Fractured But Whole
- Released
- October 17, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Blood and Gore, Mature Humor, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
South Park: The Fractured But Whole is a direct sequel to South Park: The Stick of Truth, starring the new kid of South Park. These are both good South Park games, but this time, instead of a fantasy world, the kids are now playing superheroes.
The turn-based gameplay of the previous game was thrown out in favor of adding grid-based tactical elements, but they aren’t difficult to understand as the game is more about the comedy. Players can choose the powers for their customizable new kid, from using ice to moving at incredible speeds.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Card-Based Tactics
Marvel's Midnight Suns
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Marvel’s Midnight Suns has a lot of great elements to make it an immersive Marvel game, like a fully customizable hero and the ability to interact with familiar heroes back at base. The campaign is mostly linear, with players going from map to map, but there are some side activities too.
In battle, each character has a distinct deck of cards that can be used for movement or action. Players can create some clever strategies if they want, and the card-based mechanics are not as complex as other collectible card RPGs like Yu-Gi-Oh.
Unicorn Overlord
An RTS-Style RPG
Unicorn Overlord
- Released
- March 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Unicorn Overlord is the latest game from Vanillaware, whose games often have easy-to-understand gameplay quirks. Instead of marching individual units onto grid-based boards, players create mini-squads of characters.
8 Best Tactical RPGs You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
Even hardcore tactical RPG fans may find themselves perplexed by these games.
Players march freely on the map, akin to an RTS, and when squads encounter enemies, the battles will play out automatically. They do have to worry about how to position characters in each squad, as it does make a difference. But overall, this unique approach to tactical RPGs is a great one for beginners, while also having innovative mechanics for those who want to dive deep.
Persona 5 Tactica
Wave The Red Flag
Persona 5 Tactica
- Released
- November 17, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Partial Nudity, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical
Persona 5 Tactica is a tactical, non-canon spinoff to Persona 5 wherein the Phantom Thieves are whisked away to another world. In this game, they don’t have to worry about school or bonding much with teammates. Instead, it’s all about the gameplay.
Each character has their strengths without being able to switch between classes. It’s a less complex version of a Persona game and a tactical RPG, which makes it a good entry point, but fans of Persona 5 will definitely get a lot more out of it.
Pokemon Conquest
An Ambitious Crossover
Pokemon Conquest
- Released
- June 18, 2012
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone due to Mild Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Pokemon Conquest has yet to leave the DS, but if players are thinking about playing Fire Emblem Awakening on the 3DS, they may as well hunt down a cartridge of this game too. It’s a crossover with the Nobunaga’s Ambition strategy series. Each historical figure of Japan gets a Pokemon as their partner, and the goal is to unite Japan one province at a time through grid-based combat on relatively small maps. The Pokemon have limited moves, akin to the main games, so it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out which Pokemon is strong against which.
Best RPGs That Subvert The Genre
Genre norms were more of a suggestion for these RPGs; they took them into consideration, but then flipped many of those norms on their heads.