10. The Banner Saga. Best tactical RPGs 2021

The Banner Saga looks just like a Disney movie.

SRPG is a purely console genre. Most of the games from this list were released either for Nintendo or PlayStation systems. The Banner Saga, however, is an exception; one of a few PC games that really deserve a spot among the greatest tactical RPGs.

At the same time, this is yet another game on this list that was inspired by Nordic mythology. The player leads a caravan fleeting annihilation from the hands of mythical creatures of stone that invaded their land. The decisions made during dialogues determine the fate of the party and even the outcome of subsequent installments in the series.

Combat-wise, The Banner Saga utilizes a system similar to that used in Resonance of Fate. We have two kinds of attacks –fixed on dealing health damage or armor damage – so the player needs to figure out whether it will be more effective to quickly deplete the enemy’s HP, or perhaps tear their defenses down first, and then employ the full offensive potential.

One of the greatest feathers in the Banner Saga’s cap is the visual design. The game just looks like an early 2000s Disney animation, it’s simply beautiful – you might want to move to Norway all of a sudden.

The Banner Saga is an interesting, multi-thread story complemented by good combat system and great visuals. Also a case in point proving that good SRPGs, such as Fire Emblem or Front Mission, don’t necessarily have to come from the East.

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9. Shining Force III

Just think – these graphics used to make people jealous.

The third installment in the Shining Force series is one of the games that are almost univocally called all-time classics. This game made buying Sega Saturn seem like a reasonable idea.

The plot in Shining Force III allowed us to play the part of a young warrior, a son of a venerable general. The young man takes part in a diplomatic mission that’s supposed to end a conflict with a neighbor country. Unfortunately, the noble idea is hindered by cultists who kidnap the emperor, because there’s nothing they wish more than to see our country crumble. The story is full of plot twists and other unexpected occurrences that constitute an addictive storyline.

Camelot Software used a simple but enjoyable turn-based combat system. You can get the hang of the rules in no time, and the battles are rather quick.

Shining Force III has one serious disadvantage, though. Only one-third of the game was released in the West – which doesn’t make loving this game easy. The game looks plain unfinished, which obviously spoils the end result big time and consequently eliminates this game from contesting top positions on the list. It’s too bad, because otherwise, Shining Force III would have no problem competing with the greatest games of the genre.

8. Fire Emblem: Awakening

The system of relations with companions in Fire Emblem: Awakening truly takes the game to the next level.

Fire Emblem is no doubt the ultimate SRPG developed to date. Unfortunately, as in the previous case, many installments of this franchise never reached Europe – we’ve chosen this game because it ushered the renaissance of this series in the West.

Fire Emblem is an epic tale set in fantasy kingdoms. What distinguishes this game from the crowd of similar productions is a unique system of relations between characters. They develop bonds which then influence battles, as well as allow us to learn what makes others tick. This makes the gameplay much more compelling, especially once you realize the game features permadeath.

Fire Emblem: Awakening is an extraordinary game for one simple reason: players from all over the world know it and played it, and then became interested in SPRGs thanks to this game. The series which had been addressed to hardcore gamers for years, finally opened itself to newcomers and casuals – you were able to turn the permadeath feature off and, consequently, enjoy the plot and the gameplay, even on the highest difficulty, without the fear of losing your favorite characters.

Awakening is the first installment in the series available for Nintendo 3DS, thanks to which the great game finally got the graphics it deserved. The portability of the Nintendo console is another advantage – you can either play a couple of short rounds, or indulge in a couple-hour-long session.

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7. Valkyria Chronicles

There’s nothing quite like dishing out some fresh bullets.

Our collection includes a couple of games that, to a varying extent, tried to blurr the lines of the genre and add different elements into the mix. No one did this better than Valyria Chronicles, a unique combination of SRPG and TPS by Sega.

The story is set amidst a conflict in an alternative version of Europe from the 1930s. One of the countries is attacked by a vicious neighbor – Emperor Maximilian. The game tells the story of another son of a general, who inherits after his father a tactical aptitude and… a tank. Which instantly makes him the leader of a small squad that is the last line of defense against the enemy. The story may not be overly ambitious, but the way in which it combines fiction with history is really something.

Gameplay-wise, Valkyria Chronicles is one of the most interesting entries on this list. It’s a very unusual strategy with a pinch of RPG, combining turn-based battles with controls straight from a TPP game. There’s a certain number of action points that allow us to choose our unit. Then you go into third person mode and take control over the character.

Valkyria Chronicles showed that crossing the boundaries of the genre can indeed be a great idea. It’s not the easiest game ever, but giving it a chance won’t hurt. Unfortunately, subsequent installments of the series were developed on conspicuously lower budgets and released only for PlayStation Portable.

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6. Front Mission 3

Big machine – big ego.

Front Mission 3 is the only installment in the splendid SRPG series that made it to Europe, so it’s the only representative of the franchise we could put on our list. The game by Square is an outstanding production, no two ways about it. Regardless of any publishing nuances, it deserves a spot here.

The action of Front Mission 3 takes place in the future (some 100 years from now). The protagonist is a test pilot for a new type of mechs called wanzers. Along with his friends, he becomes involved in a terrorist attack on military facilities. The story can develop along two separate paths, depending on which side of the conflict the player sides with.

Front Mission 3 is famous for its rich setting full of details, which wasn’t a common thing in the realm of SRPGs, provided by in-game internet websites that introduced a lot of context, allowing players to better understand the mechanics of the futuristic world.

Some players disapproved of the combat system, since special attacks and additional hero skills activate automatically, which obviously makes fights that more unpredictable.

Front Mission 3 really was a great game, and it’s such a shame that Square put the franchise aside. Who knows, perhaps the series would generate more interest if the remaining parts of it were released in Europe?

5. Fire Emblem: Three Houses

In a break from flirting, we can address, among other things, the Global conflict waged for dominance.

Just as Fire Emblem: Awakening allowed the series to make a comeback, Three Houses established itself as one of the biggest names in the sRPG genre. The latest installment of the series combines turn-based army combat with the development of our academy, in which we have to take care not only of the preparation of appropriate strategy and training of units, but also about the personal relations of recruits.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses, as the title suggests, offers us a choice of three families, which we will lead in a long campaign. As befits a Japanese RPG, there's plenty of political intrigue, church involvement in conspiracies, and heroic attitudes of nobles and knights. The story has not been taken lightly and provides a solid basis for the gameplay layer.

The title met a very warm reception, though we have to point out that a lot of attention in the game was paid to maintaining friendships and dating as generally understood. This is worth bearing in mind if you're looking for a more classic approach to gameplay.

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4. Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

The pinguin-ish demons called Prinnies simply have to be included in a game by Nippoin Ichi.

Disgaea 5 is the peak of Nippon Ichi Software’s portfolio. Out of all the games from Disgaea series, it felt like the most appropriate candidate to open the top three of our list.

Alliance of Vengeance revolves around the themes of revenge and cooperation. Demonic lords from other worlds have to tango with an army that’s razing everything that stands in their way. As is usually the case with Disgaea, we have a blend of humor and feels.

Disgaea 5 is probably the most complex SRPG. The ton of available options concerning units and battles can be overwhelming. Disgaea 5 was deliberately designed in such a way as to allow the players to spend hundreds of hours with it and still be able to find some new elements in the game. The enormous freedom adds incredible depth to Alliance of Vengeance. The sheer number of character classes can make your head spin. Then, there are the mechanics of enhancing items, influencing missions via senate voting or converting enemies into citizens of your own country – all adding to this extraordinary and complex game.

Only the greatest fans, those who are ready to spend a hundred hours in the game, will fully appreciate Nippon Ichi Software’s game. The reward for this dedication will be the best experience, gameplay-wise, the genre has to offer.

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3. Divinity: Original Sin 2

Visuals are the strong point of this production.

Divinity: Original Sin II, after a huge success of the previous installment, develops many ideas implemented by Larian studio in the original. The isometric view of the battlefield and RPG-compatible turn-based combat remains mostly intact, but there's more interactivity in the locations, allowing you to use the terrain to your advantage.

In contrast to the Japanese representatives of the genre, Divinity: Original Sin II doesn't shy away from interactions with other characters, and allows a lot of freedom in learning a multi-threaded story that depends on our decisions.

The strength of this production is also the multitude of gameplay options. The title offers a classic campaign and an arena-based PvP clash. Additionally, the PC release allows you to check out the sandbox game master mode, where we're limited only by RPG rules and our own imagination. If you're not convinced about playing it on PC, remember that the game has also come out for PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

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2. Final Fantasy Tactics

The profession system makes FFT one of the best SRPGs.

Final Fantasy Tactics is without a doubt the favorite game of most SRPGs fans. But it’s not just nostalgia that brings this game to the top of lists such as ours.

The game is set in the world of Ivalice. It somewhat evokes medieval Europe and is plagued by an ongoing war. The end of the 50-year conflict does not bring law and order; more quarrels arise and eventually a civil war breaks out. The most fascinating element of this game is the representation of social stratification in a medieval society. The heroes have different social backgrounds and thus different outlooks.

The characters can also learn new crafts and change specializations as the game progresses. This solution is rooted in Final Fantasy III and V, but in case of Tactics, it was mastered to perfection. Experimenting with different professions is half the fun the game offers.

Final Fantasy Tactics isn’t thought to be one of the best tactical role plays ever without a reason. The game, even today, provides hours upon hours of quality entertainment.

1. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

That’s what the best tactical RPG looks like.

Tactics Ogre was another game that we couldn’t play for a long, long time. I mean it: sixteen years had passed before we could finally play one of the best games in history. Just imagine.

Let Us Cling Together is in a way an ancestor of Final Fantasy Tactics – the key developers of Tactics Ogre were also the ones to develop FFT, so similarities are not hard to spot.

What warrants this game’s top position in the ranking is its story. The game depicts a very complex and epic story, more serious that you’d normally expect from a Japanese title. The main themes are purges in society and racial conflicts. These, rather gloomy, subjects are even more powerful if you’re aware that the premise of the story was inspired by the bloody war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This makes the events in the game much more real, tangible and suggestive.

Tactics Ogre is not only a story of the worst human flaws; it allows you to chose the paths of the characters. Many difficult decisions will have to be made along the way. The fate of the rebellion depends on the player.

The emotion-packed story makes Let Us Cling Together something more than just an SRPG. At the same time, Tactics Ogre doesn’t yield to other games from the genre in the gameplay department. And that pretty much makes Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together the ultimate tactical RPG that has ever hit the market.

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