Summary
Everyone knows that the RPG genre came out of the tabletop world and old-school war games, meaning that strategy and cunning have always been a part of the genre’s DNA since day one. The RPG genre has evolved since then, but even today, there’s a strain of hardcore tactical RPGs that retain the old-school desire for intense and difficult combat decisions.
Yet, modern TRPGs take the best from both worlds. They iterate on the brilliance of its wargaming heritage and infuse it with the role-playing customization that has become beloved in the genre, making some of the very best RPGs ever made.
With the boom inD&Din the past decade and the immense popularity ofBaldur’s Gate 3, it seems only a matter of time until theShadowrungames get their fair shake and moment in the spotlight, particularly considering the enduring popularity of the cyberpunk franchise. Essentially fusing cyberpunk and sci-fi,Shadowrunis a fantastic world to live in, that doesn’t skimp on the TRPG goods.
With one of the best RPG stories in recent memory and deeply strategic combat mechanics that test the player’s customization and build choices,Shadowrun Dragonfallis the best of both worlds It tests the player on every front and isa great entry point for beginnersinto theShadowrunworld.
The Fire Emblem games have reached such popularity and dominance that it’s fair to characterize them as the most popular TRPGs currently on the market, andFire Emblem: Three Housesonly solidified that solid reputation. Delivering on Fire Emblem’s trademark tactical combat and permadeath (though this can be turned off if desired), the latest in the franchise doesn’t coddle its players.
The customization runs deep inFire Emblem: Three Housesnot only due to the way characters and builds can be specced, but also because of the highly divergent pathways through the game world that tailor-makes a story for each player, delivering a unique experience each time. Add in some romance sim,brilliantly written characters, and visual novel elements, andFire Emblem: Three Housesreally does present itself as the full package.
It would be difficult to find anyone in the modern world who didn’t at least have a vague idea about D&D, and maybe even that inspired the game systems of games likeBaldur’s Gate 3, but less known of the brilliant Pathfinder game system that’s based off D&D’s 3rd edition that has directly led to brilliant video games, such as the much overlookedPathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.
Players take control of the Commander of the Fifth Crusade against hordes of demons in an adventure that is practically bursting with nerdy RPG goodness withmassive amounts of customization for each characterin the party as well as genuinely challenging combat encounters that will give a TRPG fan an absolute thrill. Anyone who enjoyedBaldur’s Gate 3needs to play this.
As one of the oldest digital TRPGs in video games, the XCOM franchise has taken its alien invasion premise and ran with it, forging one of the most venerated entries into the TRPG genre, regardless of a few bumps along the road. Best of all, it’s a fantastic place for inexperienced gamers to get their first taste of the TRPG goodness and feel the peculiar sting of characters permanently dying.
That trademark permadeath system makes every combat encounter with the aliens tense, thrilling, and a digital chess match requiring symbiotic build customization,class combinations, and sound tactical thinking. It delivers on every front, andXCOM 2’s DLC is a fantastic expansion to an already fearsome game.
In a very general sense, TRPGs tend to be more popular by Western developers, perhaps due to its legacy in TTRPG games, but Japan has released some of the best TRPGs ever made, and for gamers looking for a visceral punch-in-the-face TRPG goodness with no frills, it’s hard to get any better than the fearsomeDisgaea 5.
Boasting near infinite dungeons, an absurdly deep class and leveling system, mind-boggling amounts of party-builds, and best-in-class tactical gameplay,Disgaea 5is for the hardcore players that want their TRPGs challenging and straight to the point.
Among TRPG fans, the great white whale is a true modern sequel to the brilliantFinal Fantasy: Tacticswhich has never seen the light of day. However, in 2022, Square Enix surprised the world by releasingTriangle Strategy, a spiritual sequel toFinal Fantasy: Tacticsin all but name that finally gave those old-school fans the fix they were looking for.
With a powerful narrative, deep grid-based combat with upgradable and customizable characters, as well as an increasingly complex set of game systems tailor-made for tactical role-play goodness,Triangle Strategymay not be the sequel toFinal Fantasy: Tacticsthat many wanted, but it was what the gaming world certainly needed.
1Final Fantasy Tactics
The OG Still Has It
As good as some modern TRPGs might be, respect must be paid to the original greats, and in the TRPG world, no game casts as large a shadow asFinal Fantasy Tactics, the game that introduced an entire generation into the TRPG space, and delivered one of the TRPG genre’s most complete and customizable experiences.
Set on an isometric field, battles inFinal Fantasy Tacticsare always a tense and satisfying push and pull between terrain manipulation, ability usage, and party composition, where one mistake can cost big, but effective planning and tactical decision-making can result in incredibly satisfying victories. No game has ever done it quite as well, and it’s hard to imagine any other TRPG ever will.
