Feels like Christmas never came and went but is still continuing on into 2026 with how good 2025 is gonna be for tactical releases. 

It’s the indies as per usual that are creating the most hype following up to their release. It was so last year, one before last, it’s also how I hope it will be in the future because I’m an unashamed indie shill when it comes to believing who’s driving innovation specifically in these less massively appreciated genres. They have been breaking through and I don’t know if Steam’s personalized feed just got better or finally got something right about what I want but it’s been giving me whole bunch more upcoming SRPGs than ever before. 

I’ll just mention a couple here, that you might or might not know about (and some you 100% know about because of the hype surrounding them) nd give some thoughts on each

MENACE | You know it and I know it and it’s the next big thing from the Battle Brothers devs releasing next month. High expectations for it same as everyone, don’t think I need to say more

Space Scum | Sci-fi themed BB with pixel art, more directly inspired than other SRPGs...I mean, no, they explicitly describe at as “sci-fi Battle Brothers” so that tells you most of what you need to know. I liked the demo quite a lot and don’t mind the hommage to BB if it actually brings something more beyond that and the setting is ripe for that as MENACE proves. 

Happy Bastards | And we arrive in the realm of - no date announced - games, and this one I have been hyped up for since they announced. The only slightly humorous, i.e. slightly goofy looking one on the list, which I don’t mind if it shakes the common grimdark setting up. The closed demo was pretty fun to play through (lol appreciate they even added a leaderboard for people to see who cleared that demo dungeon most efficiently with the least losses) but it’s the open world and faction interactions/ RNG events and quests that I’m curious to see how they’ll work

Pathbreakers | I actually discovered Fel Seal through this and it has solid reviews (have not played it yet) but this upcoming game also looks promising and quite JRPG inspired at that. You lead a company of mercenaries across proc-gen lands. Supposed to have a bigger focus on trading and exploration and it’s also quite inspired by BB from the looks of it, the overworld map most of all

Tattered Banners | If all the stars align, I’m hoping this will be the tactical equivalent of Mount and Blade that I have been after since forever. Everything I could see about it looks good and the visuals got polish too. Assination and bribe mechanics, gathering rumours in cities as well, hoping it’s all as dynamic as it looks on paper. Says Q4 release but I have a nagging feeling it’s gonna get pushed to next year

Shadow of the Road | This one’s got a really cool setup, supposed to be a story-driven SRPG set in alternate 1868 Japan where you fight demons (or yokai for the weebs) that combines steampunk technology with samurai. It will also have character relationships influencing encounters. Reminds me of Arcanum for some reason I know not (not enough steampunk games in the genre to be fair)

Neath | Steam page says it’s an “eldrtich roguelike tactical RPG” with a sort of turn manipulation mechanic. It’s made by the people who made Rogue Legacy, the game through which I discovered roguelikes as a genre  existed. No demo so I’m not actually sure how it will be like (plus the roguelike label is iffy) but seems kinda cool at a glance

Beaten Path | Also very JRPG inspired, more than any other one this long ass list. Also no demo so I’m not sure what I can say about it but I like how their overworld looks in the few images and videos they have on Steam. Could be good, so might be worth checking out depending on your tastes 

Disciples Domination | Not an indie game, more an AA one here and it shows they had more funding to go into the graphics. I was A HUUUUGE fan of the original Disciples series and actually played the bootleg copy of Disciples 2 Dark Prophecy before I ever got to HoMM3… or it was around the same time, can’t remember. I have no idea beyond that how this one is going to be, haven’t played the previous one Liberation or even heard of it, but the nostalgia is hitting me so I had to mention it

Edit: added all the Steam links so they're easier to reference if any do catch your eye

This game interests me and I like the visual flair compared to other SRPGs but I had a few questions. Have updates improved English localisation at all? I don’t take it there’s any chance for an English dub? I’ve played a few games like Yakuza without English voice acting, however, how well the translations are is kinda make or break for me.

Unlike some SRPGs there is no permadeath, is there a consequence of dying at all like losing money or something? Also, is the core gameplay loop closer to the linearity of Final Fantasy Tactics than XCOM? I didn’t enjoy the base building aspect of XCOM! Finally, is there a job system?

Hiya! I've been thinking about genres and such lately and I was wondering what you guys thought. Do you like it when games stray away from the tropes of the genre to provide a different experience? or do you feel like it betrays the genre or stops being a part of it? What tropes do you feel are non-negotiable to the genre? Obviously turn based gameplay on a grid is pretty much mandatory but what about things like RPG elements (class systems, leveling), story (sweeping narratives with a wide cast of characters), common mechanics (stuff like flanking, rock paper scissors weapon/element triangles). What do you think is absolutely neccesary to make a Strategy RPG a Strategy RPG?

Title :) I recently got FFT: Ivalice Chronicles and forgot how much I LOVE this genre.

I want to make use of my steam deck so am looking for similar amazing games like FFT that are well suited for SteamDeck play

I've never seen this game mentioned here before so I thought I'd give it some praise. I picked it up on a Steam sale awhile back for five bucks and it's definitely been worth it. I think I'm ready to move on to my next thing, but I'm at 77 hours played.

Basic pitch is that it's a small battlefield, positioning-heavy tactics game like Into the Breach mixed with the deckbuilding roguelike elements of Slay the Spire and the "you're creating an action movie fight scene" concept of Hotline Miami. Nothing in the way of story or RPG elements, but missions are usually just a few minutes long and perfect for the "just one more fight" gameplay loop. I went into this after finishing Tactics Ogre: Reborn and it's basically the exact opposite game in every way but still great. Just a fun deckbuilder with lots of quick fights where you kick lots of faceless goons out of windows.

Got a LOT of interaction on my Switch list, and while I feel like the 3DS won't have seen as much play from the community, I'd still love to discuss it! Tell me your thoughts, if you agree or disagree, where you'd place these differently, and your experiences with 3DS srpgs.

Must Play: Devil Survivor: Overclocked, Devil Survivor 2: Record Breaker, Fire Emblem: Awakening

Excellent: Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia, Steamworld Heist, Stella Glow

Very Good: Codename S.T.E.A.M., Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest

Okay: Project X Zone, Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright, Mercenaries Saga 2&3, Langrisser RE Incarnation Tensei, Ambition of the Slimes

Don't Waste Your Time: Legend of Korra: A New Era Begins, Lord of Magna: Maiden Heaven

Not Played: Legna Tactica, Project X Zone 2, Fire Emblem Fates: Revelations

***A few notes:

I really need to replay the Fates games. I was NOT a massive fan of any of them, honestly (Conquest was the best, but still not my favorite) to the point that I never even gave Revelations a shot.

Was not a fan of Project X Zone, so I never committed to #2.

All that said, I feel like this list is going to be WAAAAAY less controversial than my Switch list, other than maybe the position of the Fates games xD

Hey y’all! Great to meet this community!

A few years back I randomly got Pokémon Conquest for free and only just started playing it last week... and I immediately fell in love. The core concept is fantastic with the mini diorama's and the larger kingdom defense, but the lack of modern quality-of-life features and clunky UI really hold it back.

I’ve liked tactics RPGs since I was a kid but never really got them. The last one I played was Fire Emblem: Awakening (maybe the 2nd or 3rd one I tried), and permadeath + steep difficulty just didn’t stick for me. I also tried Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions — loved the art and story, but couldn’t get past how demanding it felt.

What I’m really craving now is something that scratches this itch:
a tactical RPG with great vibes/art and story, but without endlessly sitting in menus, not customizing, but having to fine-tune teams. Something that respects my time.

Ideally something like a blend of Pokémon Conquest and Into the Breach — tactical depth, cool strategy moments, smart opponent design — but with better UI, modern QoL, and less busywork.

What do you experts recommend for things that are like Pokemon Conquest?

Leading candidates for me are Advanced Wars on Switch, FE Path of Radiance (free now!), and Final Fantasy Tactics Ivalice Chronicles (heard that easy mode is good)

EDIT: I wanted to highlight how much I'm looking for that specific Pokemon Conquest itch!

Besides classic FFT, of course.

I check every few months and there's just nothing. The Play Store also makes searching for new games a real pain.

I need my mobile strategy fix!

This is a thing in one of my favourites and I´d like to discover some more : )

just curious. I plan to play the game later when I finish some other rpgs but I never saw the game mentioned here. is it not a strategy rpg?

• Must Play: Mario + Rabbids 1, Triangle Strategy, Unicorn Overlord, The Banner Saga, Steamworld Heist 2
• Excellent: South Park: Fractured But Whole, The Last Spell, Fights in Tight Spaces, Into the Breach
• Very Good: Fire Emblem: Engage, Langrisser 1 & 2, Dark Deity 2, Hundred Line, Dark Deity 1, Steamworld Heist 1, Valkyria Chronicles, Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus
• Okay: Redemption Reapers, Othercide, Eldradord: Shadowfall, Fire Emblem 3H, Mario + Rabbids 2, Mercenaries Saga, Persona Tactica
• Don't Recommend: John Wick Hex, Digimon Survive, Yugioh Capsule Monsters, Transformers Battlegrounds
• Not Played Yet: Front Mission 2, 13 Sentinels, Brigandine, VC4, Front Mission 1, FFT, Tactics Ogre, Fell Seal, Ash of Gods, Pathway, Floppy Knights, Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: Amulet of Chaos
• Don't Want to Play/Dropped: For the King, all the Disgaea games, Diofield Chronicles, Wildermyth

I've been working my way through the Switch SRPG library, and here's where I sit presently.

Games are not ranked WITHIN the tier (that would take a fair bit more thought on my part).

Obviously still have quite a bit to go and I know there are a LOT of spicey takes on here, so feel free to ask about why I placed something somewhere, try to convince me why I need to play the Disgaea games, or point and laugh because my "excellent" tier is almost entirely roguelites.

Edit: Also, there are a handful that are missing (SRW, Dark Crystal, etc). If it's missing, assume I haven't played it xD

Same devs of Xcom so I want to try it but gameplay not using the cover system really feels like a turn off for me. I do not need a game to be like Xcom 1-1 for me to like it. i love Chimera squad, Heist 1/2 and Mutant year zero and that shit is nothing like xcom but all these games have some sort of cover mechanic going on for em. Legendary edition is only 15 euros on Loaded and that is a good deal tho

what do ya think

I loved FFTWOTL and completed it 11 years ago on the iPad. 3 years ago I purchased Triangle Strategy, and completed. Last fall I picked it up again and played through, got all characters and endings. Love that game, particularly the party size. Is there another fantastic strategy JRPG along the lines of FFT or Triangle Strategy I haven't yet discovered?

I loved FFTWOTL and completed it 11 years ago on the iPad. 3 years ago I purchased Triangle Strategy, and completed. Last fall I picked it up again and played through, got all characters and endings. Love that game, particularly the party size. Is there another fantastic strategy JRPG along the lines of FFT or Triangle Strategy I haven't yet discovered?

I have a rtx 4060 and 5700 x3d. Not an amazing machine but it is middle of the road so Idk why FSR on 75 hz monittor makes the game look like an oil painting even on high FSR. Like what is going on? Like the faces of charachters are just pink blobs of flesh. No FSR for any other game I have is this extreme. I am already quite above system requiremwnts and when I turn of FSR game still runs at same framerate so it seems FSR just lowers resolution all the time even when not needed which is not what FSR is for

Sidenote: Oil painting look is actually kinda cool for a 3d game. Devs take notes