Best Tactical RPGs With Deep Character Customization, Ranked

Everyone knows that the RPG genre came out of the tabletop world and old-school war games, meaning that strategy and cunning have always been a part of the genre’s DNA since day one. The RPG genre has evolved since then, but even today, there’s a strain of hardcore tactical RPGs that retain the old-school desire for intense and difficult combat decisions.

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Although maybe not as popular nowadays as action or traditional turn-based JRPGs, tactical RPGs can be absolutely time-consuming when done right, especially for people who love nothing more than to micromanage expansive parties. Nowadays, we don’t get many new releases in this genre, so we should celebrate the ones we do get.

9

Shadowrun: Dragonfall

The Cyberpunk Fantastical

With the boom in D&D in the past decade and the immense popularity of Baldur’s Gate 3, it seems only a matter of time until the Shadowrun games get their fair shake and moment in the spotlight, particularly considering the enduring popularity of the cyberpunk franchise. Essentially fusing cyberpunk and fantasy, Shadowrun is a fantastic world to live in that doesn’t skimp on the TRPG goods.

With one of the best RPG stories in recent memory and deeply strategic combat mechanics that test the player’s customization and build choices, Shadowrun Dragonfall is the best of both worlds. It tests the player on every front and is a great entry point for beginners into the Shadowrun world.

8

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Study For The Academy

The Fire Emblem games have reached such popularity and dominance that it’s fair to characterize them as the most popular TRPGs currently on the market, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses only solidified that solid reputation. Delivering on Fire Emblem’s trademark tactical combat and permadeath (though this can be turned off if desired), the latest in the franchise doesn’t coddle its players.

The customization runs deep in Fire Emblem: Three Houses, not only due to the way characters and builds can be specced, but also because of the highly divergent pathways through the game world that tailor-make a story for each player, delivering a unique experience each time. Add in some romance sim, brilliantly written characters, and visual novel elements, and Fire Emblem: Three Houses really does present itself as the full package.

7

Final Fantasy Tactics

The OG Still Has It

As good as some modern TRPGs might be, respect must be paid to the original greats, and in the TRPG world, no game casts as large a shadow as Final Fantasy Tactics, the game that introduced an entire generation into the TRPG space and delivered one of the TRPG genre’s most complete and customizable experiences.

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Set on an isometric field, battles in Final Fantasy Tactics are always a tense and satisfying push and pull between terrain manipulation, ability usage, and party composition, where one mistake can cost big, but effective planning and tactical decision-making can result in incredibly satisfying victories. No game has ever done it quite as well, and it’s hard to imagine any other TRPG ever will.

6

Unicorn Overlord

A Liberating Tactical RPG

Vanillaware is synonymous with excellence, and the developer loves to jump from genre to genre. Unicorn Overlord was its first full-blown tactical RPG, and it ended up not only being one of the genre’s best modern releases, but also just an all-around great entry. You are cast as Alain, a prince who went into hiding after his kingdom was taken over via a rebellion. Now that he is older, Alain plans to travel across the realm, collecting allies and acquiring regions in search of finally recapturing his throne. Unicorn Overlord‘s story is nothing too special, but it works well enough to set up situations for grand battles that prioritize positioning, class synergy, and customization.

Rather than having deep customization for each character, Unicorn Overlord goes the macro route by emphasizing army growth instead. Although there are named units that hold story importance, conflicts are decided by squads rather than solo warriors, and the game gives you a lot of freedom in crafting your army. That said, individual characters are not entirely ignored either, as units have unique abilities that greatly impact the tide of battle.

5

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

You Cannot Go Wrong With Any Version Of Tactics Ogre

An argument could be made that the 1995 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is a perfect tactical RPG, but then you would also need to argue that its PSP remake is, somehow, even more perfect. Then, you would again need to argue that the PSP’s Reborn remake is, impressively, even more perfect. Regardless of your preferred version, Tactics Ogre delivers a flexible class system that prioritizes freedom and viability, as most units have their uses even if they are just generic warriors. Beyond building complex parties, each member can be customized fairly thoroughly to give them a unique spin, and you will need to take advantage of these slots to make sure your army is fit for the job.

Speaking about Reborn specifically, the remake’s greatest additions are almost entirely quality of life ones, as Square Enix went out of its way to ensure that this version retains its ancestor’s spirit while implementing enough modern changes to not feel antiquated. Characters are given a touch more personality as they can be leveled up individually, and Reborn even adds a new mechanic (charms) that deliver stat boosts or EXP. However, this version also simplifies a few things, like tweaking the skill system to be a bit more rigid.

4

Triangle Strategy

The Old-Guard Reborn

Among TRPG fans, the great white whale is a true modern sequel to the brilliant Final Fantasy: Tactics, which has never seen the light of day. However, in 2022, Square Enix surprised the world by releasing Triangle Strategy, a spiritual sequel to Final Fantasy: Tactics in all but name that finally gave those old-school fans the fix they were looking for.

With a powerful narrative, deep grid-based combat with upgradable and customizable characters, as well as an increasingly complex set of game systems tailor-made for tactical role-play goodness, Triangle Strategy may not be the sequel to Final Fantasy: Tactics that many wanted, but it was what the gaming world certainly needed. In terms of pure mechanics, this game is close to the perfect evolution of the classic Japanese tactical RPG.

3

Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous

Critical Hit

It would be difficult to find anyone in the modern world who didn’t at least have a vague idea about D&D, and maybe even that inspired the game systems of games like Baldur’s Gate 3, but less known of the brilliant Pathfinder game system that’s based off D&D’s 3rd edition that has directly led to brilliant video games, such as the much overlooked Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.

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Players take control of the Commander of the Fifth Crusade against hordes of demons in an adventure that is practically bursting with nerdy RPG goodness, with massive amounts of customization for each character in the party as well as genuinely challenging combat encounters that will give a TRPG fan an absolute thrill. Anyone who enjoyed Baldur’s Gate 3 needs to play this.

Insurrection At Home Base

XCOM 2

9/10

Released

February 5, 2016

As one of the oldest digital TRPGs in video games, the XCOM franchise has taken its alien invasion premise and ran with it, forging one of the most venerated entries into the TRPG genre, regardless of a few bumps along the road. Best of all, it’s a fantastic place for inexperienced gamers to get their first taste of the TRPG goodness and feel the peculiar sting of characters permanently dying.

That trademark permadeath system makes every combat encounter with the aliens tense, thrilling, and a digital chess match requiring symbiotic build customization, class combinations, and sound tactical thinking. It delivers on every front, and XCOM 2‘s DLC is a fantastic expansion to an already fearsome game.

1

Disgaea 5

Tactical RPGs Action Forever

In a very general sense, TRPGs tend to be associated a bit more with Western developers, perhaps due to their legacy in TTRPG games; however, Japan has released some of the best TRPGs ever made. For gamers looking for a visceral punch-in-the-face TRPG goodness with no frills, it’s hard to get any better than the fearsome Disgaea.

All the games in the franchise feature dense and creative mechanics that emphasize party customization, and they tend to throw a lot of concepts at the player. While the earliest entries can be overwhelming, Disgaea 5 manages to be accessible while featuring some of the best combat and customization systems in all gaming. Boasting near infinite dungeons, an absurdly deep class and leveling system, mind-boggling amounts of party builds, and best-in-class tactical gameplay, Disgaea 5 is for the hardcore players who want their TRPGs challenging and straight to the point.

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