Summary
When it comes to the newest consoles, the first thing that comes to mind is the giant action-adventure titles with gorgeous graphics and lifelike animations. This is not what every gamer wants, however. Even on the PS5, some gamers want a slower, more intimate experience. This is where tactics games come in.
The genre has a reputation for being obtuse, difficult, and inaccessible, but most of them are still incredibly fun. The difficulty and strategy are all a part of the entertainment. Besides, most of the games below offer multiple difficulty settings for newcomers or those who just want to enjoy the story. These tactics games on the PS5 remind gamers that gaming is about so much more than fast action and great graphics.
Good gameplay alone does not make a great tactics game. They also have to have a great story and compelling characters to reach the highest spots on this list.
For all these years,Metal Slughas been exclusively aside-scrolling run-and-gun shooter.Metal Slug Tacticstakes the game into a new genre. The aesthetics are all here, but the gameplay is completely different.
The structure is focused entirely on battles, making the game good for fans of the genre who want to jump straight into gameplay. The battles inMetal Slug Tacticsare small, with the player entering with just three units. True to theMetal Slugname, a tank occasionally deploys to assist in the fight. It doesn’t reach a higher spot on the list because of its simpler gameplay and technical issues.
Many gamers in the US and Europe missed out on the originalFront Missiongames since they only came out in Japan. Thankfully, the modern remakes made it to all territories. Even though these games are several decades old, they are still worth time and attention.
Players control mechs out on the battlefield, a fact that affects gameplay and strategies. Hurting individual parts of a mech affects its use in combat. Players have to consider whether it is worth it to aim for the body, which damages the unit’s overall health, or go for a body part to hinder its overall performance but does less overall damage.
The first three games in the series are all available as remakes on modern consoles.
As if a 100-hour game was not enough forPersona 5, various spin-offs have come out in the years since its release, includingPersona 5 Tactica.The game takes place during the school year depicted inPersona 5and is canon, but it will not provide any shocking revelations of new information essential to fans.
Its placement in the timeline is ambiguous enough to take place anywhere during the winter months. The tactical combat is intuitive and utilizes some mechanics fromPersona 5, only translated to the turn-based tactical format.
Some series march on under the radar, pleasing their niche fanbase while being unconcerned about reaching a wider market. It is possible that many readers have gone their whole lives without hearing aboutDisgaea, but the series is at its seventh main title.
The series distinguishes itself from its kin with irreverent humor, fantasy underworld settings, and a unique progression system that allows for absurd damage and absurdly high levels.Disgaea 7offers a lot of what fans would expect from the series along with a few new innovations.
Developer Vanillaware has been making niche RPGs for well over a decade.13 Sentinels: Aegis Rimelevated the developer’s profile, causing more people to look forward toUnicorn Overlord. Battles switch between large-scale movement of units and actual combat once opponents run into each other.
The combat encounters are quick, two-versus-two fights. The two phases of battles add a different layer of strategy and a small twist to the consideration of unit placement that is essential to most tactical games.
While many want nothing more than anXCOM 3from developer Firaxis, those who tried outMarvel’s Midnight Sunswere left pleasantly surprised. It is more than justXCOMwith a Marvel paint job.
The tactical gameplay still prioritizes movement, but this time, it includes deck-building mechanics. Players create their own hero, but the other units are mostly familiar faces from Marvel along with a few obscure legends only fans would recognize.
In addition to the tight gameplay,Midnight Sunsalso features incredible writing sure to please any fan of the comics.
This epic saga is just one game in a series taking place in the same continuity, but it stands on its own.Tactics Ogre: Rebornis aremaster of the cult classicTactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together.The hard-hitting narrative has some mention of magic and ancient curses, but most of the story is propelled by human interactions and betrayal.
The game presents players with choices at key points that affect future chapters and the ending. The combat is a clear predecessor toFinal Fantasy Tacticswith some minor adjustments.
