10 Best Tactical RPGs for Final Fantasy Tactics Fans

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles is a remake of the original Final Fantasy Tactics. This game is a vast improvement over the original, but there are plenty of other games you will enjoy if you were interested in FFT that tend to get overlooked.

There’s a wealth of excellent tactical RPGs out there that capture the spirit of Final Fantasy Tactics and offer strategic gameplay. These games improve the genre with their unique strengths, whether it’s intricate storytelling, deep character customization, challenging battles, or all of the above.

10

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp is a well-liked turn-based strategy game for the Nintendo Switch that recreates the original Game Boy Advance campaigns. The game’s tactical gameplay comprises of 40 to 50 hours of content, great voice acting, and the ability to create and share maps online for extra replay value. It focuses on straightforward military tactics with well-balanced units and simplifies some mechanics with features like quick saves and the option to undo turns.

If you’re waiting for the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, Advance Wars is a great way to pass the time. Both games are tactical RPGs with battles that take place on a grid. However, Advance Wars concentrates entirely on military strategy, while Final Fantasy Tactics has a more detailed job system and stronger RPG mechanics. I’d like to see more Advance Wars games on Switch 2. Maybe Nintendo could port the (slightly inferior) DS games next.

9

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII is an in-depth strategy game that falls somewhere between the style of Civilization and the complexity of Paradox’s strategy games. What makes it special is its focus on individual characters from the historical Three Kingdoms period. Players can take on the role of a single person, work their way up from humble beginnings, and form alliances with others.

The game mixes role-playing elements with real-time battles that include massive armies clashing on the battlefield. While some players have criticized its graphics and controls, the core gameplay is highly addictive, and the “Hero Mode” acts as a hands-on tutorial to help newcomers learn the ropes. For fans who are waiting for the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster, this game offers a different but equally satisfying strategic experience, focusing on large-scale warfare and building an empire instead of FFT‘s smaller, squad-based battles.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII

Released

January 27, 2016

8

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance is a strategy role-playing game with its fair share of fans. It has hundreds of hours of gameplay and emphasizes big numbers and exaggerated, funny storytelling. While it has standard strategy RPG combat, it stands out due to its many additional systems and near-endless grinding, which lets players create ridiculously strong characters. Important gameplay features include throwing units diagonally, powerful Overload skills, and the Item and Chara Worlds. The game also features high-quality HD graphics and almost fully voiced dialogue.

Disgaea 5 gives a different but equally satisfying experience as a Final Fantasy Tactics remaster would. Both games are tactical RPGs with grid-based combat and deep character progression. It is a great choice for players who like grinding and powering up their characters while waiting for the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster.

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

Systems

Released

October 6, 2015

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes

Developer(s)

Nippon Ichi Software

Publisher(s)

Nippon Ichi Software, NIS America

7

The Banner Saga

The Banner Saga is a highly praised tactical role-playing game known for its gripping story, which is full of tough choices and inspired by Norse myths. The choices players make have a big impact on the dark and serious story. The battles use a special system where strength (which also acts as health) and armor must be carefully managed on a grid.

The game also includes a detailed caravan management system that adds a layer of survival strategy, forcing players to think carefully about how they use their resources. While Final Fantasy Tactics does a better job with deep character customization, The Banner Saga poses a different kind of strategic challenge by focusing on story choices that matter and the struggle to manage resources in a brutal world.

The Banner Saga

Released

January 14, 2014

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Stoic Studio

Publisher(s)

Stoic Studio

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6

Wartales

Wartales is a tactical role-playing game that has open-world exploration, difficult turn-based battles, and the possibility of permanent character death. Players take control of a group of mercenaries trying to survive in a harsh world, where they must carefully handle supplies and keep their team’s spirits up. The game’s systems are easy to understand, so anyone can pick up and play them.

Battles are intense and require careful planning because enemies show no mercy. Wartales has a similar but distinct experience to Final Fantasy Tactics, focusing more on managing mercenaries and creating your own stories rather than following a grand, predetermined plot or perfecting character builds. Since it has tough gameplay and many quests to go through, Wartales is a great choice to play while waiting for other games.

Wartales

Released

April 12, 2023

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Violence

Developer(s)

Shiro Games

Publisher(s)

Shiro Unlimited

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5

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance is a tactical role-playing game that has a bold story following Ike, a regular mercenary. The game tackles serious topics such as racism and includes deep character growth through support conversations and an in-game encyclopedia. While its tactical battles are less complex compared to some other games, its real strength comes from managing your army, where permanent death makes every decision feel important.

Both Final Fantasy Tactics and Path of Radiance are tactical RPGs with turn-based, grid-based combat, but Fire Emblem emphasizes permanent death and leads a varied group of unique characters. This gives a different kind of strategic challenge compared to Final Fantasy Tactics’ focus on customization. The game is coming to Switch 2 via GameCube Nintendo Classics later in 2025.

Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance

Systems

Released

April 20, 2005

ESRB

Teen // Fantasy Violence

Developer(s)

Intelligent Systems

Publisher(s)

Nintendo

Engine

unreal engine

Franchise

Fire Emblem

Number of Players

1

4

Valkyria Chronicles 4

Valkyria Chronicles 4 is a well-regarded tactical role-playing game that mixes turn-based strategy with real-time action. Its standout feature is a third-person combat system where you manually aim and take cover, making the gameplay feel more engaging. The game takes place in a steampunk-inspired version of Europe and uses a distinctive art style of cel-shading on 3D graphics.

The story centers on the personal war experiences and growth of the characters in Squad E. Each unit has a specific role and special abilities called “potentials.” The game has a long main campaign, individual character stories, and smaller battles. The music was composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto, who also worked on Final Fantasy Tactics. Valkyria Chronicles 4 has fast-paced combat, the risk of permanent death for units, a strong story, and plenty of content.

Valkyria Chronicles 4

Released

September 25, 2018

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Sega

Publisher(s)

Sega

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3

Triangle Strategy

Triangle Strategy is a tactical role-playing game released by Square Enix. It is well known for its distinctive HD 2D art style and a story that is a lot like Game of Thrones. It is a political drama that has tough decisions that the player must think through. The combat is turn-based and takes place on a grid, where positioning and how character abilities work together are very important.

While there are fewer options for customizing units compared to Final Fantasy Tactics, this actually makes the game more fun to play through. Both games are important titles in the tactical RPG genre, but Triangle Strategy stands out by putting more emphasis on making each character feel unique and forcing players to make difficult moral choices with serious consequences. It’s so good that it could make you fall in love with the genre.

Triangle Strategy

Systems

Released

March 4, 2022

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Square Enix, Artdink

Publisher(s)

Square Enix, Nintendo

2

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a tactical role-playing game that is a spiritual forerunner to Final Fantasy Tactics. It has a serious, adult-oriented story with multiple paths and major consequences shaped by player choices. The combat is turn-based and takes place on a grid, focusing on smart equipment and ability choices rather than just grinding to overpower enemies.

It has helpful upgrades, like shared experience points and the “Chariot Tarot” system that lets you rewind turns. Thanks to its complex political storytelling and well-tuned strategic difficulty, Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a great choice for Final Fantasy Tactics fans who want to get ready for the upcoming remaster. Since it is available on current gaming platforms and has been refined for this gaming era, you can enjoy it as soon as you’d like.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Released

November 11, 2022

ESRB

T for Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

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1

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

If you really want to play an improved version of Final Fantasy Tactics before the remake comes out, you should try the original remaster: Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. It has all the deep RPG systems, smart AI, and a wide range of tactical choices, but it looks so much better than the original. It should have been made into a TV show because it’s so good.

The game’s detailed job system lets players customize their characters like the original, but gives a sharper look. Cutscenes have been animated and seem much more engaging and mature, focusing on political schemes and conflicts between social classes, with standout characters like Ramza Beoulve. The War of the Lions version comes with an expanded story, a better translation, and great voice acting.

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions

Systems

Released

May 10, 2007

ESRB

t

Developer(s)

Square Enix, Tose

Publisher(s)

Square Enix

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

There are a lot of games that try to out-tactics Final Fantasy Tactics. Games like Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp offer straightforward military strategy, while Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIII gives a large-scale empire-building experience. It’s up to you to decide which you like the best.

These are great alternatives while waiting to play the Final Fantasy Tactics remaster. Still, I recommend the games above even after you play the remake. Whether you prefer deep character customization, challenging battles, great storytelling, or a mix of all three, there’s a tactical RPG just for you here.