Summary
- Squad-based strategy games have been around for a long time, with XCOM setting the formula for others to follow.
- These games involve controlling a squad of characters and adjusting strategies to overcome obstacles.
- We list the best squad-based tactical/strategy games, each offering unique gameplay and enjoyable experiences.
Squad-based strategy games are seemingly timeless. They continue to be made, but the only real changes to the genre are upgraded graphics and sound. This is probably because one of the early examples of this type of game, XCOM, perfected the formula for everyone else to copy. These games typically consist of controlling a squad of characters across a level/map and having to adjust your strategy along the way due to obstacles. These ob🥃stacles can include anything from enemy troops to an actual physical obstruction, in your path.
This is a list of the best squad-based tactical/strategy games available. Many of the games listed are part of a franchise with numer💜ous other titles in their library, each of which is usually just as fun as the game which made the list.
Updated August 14, 2023, by William Quick: Strategy is not a genre for everyone when it comes to gaming as it can be quite challenging and time-consuming. However, if you're looking for a way to spend a few hours trying to outsmart other players or just well-programmed computer opponents, a strategic victory can be the most satisfying. There are a variety of strategy games that incorporate huge squads, teams, and even armies as you try to win battles and complete objectives.
Some are forgiving, while in others, your units only get one life, so you need to be far more cautious. This means that strategy can have some of the largest rosters of interesting and colorful characters that all bring something different to the table. Here are some of the best squad-based strategy games that you can bring to your table.
18 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together 💝
This spiritual predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics first came out on the SNES, Sega Saturn, and original PlaySඣtation in the 90s. It lꩵater received a re-release on the PSP, which is also playable on the Vita. The combat is similar to Final Fantasy Tactics, but the narrative differs greatly.
Mainly, the plot is more grounded, though magic and spells do take part in the gameplay. We recommend buying it on the PSP before it becomes too late, as a re-release does not seem like a p💯ossibility in the future.
17 SteamWorld Heist 🍃
Although Steampunk may have not had the impact as other industrial themes, its concept has spawned a lot of creative stories and media to enjoy. In gaming, a notable interpretation is the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:SteamWorld series set in a universe inhabited by robots tha⛎t operate on steam power. It hꦡas covered multiple genres and becomes more tactical with SteamWorld Heist.
The game follows the space-faring Captain Piper who travels with her pirate crew looking for adventure and taking odd jobs. As they journey, they'll board ships full of hostile crew members that they'll need to defeat. The game has an interesting take in that it's a turn-based strategy game set on a 2D plane which means levels and ricochets are quite important mechanics to master in order to make the most of your attacks. Coupled with the sheer number of crew mates, abilities, and weapons, this is an enjoyable and stylized graphic adventure.
16 W♏asteland 3
The first Wasteland came out in 1988, and fan▨s waited 26 years for a sequel, one of the largest sequel gaps in gaming history. Fortunately, Wasteland 3 only came out six years later in 2020, and brought with it a slew of changes to the formula.
One of the biggest additions was co-op. Players can either travel together as a par🔜ty or split up and do different quests simultaneously. This level of freedom in multiplayer for꧒ a narrative-driven RPG is impressive. The combat itself resembles XCOM games.
15 Disgaea
This cult classic series has been going steadily since its first entry on the PS2 in 2003. Like many RPGs of a similar ilk, ev💧ery🌳 entry takes between 30 and 60 hours to complete. Unlike similaꦏr games like Tactics Ogre and Final Fantasy Tactics, Disgaea is more humorous and easygoing in its nature, something complimented by the ꧑art style.
Disgaea 6 is currently set to come out exclusively to the Switch in the West, wh🥀ile the game is available on PS4 in Japan.
14 𒐪 Mario+Rabbids: Kingdom Battle 𓆉
When rumors of a Super Mario and Rabbid🅘s crossovꦬer were swirling, nobody could have imagined it was going to be a squad-based strategy game in the vein of XCOM. Fortunately, the aesthetic is much less threatening and the game is not nearly as difficult as its inspiration.
The game is hopefully a gateway for many to get into other games within the genre. The game's success makes us hope we receive a sequel or another crossover in the future.
13 Encased
It seems like every year there's a new game released set in some sort of 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:post-apocalyptic world, and it's becoming more and more difficult to make the circumstances and environments unique and creative. The lesser-known but well-made title Encased managed to do it while throwing in a bunch of mystery as well.
The game is set in an alternate history where countries have come together to examine a mysterious structure called the Dome. You play as someone sent in to explore the Dome and study a variety of anomalies that have been occurring. As you explore the world contained in the dome, you'll recruit some strange characters to your team as you balance between firearms, melee attacks, and psychic powers. Considering how dangerous the bandits and beasts can be, you need to manage your team effectively, or they may not survive more than one mission.
12 Valkyr༒ia Chronicles Remastered ඣ
Valkyria Chronicles was released in 2💃008 and develop𒁃ed by Sega for the PS3 and PC, and the remastered version was done by Media Vision and released for the PS4 in 2016, and the Switch in 2018.
Valkyria Chronicles is set in a fictional Europe where there are two major powers: the Empire and the Federation. Due to a scarcity of a needed resource called Ragnite, the two powers find themselves at war. The player is the commander of Squad 7 and must make the best use of the soldiers under their command. Valkyria Chronicles has wonderful visuals, the controls are simple, and the strategy can get pretty deep.168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Valkyria Chღronicles 4, ca༒me out in 2018.
11 J꧙agged Alliance: Rage
Jagged Alliance: Rage is the eleventh Jagged Al🐷liance game, and it lives up to the expectations of its fan base. In this series, the player hires quirky mercenaries to accomplish missions. The player controls the movements of the merce🅷naries across maps with top-down isometric views.
This game requires an ability to expertly evaluate situations and res🐭pond accordingly. Do you make your character run to cover the distance quicker, but risk alerting the enemy by making too much noise? Or do you move slowly and stealthily to make less noise, but possibly not move fast enough to avoid a patrol?
10 🥂Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus
Warhammer is a huge name in the tabletop community, starting first as a medieval fantasy warfare game before jumping into the far future with Warhammer 40,000. Considering how vast the universe is and how in-depth the lore surrounding it is, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Warhammer 40,000 has proven to be prime material for vid𒁏eo games, like the strategy affair of Mechanicus.
You play as part of the Imperium Faction, one of the most powerful and advanced in the universe. As such, you're given control over the Adeptus Mechanicus army which wields technology as if they were magical arts of destruction. With such power, your soldiers are sent to explore the darkest, most dangerous, and most unknown planets. You'll have the chance to change and alter your soldiers in various ways to give them even the slightest edge in combat which can spell the difference between loss and success.
9 ♋ BaꦗttleTech
Ba𝕴ttleTech is an enormously fun game set in the BattleTech universe that began in 1984. The player is the commander of a squad of mechs and has the freedom to outfit their squad as they wish. The level of control is fairly extensive; the player can choose the type of battle mech chassis, armor, pilots—referred to in-game as Mech warriors—and weapons, just to name some of the variables.
The controls are fairly simple to master, and the game looks fantastic, especially some of the c♛inematic views during battle. If you like a sci-fi setting more than fantasy settings for your squad-based tactical games, then this is one of the best options available.