Your Top 10 Tactical-RPG games?

[Karnik]

I know that many here are lazy (especially some brats) and get tired of reading ramblings, and what's more they often just read the title of the thread and that's it, so I'll be brief and cut to the chase, mentioning my ten favorites. Titles that I know well having studied thoroughly and finished them, some even several times.
1) Mangagamer's Sengoku Rance (pc);
2) S.R.W.Alpha Gaiden (psx) and S.R.W.A. Portable (psp);
3) Tear Ring Saga (psx);
4) Der Langrisser (snes) and Langrisser IV (psx);
5 Fire Emblem 8 (gba) and related hacks;
6) Final Fantasy Tactics (psx);
7) Saiyuki; Journey West;
8) Devil Survivor (nds);
9) Feda: Emblem of Justice (snes);
10) Shining Force II (md)
Well, ultimately there are more than ten, but some have snuck in against my intention.
There are many others interesting but, hell, I even have to let you list some, don't I?
I end this with a curiosity: I waited many years in vain for someone to finally translate the legendary Albert Odyssey (snes) into english, but unfortunately it never happened; instead, to my great amazement, the D.D. team unexpectedly translated the obscure and insignificant Galaxy Robo (snes) lately, which I consider to be the worst t-rpg game existing for that console, and perhaps of the entire genre. What the hell!
Anyway, what are your 10 favorite titles of this genre?
Greetings.
Yours truly.

 

[RustySK]

Had to think on this one, I've played quite a few, but this genre tends to blend together into franchise-specific mechanics in my mind as opposed to individual games.

I can't really rank these games in any specific order, since I like them all for distinct reasons, so in no particular order:

Fire Emblem - Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem - Path of Radiance
Fire Emblem 7 (and many of the hundreds of GBA romhacks)
Tactics Ogre - Let Us Cling Together
Final Fantasy Tactics - War of the Lions (specifically with the slowdown fix!)
Battle Brothers
XCom 2 - War of the Chosen
Shining Force 3
Unicorn Overlord (not sure if this one counts?)
Heroes of Might and Magic 3 (again, not sure whether this one counts)
Disgaea 2

Hell of a genre. FFT in particular is still such a benchmark for videogame storytelling my mind that I can't help but be disappointed with most JRPG stories to this day whenever I compare them to it. Really wish Squeenix would just release that rumored remaster already.

 

[Strategist]

I know that many here are lazy (especially some brats) and get tired of reading ramblings, and what's more they often just read the title of the thread and that's it, so I'll be brief and cut to the chase, mentioning my ten favorites. Titles that I know well having studied thoroughly and finished them, some even several times.
1) Mangagamer's Sengoku Rance (pc);
2) S.R.W.Alpha Gaiden (psx) and S.R.W.A. Portable (psp);
3) Tear Ring Saga (psx);
4) Der Langrisser (snes) and Langrisser IV (psx);
5 Fire Emblem 8 (gba) and related hacks;
6) Final Fantasy Tactics (psx);
7) Saiyuki; Journey West;
8) Devil Survivor (nds);
9) Feda: Emblem of Justice (snes);
10) Shining Force II (md)
Well, ultimately there are more than ten, but some have snuck in against my intention.
There are many others interesting but, hell, I even have to let you list some, don't I?
I end this with a curiosity: I waited many years in vain for someone to finally translate the legendary Albert Odyssey (snes) into english, but unfortunately it never happened; instead, to my great amazement, the D.D. team unexpectedly translated the obscure and insignificant Galaxy Robo (snes) lately, which I consider to be the worst t-rpg game existing for that console, and perhaps of the entire genre. What the hell!
Anyway, what are your 10 favorite titles of this genre?
Greetings.
Yours truly.

Did you seriously rank a porn game as your top tactics game? Lmao. Above final fantasy tactics. I don't know what to say to that other than to shake my head.

Anyway, my list is the following:

1. Triangle Strategy (incorporates the best elements of Tactics Ogre and Divinity:OS into one neat package. Story branches galore.)
2. Berwick Saga (Probably the best Shouzou Kaga non-Fire Emblem game. The Mercenary system is pretty unique.)
3. Brigandine: Grand Edition (Good mix of turn based tactics and territory control)
4. Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (Probably the most accessible Fire Emblem game and has a neat shonen style story.)
5. Final Fantasy Tactics (Great story and many options for building characters, but there are some design elements that haven't aged well)
6. Ogre Battle (Army building, real time strategy and territory control. Morality system.)
7. Divinity: Original Sin 2 (Hardcore tactics RPG strategy, gets really challenging as it goes)
8. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (A more casual version of Fire Emblem, mixed with some military academy simulation elements.)
9. Valkyria Chronicles (Good mix of turn based tactics and real time action)
10. Shining Force 2 (probably the best strategy game for beginners)

 

[mesmer]

Some of my favorites, and more obvious choices:

• Dragon Force 1 & 2
• Ogre Battle [SAT] and Tactics Ogre [SAT]
• Shining Force 3, Shining Force 2, Shining Force CD
• Final Fantasy Tactics
• Fire Embles series
• Langrisser/Warsong [MD] and others in the series
• Front Mission series
• Nintendo Wars series (Super Famicom, Advanced, etc)
• Bahmut Lagoon

Some lesser known goodies:

• Faselei! [NGPC]
• Military Madness [PCE]
• Vandal Hearts [SAT/PSX]
• Sakura Wars [SAT]
• Ginga Ojousama Densetsu Yuna 3 [PSX]
• Super Robot Wars series
• Majin Tensei series

 

[Karnik]

many of the hundreds of GBA romhacks of 8

I'm happy that another gamer appreciates these alternative and brilliant fan titles in the series.

FFT in particular is still such a benchmark for videogame storytelling my mind that I can't help but be disappointed with most JRPG stories to this day whenever I compare them to it.

I share the interest in its plot, which is serious, complex and mature, but the gameplay and maps were a bit repetitive for my tastes.

Did you seriously rank a porn game as your top tactics game?

The hentai scenes are there, but they are marginal and useless. Instead, the complexity of the plot, the zany, typically Japanese irony, the bizarre and funny characters, the fighting mechanics, the captivating music; all this makes it a masterpiece of the genre.You have to play it to judge, at least the beginning; the hentai part can easily be sent to hell, without thinking twice!

 

[RustySK]

Front Mission series

I totally forgot about the Front Mission series! Front Mission 3 would absolutely be on my list as well.

I'm happy that another gamer appreciates these alternative and brilliant fan titles in the series.

I share the interest in its plot, which is serious, complex and mature, but the gameplay and maps were a bit repetitive for my tastes.

The romhacking scene for the GBA titles really illustrated to me just how much you can actually do with the TRPG framework. Some hacks out there spin the genre into such unique experiences, it's amazing.

As for FFT - yeeeah, I can totally understand where you're coming from there. Aside from the story and presentation, I think I mostly love it for its wide variety of character builds.

There's really only one map I can think of in that game that I genuinely like on its own - the boss battle against Gafgarion where you're separated from your team and have to either handle him solo or open the gate asap. (or use any of the more out there, character build specific tricks)

 

[Strategist]

The hentai scenes are there, but they are marginal and useless. Instead, the complexity of the plot, the zany, typically Japanese irony, the bizarre and funny characters, the fighting mechanics, the captivating music; all this makes it a masterpiece of the genre.You have to play it to judge, at least the beginning; the hentai part can easily be sent to hell, without thinking twice!

Are you sure about that? I've heard that the Rance JRPGs are jank as hell. I'll have to take your word for it because I doubt I'll play it anytime soon.

I totally forgot about the Front Mission series! Front Mission 3 would absolutely be on my list as well.

My favorite Front Mission game is Front Mission 5: Scars of War on the PS2. It was never released in North America but has an excellent fan translation. Still need to finish it, but it is far above any other FM game I've played.

The romhacking scene for the GBA titles really illustrated to me just how much you can actually do with the TRPG framework. Some hacks out there spin the genre into such unique experiences, it's amazing.

Fire Emblem: Sacred Stones deserves an honorary award for inspiring the FE Romhacking scene for sure. So many good hacks out there. My favorite is Iron Emblem, for all those ironman lovers. It is hard to rank FE8 above other excellent FE games though.

 

[Karnik]

I totally forgot about the Front Mission series!

I too have forgotten about these games: the legendary title for SNES with isometric view, then F.M.3 for psx and above all F.M.2: you don't know how long I waited for them to finish its translation, instead the whole part outside of combat scenes remained in japanese, while the translated part used the horrible giant font already available, creating truncated and disjointed sentences: no new font implemented, a faulty, beginner's job.

 

[ATenderLad]

Gonna be a ton of overlap on these lists no doubt, but let's see...

-X-Com 2: War of the Chosen, still probably the best game of its kind.
-Unicorn Overlord, a phenomenal Ogre Battle successor (minus Yasumi Matsuno's storytelling, sadly).
-Disgaea 5, the series best to date, I've sunk ages into this.
-Wargroove, the update to Advance Wars that Intelligent Systems wasn't going to make.
-Project X Zone 2, a very different kind of SRPG, it's fanservice all the way down but I love the free-wheeling fanfiction energy, wish this had a sequel.
-Bahamut Lagoon, there's still just nothing quite like it, so much synergy between your monster raising and unit building.
-Fire Emblem 7, a touch nostalgic on my part but the GBA titles are still the best the series has ever been, and this one is a sweet spot between the simplicity of 8 and the absolute slog of 6.
-Into the Breach, this is pretty light on the RPG so I don't know if it counts, but it *is* the best modern strategy game, maybe the best ever made.
-Final Fantasy Tactics, we're all gonna list this one right? It's what everyone thinks of when the genre gets brought up
-Front Mission 3, buuuuut I've barely started the translated Front Mission 5, which I've heard tell is the superior game, excited to find out.

 

[Cu-Neo]

- The Front mission games
- Stella Glow
- Saiyuki Journey to the west
- the Devil survivor games
- Langrisser 1 and 2
- Fire emblem Awakening
- FF tactics
- Hyperdimension Noire goddes black heart
- Valkyria chronicles (it has a mix of strategy and action)
- Luminous Arc

 

[Bonkers225]

Front Mission 3
Tactics Ogre
Final Fantasy Tactics
Fire Emblem Awakening
Fire Emblem Fates
Super Robot Taisen OG 2
Valkyria Chronicles 2
Disgaea 3
Disgaea 4
Super Robot Taisen J

 

[Stingy Perry]

10.Rhapsody A Musical Adventure (psx) the nds one more of turn based rpg. 9.Luminous Arc series. 8.Tactics Ogre Let Us Cling Together. 7.Shin Megami Tensei Devil Survivor 1 & 2. 6.Shining Force Resurrection of the Dark Dragon. 5.Super Robot Taisen OG 1 & 2. 4.Front Mission 3. 3.Final Fantasy Tactics WOTL. 2.SRW A portable, SRW Z2 and SRW Gaiden Masoukishin 1 & 2. 1.Growlanser 4 Wayfarer of Time.

 

[BigTony]

I couldn't think of 10 so here's 7 in no particular order
Battle Moon Wars
Ecsafrom
Wasteland 2
Project X Zone
Valkyria chronicles 3
Xcom
Metal Slug Tactics

 

[TheWanderer]

1-Devil Survivors
2-FF tactics
3-Luminous arc 3
4-Monark
5-Triangke strategy

 

[Strategist]

Speaking of tactical games, I'm currently working my way through Langrisser 2 on the Genesis. Really solid game, would probably be an honorable mention for me so far.

 

[RageBurner]

All right, let's see if I can name 10 in no particular order.

1) Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis (I like it more than more famous TO)
2) Shining Force (the whole true franchise, from 1 to 3, including Gaidens)
3) Vanguard Bandits (cool PS1 mecha game, I feel like it's underrated. I wish it had a patch to undo Working Designs butchering).
4) Makai Kingdom (to me it has more charm and fun than mainline Disgaea)
5) Front Mission (whole franchise)
6) Arc The Lad (I love this trilogy, I feel it's not talked about enough)
7) Dragon Force (especially the second)
8) Vandal Hearts (mostly the first; the Saturn version is definitive)
9) Majin Tensei 1 and 2 (very cool SMT spinoffs, do yourself a favor and don't touch Ronde)
10) Final Fantasy Tactics (both WotL and FFTA2 are amazing).

 

[stealthRUSH]

1. Langrisser IV
2. Shining Force III
3. Namco × Capcom
4. Mystaria: The Realms of Lore / Blazing Heroes / Riglord Saga
5. Dragon Force
6. Sakura Wars / Sakura Taisen
7. Guardian War / Powers Kingdom
8. Kartia: The Word of Fate / Legend of Kartia / Rebus
9. Vanguard Bandits / Epica Stella
10. Wachenröder

Honorable mention: Warsong / Langrisser I+II, Dragon Force II, Front Mission III, Battle Blues.

 

[Karnik]

Speaking of tactical games, I'm currently working my way through Langrisser 2 on the Genesis.

If I'm not mistaken, the game is identical to Der Langrisser (snes), that is to say the same plot, characters and maps, but the graphics are rougher and less colourful. Still cute though.

 

[RageBurner]

If I'm not mistaken, the game is identical to Der Langrisser (snes), that is to say the same plot, characters and maps, but the graphics are rougher and less colourful. Still cute though.

Der Langrisser looks prettier, but not only that. It's massively expanded (more classes, more plot branches, more characters to recruit, more everything, really. Every Langrisser 2 release thereafter is based on it.

 

[Strategist]

Der Langrisser looks prettier, but not only that. It's massively expanded (more classes, more plot branches, more characters to recruit, more everything, really. Every Langrisser 2 release thereafter is based on it.

Massively? I didn't know that. I thought it was minor differences. I also heard they made Der Langrisser easier and don't like when they do that.

I also really dig the Genesis sound. Yeah it is less colorful than the SNES, but not significantly so.

 

[Karnik]

Massively? I didn't know that. I thought it was minor differences.

I thought so too.