Best Turn-Based Strategy Games
383 Turn-Based Strategy games, ranked by the Rank and Play community.
Master of Orion II: Battle at Antares
Released: Nov 22, 1996
Critic rating: 89.2 / 100 • 71 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Master of Orion 2 also known as MOO2 is considered the classic 4x turn based strategy game set in space.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions
Released: May 8, 2007
Critic rating: 89.0 / 100 • 50 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure
Platforms: Android, iOS, PlayStation Portable
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
An updated version of the PlayStation game Final Fantasy Tactics, released on PlayStation Portable and later released on iOS and Android.
Space Rangers
Released: Dec 20, 2002
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Arcade
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), DOS
Game modes: Single player
Space Rangers is a space combat strategy game where you control your own ship and eventually a fleet of ships to fight the evil alien race, Klissans.
Sid Meier's Civilization
Released: Sep 30, 1991
Critic rating: 88.9 / 100 • 265 votes
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PC-9800 Series, Atari ST/STE, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS, Amiga
Game modes: Single player
Sid Meier's Civilization is a turn-based strategy computer game created by Sid Meier for MicroProse in 1991.The game's objective is "...to build an empire that would stand the test of time".
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776
Released: Sep 1, 1999
Critic rating: 88.8 / 100 • 32 votes
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Wii, Wii U, New Nintendo 3DS, Super Famicom
Game modes: Single player
Fire Emblem: Thracia 776 is a Japanese tactical role-playing game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo, and the fifth installment in the Fire Emblem series.
Balatro
Released: Feb 20, 2024
Critic rating: 91.2 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie, Card & Board Game
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Balatro is a deck-building roguelite in which players construct poker hands to earn chips and overcome enemy blinds.
Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising
Released: Jun 24, 2003
Critic rating: 90.5 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Wii U, Game Boy Advance
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
In Advance Wars 2: Black Hole Rising brings your GBA all-new strategic action and all-new fighting action!
Slay the Spire
Released: Jan 23, 2019
Critic rating: 92.7 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie, Card & Board Game
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Slay the Spire is a single-player roguelike deck-building game.
Fire Emblem
Released: Apr 25, 2003
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Wii U, Game Boy Advance
Game modes: Single player
It is the seventh game of the Fire Emblem series, the second game in the series to be released for the Game Boy Advance, and the first to be released in both North America and Europe.
Advance Wars: Dual Strike
Released: Jun 23, 2005
Critic rating: 90.7 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Wii U, Nintendo DS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Advance Wars: Dual Strike is the third installment in the Advance Wars series (first on DS media).
Fuga: Melodies of Steel
Released: Jul 28, 2021
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Fuga is set in a war-ravaged world where a village is destroyed by the fascist Berman Empire.
Dragon Warrior IV
Released: Feb 11, 1990
Critic rating: 88.1 / 100 • 24 votes
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System
Game modes: Single player
Dragon Warrior IV differs from the rest of the series by breaking up the game into five distinct chapters, each of which focuses on a different protagonist or protagonists.
Caves of Qud
Released: Dec 5, 2024
Critic rating: 94.0 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie
Platforms: Linux, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Caves of Qud is a science fantasy roguelike epic steeped in retro-futurism, deep simulation, and swathes of sentient plants.
Medieval II: Total War
Released: Nov 10, 2006
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Take command of your armies and expand your reign.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
Released: Sep 27, 2019
Critic rating: 90.4 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Google Stadia, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
The Definitive Edition includes all the content from the original release of the acclaimed DRAGON QUEST XI, and adds extra character-specific scenarios, the choice of playing with the original soundtrack or a grand orchestral version of the music, the ability to switch between 2D and 3D graphic modes, a Japanese voice-acting option, and much more.
Suikoden
Released: Dec 15, 1995
Critic rating: 92.5 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), Sega Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation Portable
Game modes: Single player
Suikoden is a Japanese-style role-playing game with several unusual additions.
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade
Released: Sep 30, 1999
Critic rating: 87.9 / 100 • 109 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Heroes of Might and Magic III: Armageddon's Blade is the first of two expansion packs for the turn-based strategy game Heroes of Might and Magic III.
The Battle of Polytopia
Released: Feb 4, 2016
Critic rating: 87.8 / 100 • 27 votes
Rating: E10+
Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie, Card & Board Game
Platforms: Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
The Battle of Polytopia is an award-winning turn-based strategy game about building a civilization and going into battle.
Fire Emblem Awakening
Released: Apr 19, 2012
Critic rating: 90.3 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Armies clash as the world burns.
Valkyria Chronicles
Released: Apr 24, 2008
Critic rating: 90.1 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: PlayStation 3
Game modes: Single player
Set in a fictitious continent reminiscent of the 1930s, Valkyria Chronicles depicts Europe divided in two and ruled by two super powers: the Empire and the Federation.
The Banner Saga 3
Released: Jul 26, 2018
Critic rating: 87.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Indie
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Banner Saga 3 is the final dramatic chapter in the mature, story-driven Viking RPG series which has won over 20 awards and has been nominated for 4 BAFTA awards.
Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2
Released: Jan 27, 2005
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2
Game modes: Single player
Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner 2, released outside of Japan as Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga 2, is a 2005 role-playing game for the PlayStation 2, and the second and final entry in the Digital Devil Saga series duology.
Disgaea 5 Complete
Released: Mar 3, 2017
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Full story of the original with eight new scenarios, four fan favorite characters, and three character classes from the Disgaea series.
Divinity: Original Sin - Enhanced Edition
Released: Oct 27, 2015
Critic rating: 90.1 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure, Indie
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
Divinity Original Sin: Enhanced Edition Edition is a much lauded Role-Playing-Game that blends deep customization and humor with dynamic turn based combat.
Might and Magic VI: The Mandate of Heaven
Released: Apr 30, 1998
Critic rating: 87.3 / 100 • 35 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player
The Ironfist Dynasty is tottering on the brink of ruin.