Best Turn-based cRPGs

Best Turn-based Tactics cRPGs

In cRPG History turn-based tactics computer role-playing games have largely been developed for combat connoisseurs, tactics aficionados and elite gamers, but many of these computer games can be enjoyed by general gamers as well.

In turn-based tactics the player and the AI take turns in issuing orders to their combat units, and the battles (movement, attacks) continue in discrete turns until the player has won, the AI has won, or the player aborts the mission or leaves the combat zone.

Turn-based tactics computer games are often contrasted with:

• Fully real-time computer games such as Dungeon Master and Diablo
• Active pause computer games such as Darklands and Baldur's Gate

Just because a computer game is turn-based, doesn't make its combat system good. Some turn-based combat systems are garbage even in comparison to active pause combat systems, such as the Infinity Engine combat system.

However, when executed correctly the turn-based combat system is supreme. The combat systems of Diablo and Baldur's Gate are absolute laughing stocks in comparison to the best turn-based combat systems.

Consider also that the best strategy games are also turn-based, not real-time. The genre of turn-based strategy games has been the most elite genre in gaming for the past four decades. We're talking about seminal games and industry prime-movers -- they are turn-based.

Seminal Turn-based Tactics

Since they heavily influenced the greatest turn-based tactics computer games of all-time, the seminal turn-based tactics franchise is Rebelstar Games ZX Spectrum.

A List of the Best Turn-based cRPGs

Ranked in order of their greatness, the best turn-based cRPGs on the PC platform are as follows:

• Jagged Alliance 2 Sir Tech 1999
• Fallout 1 Interplay 1997
• Fallout 2 Black Isle Studios 1998
• Arcanum Troika 2001
• Silent Storm Nival Interactive 2003
• Temple of Elemental Evil Troika 2003
• X-COM: Apocalypse Mythos Games 1997
• X-COM UFO Defense Mythos Games 1994
• Jagged Alliance IBM PC MS-DOS MadLab 1995
• Steel Panthers SSI 1995
• Kampfgruppe Amiga 1988
• Dungeon Rats Iron Tower Studios 2016
• Lords of Chaos Amiga 1991 Mythos Games
• Laser Squad IBM PC DOS Target Games 1992
• Space Crusade IBM PC DOS Gremlin Interactive 1992
• Master of Magic Simtex 1994
• Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri Firaxis 1999
• Betrayal at Krondor Dynamix 1993
• Dark Sun: Shattered Lands SSI 1993
• Pool of Radiance SSI 1988
• Buck Rogers Games SSI 1990-92
• DragonLance Games SSI 1990-92
• Heroes of Might and Magic 1995

If we rank strictly by tactical combat system and combat encounter design:

• Jagged Alliance 2 (Sir-Tech, 1999)
• X-COM UFO Defense (Mythos Games, 1994) [*]
• Jagged Alliance (MadLab, 1995)
• Silent Storm (Nival Interactive, 2003)
• Temple of Elemental Evil (Troika, 2003) Lacks verticality and destructibility
• Dungeon Rats (2016, Iron Tower Studios)
• X-COM: Apocalypse (Mythos Games, 1997)
• Steel Panthers (SSI, 1995) [*]
• Laser Squad (Target Games Ltd., 1992) [*]
• Master of Magic (SimTex, 1994) [*]
• Fallout 2 (Black Isle Studios, 1998)
• Fallout 1 (Interplay, 1997)

[*] Turn-based mode is persistent (the game never switches to real-time).

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