Alright, guys and gals, we have talked about many video game genres, but today we’re gonna talk about a less popular video game genre - turn-based style video games. Now, you might ask me, what exactly are turn-based games about?
Turn-based video games are about taking turns and planning your strategy - similar to chess. Kind of. Just less boring and on the PC! Anyways, I’ll save you my senseless explanations and begin with the article!
15. Sid Meier’s Civilization® VI
If you’re a fan of games where you control your empire, make alliances and partake in epic, top-down battles that will decide the future of you and your little empire - then this game is definitely for you. It’s a turn-based strategy game with relatively difficult strategy thinking required to thrive in this game - the game, nonetheless, is rewarding and fun!
14. Darkest Dungeon®
A game with fancy, cartoonish graphics with a gritty atmosphere - as the name suggests, you’ll be spending most of your time in dungeons where you’ll fighting off disturbing monsters and humans - not alone though, but with a group of allies that you can recruit as you progress on your adventure.
Be careful though, you and your buddies have a stress meter - make sure to relax them by visiting an inn or… I dunno, hugging them every once in a while? Anyways, the game is awesome - play it!
13. XCOM® 2
Spooky aliens have invaded the only thing that we hold dear - our beautiful planet Earth. For a game that’s turn-based, it has quite eye-pleasing graphics and fun gameplay. You’ll have units under your control and each time you’re about to take out an alien, you’ll get a cool killcam!
It’s strategy-based and has fun combat - it’s worth its price on Steam and most importantly, your time!
12. Total War: THREE KINGDOMS
You’ll be ruling one of the kingdoms in China. The most interesting part is the fact that it’s gonna be taking place in the year 190, so, that’s a pretty god damn long time ago. Battles are epic - command your unit of samurais and engage in large-scale battles with opposing factions!
The game is also pretty brutal, you can expect plenty of blood and screams of either your men or men from the different empire. Good luck and have fun!
11. GWENT: The Witcher Card Game
It’s like Hearthstone, but made by CD Projekt Red. And slightly better. In my opinion, at least - the game is a turn-based card game, where you can make your own deck and use it against the AI or online players. The game itself requires decent card synergy and strategic thinking - you’re not gonna win with some weird decks, so look up some guides on the interwebs!
10. Baldur's Gate 3
A cool game where you’ll be able to pick yourself a cool race and a looongggggg list of classes. The game brings out amazing character creation to make your guy look as unique as humanely possible. The world itself is big - you’ll face many threats, monsters and humanoids, and many other dangers.
In total - it’s an awesome RPG and you’ll fall in love with it for many hours on end. Try it out!
9. BATTLETECH
This one takes place in 3025 and you’ll have some kick-ass battleMechs under your command. Besides engaging in awesome and satisfying combat, you will also have to improve and fortify your base, negotiate with others and replace/improve your other BattleMechs. Cool voice acting and decent replayability are also icings on the cake!
8. Griftlands
A game where you’ll progress as a moral person, or as a complete scumbag. Welcome to Griftlands, a turn-based, roguelike deck-builder with many fun mechanics and fancy paper’ish graphics.
The game also creates an emphasis on the options that you take - so be careful, otherwise, some guy later on might be angry at you because you either stole something from them, killed their chihuahua, or whatever the hell!
7. Wildermyth
Options that you’ll undertake in this game will have consequences in the later parts of the game, in terms of the gameplay - it’s like chess. A very weird version of chess, you’ll fight with monsters, ghosts and perhaps other people. You’ll start as a peasant and eventually, with enough patience and time, become a fearless knight. Simple graphics and fun gameplay, what else can we say. The game is surely worth your time!
6. Wasteland 3
A fancy RPG that takes place in the post-apocalyptic state of Arizona. Arizona is usually sunny, unfortunately, it became a miserable wasteland after a few nukes were sent to hit it. Despite that, there are still some remnants of humanity in those inhospitable lands, your goal with be to make alliances and decisions that will alter your storyline.
It’s also up to you whether you’ll be a merciful, caring leader or a complete sack of crap that will be hated by everyone - up to you!
5. Warhammer 40,000 Battle Sector
Welcome to Warhammer, you’ll be forced to fight enemy factions that wish to exterminate you - that’s why you’ll have to improve and take care of your army, increase its numbers and train it to the point where it becomes impossible to beat.
It also has a cool campaign that consists of 20 missions in total. Long hours of fun and gruesome battles in a futuristic, Sci-Fi fashion. Must-try!
4. Warhammer 40k: Mechanicus
Another Warhammer game, cuz why not. This time you’ll be visiting a planet called Silva Tenebris, filled with hostile as hell, flesh-free, robotic creatures.
Look after your people, explore parts of the newly discovered planet and find new tech that you can use to your advantage, partake in decisions that will sometimes prove to be greatly beneficial, but at times regrettable as well. All those things are nice, but the epic battles that most Warhammer games offer are what’s the best about this game - mass-scale, gory madness!
3. Divinity: Original Sin 2
In my opinion, one of the best turn-based games where you’ll pick your favorite race - perhaps you wanna play as a lizardman, perhaps some elf or an undead - whichever race you pick, people will pick on you. Complex lore combined with exploration makes this game one of my favorite turn-based games to play.
Look after your homies, engage in awesome and diverse combat, discover new locations and acquire items as you progress. Sick!
2. ATOM RPG: Trudograd
Fallout and Wastelands decided to have a baby. Do you know what came out? ATOM RPG: Trudograd. This is another turn-based, post-apocalyptic cRPG with a long list of quests to complete and countless locations to visit.
You’re gonna be playing as a new character or as a continue to play as an ATOM RPG character. In both cases, your job will be to protect the remaining remnants of humanity, go on a suicidal mission filled with mutated, hostile creatures. Acquire powerful weaponry, armor that will keep you going on your adventures!
1. TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children
An sRPG with quite an unusual name. The game also has weeb graphics - a must for any weeb on the face of this planet. Besides that, the game revolves around exploring the world that you’re living in, learning how it works, and meeting more and more interesting characters as you progress.
One of the most unique features of this game is its unpredictable difficulty - you can’t really pick a difficulty for yourself, but predict it by engaging in combat with others. Masteries will allow you to customize your character to a great extend and make it even cuter than it was before. Yay!
TL;DR - it’s like XCOM. Worth the price and probably one of the coolest turn-based games out there!
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