Good strategy/RPG games people might have missed

[Tradesonred]

Ive been playing tales of Maj Eyal recently and got a craving for old turned based tactical RPGs like final fantasy tactics and X-com

Looking for stuff thats light on story with good customization and tactical depth, but something without the empire building of games like say, civilization. Best would be some sort of open world, RPGish crew you can manage that you go around exploring and having tactical fights, not even sure if that kind of game has been made yet. HOMM III is similar to that but you start over after each campain run.

Post-2003 or so games would be best

Ive liked: KOTOR, X-com, Faster than light (they can be roguelike suggestions), Dungeons of dredmor, Heroes of Might and magic III, Dragon age origins (though cheesy storylines as usual which is why i prefer light on story), dungeon of the endless, starflight (for crusty old gamers who might know what the fuck is that game), sword of the stars: The pit, Salvation prophecy (which sucked that it had shoestring budget and something better couldnt come out of a concept like that, that i know of anyway) etc

[Rec]

wizardry oops 8 not 7

[Byrjun]

Bahamut Lagoon was essentially the predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics, it was only released in Japan since it came out right as Nintendo was switching from the SNES to the N64, but there are translated ROMs available.

Kind of a cheesy generic storyline but the mechanics were cool.

Strangely enough, Quest 64 kinda fits your description although you probably played it and hated it. I think I was the only person who liked that game.

[Cecily]

Hmm. You're playing ToME so you like tough roguelikes...

I'd say check out Elona. (http://elona.wikia.com/wiki/Elona_Wiki) Get the Elona+ latest version from link on wiki off the JP site.
It has a twisted sense of humor, and IMO more content than EQ. I probably dropped 100 hours into it last year. Just know it's super grindy and punishing.

http://i.imgur.com/mbuPHvW.jpg

[Videri]

1Quest! I'd call it a Roguelike version of EverQuest + Diablo. Pretty deep gameplay for what appears so simple - and it's VERY challenging! A bit of a tough learning curve since, like Everquest, there isn't a complete manual. Link: http://www.kongregate.com/games/ratzngodz/1quest. The closest thing to a wiki or manual is this forum thread (http://www.kongregate.com/forums/3-general-gaming/topics/422280-1quest-discussion).

[Arclyte]

http://www.rpgcodex.net/content.php?id=9453

you're welcome

[Laugher]

The Ogre Battle games were pretty cool, snes/n64 Ed. You command an army, ps1/gba versions were tactics games like fft

[BlkCamel]

Shinning Force 2, Shinning Force 3, Phantasy Star 4, Phantasy Star 3, of-course Baldurs Gate, Secret of Evermore, Secret of Manna, Final Fantasy 3/5/7/9, Xeno-gears, Beyond Oasis (Amazing Adventure/RPG Game), Suikoden II (One of the Greatest games of all time), Breath of Fire 2/3/4 (Forgotten Today but one of the best Series ever), Vandal Hearts 1/2 (Turn Based RPG, Again one of the best #2 is better), Lunar: Silver Story, Star Ocean 2 (Again one of the best fuckin RPG's ever made, way under-rated).

There are more but these are all games, YOU NEED TO PLAY IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY!. Some of the best and what games today are built around.

P.S. I know many of these are not turn based but these are essential rpg/strat games from the past. Many have elements of turn based combat just not on 3d grids.

[FoxxHound]

Grim Fandango son~

[Millburn]

Story, Star Ocean 2 (Again one of the best fuckin RPG's ever made, way under-rated).

Without a shadow of a doubt one of the best JRPG's ever made.

I have a yearly tradition where I'll go through and beat Star Ocean 2 and Final Fantasy Tactics. I just have to. Lately though I've been playing FFT on the community made super difficult patched ROM version.

[radditsu]

Hmm. You're playing ToME so you like tough roguelikes...

I'd say check out Elona. (http://elona.wikia.com/wiki/Elona_Wiki) Get the Elona+ latest version from link on wiki off the JP site.
It has a twisted sense of humor, and IMO more content than EQ. I probably dropped 100 hours into it last year. Just know it's super grindy and punishing.

http://i.imgur.com/mbuPHvW.jpg


I like Elona but it gets pretty aimless. Like i would just to quests over and over for cash to buy museums and shit. I liked TOME when it was the Middle earth game. I still have it and i cant find it on the net anymore. The old TOME was wonderful. I played a few early versions of the new TOME and couldnt get into it.

But no roguelike beats ADOM. I love roguelikes so much. I tried Dreadmoor but its easy.... I bought a few games for "roguelike elements" but they arent as fleshed out. Most take the diablo approach to loot which is...meh.


I played star ocean 2 again last year...but i ruined it by maxxing my levels before the 2nd world. That game is super short without a grind. Replayability is good on it.


i have always heard the best wizardry is 8.

I got that might and magic x as well. But it runs like shit on my I7 with 16gb ram....


all you nerds should play the SSI goldbox games. Krynn series, the pools series, everything. Wonderful Ad&d games.


Oh also Ultima underworld 1...and just throw in all the ultimas except the last one. I never played online but i hear good things.

Also Neverwinter Nights. The campaigns suck but i lobe character builders as in depth as that.

[Tradesonred]

Thx for suggestions

To be clear, im not partcularly looking for old games, in fact newer games with fun, deep mechanics is what id be more interested about, since i probably played most games people are going to suggest (Like Phantasy star 4)

Still some stuff i havent played with, thx for suggestions!

I picked up these 10 games yesterday in the dark dungeons of the interwebs:

Crusader Kings 2
Sunless sea
Fantasy wars
Darkest Dungeon
Age of wonders 3
Dragonshard
Endless Legend
Frozen Cortex
Hand of fate

Well see where that goes

[Paleman]

if you liked faster than light try out there ( on android) its resource based but really enjoyable.

as for roguelikes I recommend nuclear throne and risk of rain( no really an rpg roguelike though), both are amazing and have insane replay-ability. Especially nuclear throne as its like a combo of an awesome rogue-like with the fighting system of hotline miami which was a great game.

if you want a decent co op survival roguelike, dont starve is pretty fun but I kinda got tired of it. I have never tried the co op though.

rogue legazy is amazing as well, and if you want a more obscure kind of roguelike you can also try teleglitch though I havent really gotten into that one yet.

[Mandalore93]

Crusader Kings 2 is a good grand strategy game by Paradox interactive who has three other main franchises: Europa Universalis, Victoria, and Hearts of Iron. All four of their GSG franchises are fuck balls good.

[radditsu]

New stuff? the new Divinity game. Wasteland 2

[Manticmuse]

Rogue Legacy was really fun. I was on a mad quest to unlock everything, and even trading off turns couch coop was really fun. However, once it was all unlocked...it pains me to admit that I haven't been able to muster any motivation to keep playing. 60-70 hours for the price is great though. Can't have it all I guess.

[radditsu]

Crusader Kings 2 is a good grand strategy game by Paradox interactive who has three other main franchises: Europa Universalis, Victoria, and Hearts of Iron. All four of their GSG franchises are fuck balls good.

I just cant get into Crusader Kings 2. It just felt that a lot of the time i was waiting for my guy to die. And arranging marriages.

[Knuckle]

age of wonders had most excellent soundtrack...i played aow 1 and 2

[Feanol]

Everyone should play this game. It's got a lot of RPG elements too it. Every playthrough can be very different and the maps always have tons to explore.

[MrSparkle001]

Warsong was good yeah.

http://i.imgur.com/VpRBsbz.jpg

Do they even make new turn-based RPGs? All the ones I know are old. My favorite turn-based RPG is an old SSI classic called Wizard's Crown, the forerunner of the famed gold box games. You need an emulator for it (I greatly prefer the Commodore 64 version) but it's pretty in-depth for a game that's 30 years old. Things like shields only block your front and left side, flails ignore shields, axes can break them, you can fall prone to help protect vs archers etc.

For newer games the only one I'm familiar with is Disciples 2, and it's not really new.

There's a lot of good turn-based strategy games out there though. Ever play Master Of Magic? So good. Oh and Master Of Monsters for the sega genesis (not the playstation). It's a very rare game that almost nobody knows but it's one of the platform's best.

[Millburn]

Do they even make new turn-based RPGs? All the ones I know are old. My favorite turn-based RPG is an old SSI classic called Wizard's Crown, the forerunner of the famed gold box games. You need an emulator for it (I greatly prefer the Commodore 64 version) but it's pretty in-depth for a game that's 30 years old. Things like shields only block your front and left side, flails ignore shields, axes can break them, you can fall prone to help protect vs archers etc.



There's a new one coming out called Unsung Story that hired Yasumi Matsuno, the lead guy from Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story and other classic as fuck SRPG's.

It sounds really good and has a solid team behind it. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/482445197/unsung-story-tale-of-the-guardians

[iruinedyourday]

classics! get yerself a turbographic 16 emulator and play some military madness!!

http://www.morningtoast.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads//anim_military_madness.gif

then try out Warsong!

http://arizonacopper.com/images/545b6364c19fb.jpg

oops saw this to late! /agree

Warsong was good yeah.

this is a HUGE list of them!!!

http://www.listal.com/list/rpg-world-tactical-rpg

daym there are so many!

[iruinedyourday]

Do they even make new turn-based RPGs? All the ones I know are old.

have you tried Banner Saga?

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oJRFt9aJ--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/19chfxveq1ruvgif.gif

Its got a great 2d animated style.

[FoxxHound]

Thx for suggestions

To be clear, im not partcularly looking for old games, in fact newer games with fun, deep mechanics is what id be more interested about, since i probably played most games people are going to suggest (Like Phantasy star 4)

Still some stuff i havent played with, thx for suggestions!

I picked up these 10 games yesterday in the dark dungeons of the interwebs:

Crusader Kings 2
Sunless sea
Fantasy wars
Darkest Dungeon
Age of wonders 3
Dragonshard
Endless Legend
Frozen Cortex
Hand of fate

Well see where that goes

Darkest Dungeon makes me rage :(

[MrSparkle001]

have you tried Banner Saga?

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--oJRFt9aJ--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/19chfxveq1ruvgif.gif

Its got a great 2d animated style.

I'll be honest, I don't like jrpgs or anything anime-themed. I make exception for the classic ones I played 20 years ago but that's it.

[MrSparkle001]

I make exception for some of those old games. Warsong is interesting without being anime and that's what's important.

You guys should try Wizard's Crown:

In 1985, SSI released another party-based fantasy CRPG called Wizard's Crown, which was probably the most "hardcore" CRPG of its time. Players could create up to 8 players, and multi-class them as much as they liked (i.e., a character could be a thief/fighter/mage/cleric). Instead of "levels," characters improved their stats and skills, such as hunting, haggling, alchemy, and swimming. This skill system would show up again in modern games like Fall Out and Neverwinter Nights. Likewise, the combat system was more dynamic than anything offered up to that time. There were over 20 combat commands alone, including unusual ones like "Fall Prone," which made a character harder to hit with arrows but easier to hit with melee weapons. Like Questron and Phantasie, different situations called for different weapons. However, Wizard's Crown went a step beyond with added realism--shields only worked if the character was facing the right direction, for instance, and characters were still vulnerable to axes and flails, which could destroy or circumvent a shield, respectively. Ranged weapons were implemented, as well as an intelligent magic system. Although a major battle could last up to 40 minutes, players could also choose "quick combat," which would automatically resolve the combat in seconds. While the storyline was droll (find a wizard, kill him, and take back a crown), the extraordinary attention to character development and strategic combat made up for it. It remains one of the most complicated CRPGs and a strategist's dream.

http://i.imgur.com/RGKsZtC.png

Even the screenshot shows the complexity. Look at Injury and Bleeding. How many RPGs used a complex injury system? Life is not hit points, it's instead a measure of how much injury and bleeding you can endure. Injury can knock you unconscious, bleeding slowly knocks you unconscious and can kill you if not treated.

It's such a good game.

[MrSparkle001]

Yeah but it's better than a lot of the games that came after, including the famed SSI gold box games. They were dumbed down to fit AD&D rules.

[MrSparkle001]

Graphics mean nothing in a good RPG. 30 years of computer RPG experience has taught me that.

[iruinedyourday]

I'll be honest, I don't like jrpgs or anything anime-themed. I make exception for the classic ones I played 20 years ago but that's it.

then Banner Saga might be jsut right for you? its not anime related at all, its definitely a western aesthetic.

http://stoicstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/ekkill_characterpage.png

http://stoicstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/tryggvi_3001.png

http://stoicstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/hogun_30011.png

http://static.gamespot.com/uploads/original/416/4161502/2418008-2014011312552345.jpg

[MrSparkle001]

Forgot to edit and say that one does look interesting.

[MrSparkle001]

Posted one top of page 3. I'll post both here though:

http://i.imgur.com/VpRBsbz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hIObKfV.jpg

You might like Master Of Monsters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT6mHL7QZso I liked it more than Warsong.

http://i.imgur.com/SmZvgXA.png

[iruinedyourday]

Posted one top of page 3. I'll post both here though:

http://i.imgur.com/VpRBsbz.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/hIObKfV.jpg

You might like Master Of Monsters: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT6mHL7QZso I liked it more than Warsong.

I had a friend spend so long trying to beat the first level of warsong without any casualties at all, I think he managed it after some long work..

however, with youtube and speedrunners the way they game now, i wouldnt be suprised if some nutjob can beat the whole game with no casualties in 20 minuets heh

[stormlord]

Ive been playing tales of Maj Eyal recently and got a craving for old turned based tactical RPGs like final fantasy tactics and X-com

Looking for stuff thats light on story with good customization and tactical depth, but something without the empire building of games like say, civilization. Best would be some sort of open world, RPGish crew you can manage that you go around exploring and having tactical fights, not even sure if that kind of game has been made yet. HOMM III is similar to that but you start over after each campain run.

Post-2003 or so games would be best

Ive liked: KOTOR, X-com, Faster than light (they can be roguelike suggestions), Dungeons of dredmor, Heroes of Might and magic III, Dragon age origins (though cheesy storylines as usual which is why i prefer light on story), dungeon of the endless, starflight (for crusty old gamers who might know what the fuck is that game), sword of the stars: The pit, Salvation prophecy (which sucked that it had shoestring budget and something better couldnt come out of a concept like that, that i know of anyway) etc
If you're ok with WWII setting, there's Silent Storm (S2):
http://www.rps.net/~stone/index.shtml?ID=419

GoG link:
http://www.gog.com/game/silent_storm_gold

Metacritic:
http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/silent-storm

You might also try:
http://www.gog.com/game/the_temple_of_elemental_evil

And this is Icewind Dale, a real-time/turn-based hybrid RPG, brought back to life in 2014 with a revamp:
http://www.gog.com/game/icewind_dale_enhanced_edition

Alternatively, you can get the original for half price, and go through the pain of adding mods to it:
http://www.gog.com/game/icewind_dale_complete

Keep in mind, Icewind Dale is combat-intensive. It's not a deeply story-driven experience.

This is an older one from 1999:
http://www.gog.com/game/jagged_alliance_2

You may like this one from 2008 (it's homm without the base building and more RPG-ish):
http://www.gog.com/game/kings_bounty_the_legend

If you're ok with a less open-ended feel, more mission-based regime, you can try this from 2003:
http://www.gog.com/game/commandos_2_3

This is from 2009, but it's a weird one, and it's real-time with pause (to issue orders):
http://store.steampowered.com/app/289420/

EDIT: Hey me again. Day later. I found another one you might be interested in:
http://www.gog.com/game/space_rangers_hd_a_war_apart

It has SOME turn-based activities, but also some real-time. It's a revamp of an older game from 2004. Want to warn you that, like some of the games listed above, this is open-ended. It's not a mission-based game. It takes place in space and you fly a ship. One commenter on GoG said it's "Well, it's an SF roguelike RPG space trader sim riddled with textual quests and packed with arcade and RTS battles."

You can read about the original Space Rangers from 2003, here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Rangers_%28video_game%29

This is a much older game that has been revamped. Not sure if you're interested:
http://sc2.sourceforge.net/downloads.php

The bonus is it's free. It's not really turn-based or tactical-only, but maybe check it out.

This one might have too much "civilization" elements in it:
http://www.gog.com/game/eador_genesis

[Madbad]

pokemon mystery dungeon

[radda]

Temple of Elemental Evil was a really cool game imo, but was sent out with it still having bugs. i actually enjoyed that because i wasnt able to beat the last two bosses for the longest time

did anyone play NetDragons.com?

[stormlord]

Temple of Elemental Evil was a really cool game imo, but was sent out with it still having bugs. i actually enjoyed that because i wasnt able to beat the last two bosses for the longest time

did anyone play NetDragons.com?
It also has a mod called circle of eight.

What goes unmentioned with a lot of games is they got patches/mods. Even MOO3, one of the most hated games by fans of the MOO series, has patches/mods that make it very playable today.

Some of the mods are extensive overhauls, nearly bringing the game up to modern standards.