Like the previous entry in the series, you take on the role of The Commander in the X-Com military force. Where in the last game you were a global initiative set up to prevent an alien invasion, now you are a paramilitary force fighting against an oppressive Alien regime. Regardless of that major change to the the premise, the fundamental game play remains largely unchanged from X-Com: Enemy Unknown. You still research new tech, deploy troops and give orders. With the addition of stealth elements one would think X-Com 2 was trying to create a more methodical game than its predecessor, but this new feature feels at odds with the new emphasis on hit and run tactics, exemplified by all of the timed missions in the game.

X-Com 2 is a great game, but it isn’t a limitless one. When you find yourself done with the game I’m sure you’ll be looking for something in the same vein to sink your teeth into. Well you don;t have to go far, as I’ve compiled a list of some of the best strategy RPGs on the market.

Top Five Games Like X-Com 2 – 2018 List

#5 – Advance Wars

This one isn’t an RPG. It’s a straight up strategy game, and I would say it’s one of the best. Don’t let its cutesy visuals fool you. Advance Wars, any of them, is one of the hardest games out there. You take on the role of a commander and must direct your troops around the battlefield, out flanking the enemy to accomplish whatever the goal of the map is. The plot isn’t much to write home about, but is engaging enough. Each commander has a special ability that they can call upon when you get enough kills, and some of them are real game changers. The usual goal is to capture the enemy base, or last a certain number of turns. If you want a real strategy gem, then consider picking up an Advance War game.

#4 – Valkyria Chronicles

When it comes to games with outstanding art direction, few hold a candle to Valkyria Chronicles. While the anime look may be old hat at this point, the games render engine, made by Sega, is hands down on of the most interesting and beautiful I have ever seen. The whole game looks like a pencil painting in motion, so It’s not much of a surprise that it’s been remastered so much. The PC version was released only last year, and a new remastered edition, likely looking no better than the Steam release, will come out in May. The game play differs slightly from X-Com, being a blend of turn based decision making and real time movement/aiming. It has the same class based character structure, and a terrific story to boot. In what seems to be a theme for the genre, it also has a form of perma-death, if a character is not revived he’s gone for good. It’s those kinds of edge of the seat moments that makes these games so exhilarating to play.

#3 – Shadowrun Returns

A bit of a different fell for this one, Shadowrun Returns leans more on the RPG side of the Strategy RPG fence. The combat has the same meticulous maneuvering fans of X-Com have come to love, and while you control the whole team, you play a specific character.  You start the game by customizing your PC, choosing their race, human, elf etc, and selecting a class. Want to be a cyborg samurai slicing up the competition? Go ahead! Want to slice your way into computer terminals and control enemy machines? You can do that too. The number of options for player customization and your role is wonderful. Unlike the pen and paper game that it’s based on, Shadowrun Returns is largely a linear experience. The story is interesting, but I feel like it could have been improved with a little more freedom to explore its unique setting. There are a few mods out there that seek to make the game more like the tabletop game, and I cannot recommend them enough. There are three standalone titles in the newest Shadowrun series, so if you fall in love with this one, you’ll have plenty more to play.

#2 – Wasteland 2

Released twenty five years after the first game, Wasteland 2 is one of the best sRPGs I have ever had the good fortune to play. Like Shadowrun Returns, the focus here is more on story than on turn based tactical combat. Unlike Shadowrun Returns this game doesn’t skimp of the tactical depth. While the vanilla release was marred by bugs and lackluster combat, the updated Wasteland 2 Director’s Cut is a treasure trove of interesting stories and involved tactical thinking. Set in a post apocalyptic Arizona desert, you create a group of four rangers and go out into the world to bring law to the lawless wasteland. Some excellent writing, and of course, perma-death, make this game well worth playing. As I mentioned, make sure you’re getting the updated Director’s Cut rather than the original release.

#1 – Fire Emblem Fates

Honestly, any of the Fire Emblem games would do here, but the most recent game in the series has done something fairly unique. It has been released more like a Pokemon game, that is to say in multiple parts. Fire Emblem Birthright is a wonderful introduction to Fire Emblem, being the easiest of the three. Conquest is much more unforgiving, perfect for sRPG veterans, as all who have finished X-Com 2 should be by now. Revaluations is DLC for both games, and is something of a middle ground. Fire Emblem is a fantasy sRPG, swords and sorcery style. It has endearing art direction and wonderfully difficult game play. Anyone familiar with X-Com should be able to pick up and play immediately. Like X-Com the games default mode has perma-death for your characters, so be careful and pick your moves wisely.

There we have them, five games like X-Com that should sate you appetite for tactical role playing fun. This list is by o means exhaustive. There are plenty of tactical RPGs out there that offer the same kinds of experience that these do. I would suggest checking out the classic Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre and any of the Disgaea games when you’re done with these, for some reason Japan produces more of these kinds of games than most. So what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Leave a comment and let me know.

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The game was successfully kickstarted way back in 2012 and finally saw release in 2015. An expansion was released quite recently, the second part of their White March story line, which didn’t take me too long to run through. So if you’re a fan from way back when or new to the genre and hungry for more, I’m sure one of the games on this list can sate your appetite until the next game comes along.

Top Five Games Like Pillars of Eternity

#5 – Diablo 3

Ah Diablo. No game before or after has worn out more index fingers. Click click, kill, loot, rinse repeat. there is something fundamentally fun about this game. The long awaited sequel was finally released in 2012 and it was everything long time fans of the series where hoping it to be. While it’s a fun game to play in co-op, and has a fairly engaging story, it lacks the choices present in other games on this list. I would recommend this to those who loved the combat in cRPG s but doesn’t want to get bogged down in messy morally grey choices. The Reaper of Souls expansion was released in 2013, with new areas and a new level cap to lengthen the fun to be had.

#4 – Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magic Obscura

Arcanum came from the same creative team that gave us the original Fallout. And it shows. Even back in 2001 the games graphics were outdated. But it did something that no game has done since. Created a great steampunk inspired experience. There is magic in the game, but why would you want to use that when you can don a magnetic bullet deflecting top hat and shoot idiotic mages with a big iron. It depicts a world in the midst of an industrial revolution, with steam trains and guns and electricity, at odds with the old races and their magic. It comes complete with fantastic racism, life isn’t good if you’re an Orc or Troll, and a wonderful mystery to unravel. What side will you choose? Magic or Science? The fate of the world rests on your shoulders.

#3 – Wasteland 2

Another long awaited sequel, the original Wasteland was released back in 1988. Picking up a scant fifteen years after the original game, you’re back in control of a group of desert rangers in a turn based tactical cRPG. The first version of Wasteland 2 was released in 2014, but that’s not the version you want. The updated Director’s Cut was released a year later and it fixes every issue I had with the original release. The Menus are better designed, there is more dialogue options and the level up system has plenty more options to really make ever play through different. the games combat is tight, and the first quest was written by the legendary Chris Avellone. His name alone is enough to sell me on a game, and Wasteland 2 was no exception. It has plenty of choices, that have real effects on the world you leave behind, and a plethora of horrible creatures and disgusting people to interact with. Arizona is only half of the game. Pick this up if you want some real depth to your playing experience.

#2 – Fallout 2

Up until last year this would have been my number one recommended cRPG. It is still one of the best games I have ever played, just not the best anymore. This game gives the player more options than any other on this list. The combat system is a little clunky, and easy to break, but the attention to detail, the dialogue, the world building is so much better than almost every game out there that you owe it to yourself to play it. Want to be a super genius that solves every problem by popping smart drugs and convincing everyone you’re right? No worries! Want to try charming the pants off of every person you meet? Go ahead! Want to set your intelligence score so low that you can only speak in broken English and grunts? Sure thing, the game actually lets you do that. Combined with a haunting soundtrack and a feeling of leaving a real impact on the game world and you have an astoundingly well rounded package. Did I mention that large sections of the game where written by Chris Avellone?

#1 – Planescape: Torment

It’s almost a cliche at this point. Planescape: Torment is at the top of so many cRPG top lists. And honestly? I can see why. It took me too long to get into this game. The first two hours or so are a slog. A bewildering deluge of information and world, it’s terribly confusing. But that is part of the art. Your protagonist is The Nameless One. An Immortal, after a sorts. Y’see, when he dies he resurrects. And sometimes when he resurrects he loses all of his memories. That’s where the game begins, you having lost your memories, laying on a slab in The Mortuary. What plays out is a wonderful self reflective tale about what makes up a person. Are you defined by your past if you don’t know what your past is. Are your memories who you are? And if so, what would you do to the you that will replace you. If it sounds confusing, that’s because it is. But only for a few hours.

The combat in the game is terrible, no two ways about it. But it doesn’t matter that much, you can run away from most battles and when you die, you come back to life anyway. The cast of characters is engaging and occasionally subversive. I particularly enjoy Morte, the wise cracking floating skull and Falls-From-Grace, a celibate Succubus who runs a brothel. At its core you may choose who The Nameless One is in his newest life, and the breadth of choice is staggering. Please, please play this game. You won’t regret it.

The Return of The cRPG

So there we are. A few cRPG s to keep you going until the next big release. Considering their new found popularity I expect to see a fair few more in the coming years. Shadowrun Returns devs are currently working on a follow up and Inxile Entertainment have recently released the beta to Torment: Tides of Numenera. I’m not as enthused about Tides of Numenera as much these days. It is being billed as a spiritual successor to Planescape: Torment, but isn’t being written by Chris Avellone. While I’m sure it will be a fun game, part of me sees it as a cynical attempt to piggy back off of the acclaim of a previous work. At least Wasteland 2 had some of the original designers on board.

If there’s any games you’d like to suggest then leave a message in the comments and if you’re looking for more action orientated fare then check out the Top Five Games Like Diablo 3 here.

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