Best Turn-Based Strategy Games
384 Turn-Based Strategy games, ranked by the Rank and Play community.
Pokémon Gold Version
Released: Nov 21, 1999
Critic rating: 87.5 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Pokémon Gold, along with Pokémon Silver, are the sequels to Pokémon Red and Blue.
Rome: Total War
Released: Sep 22, 2004
Critic rating: 91.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Set during the rule of the late Roman Republic and the early Roman Empire, Rome: Total War is a real-time tactics and turn-based strategy game that takes place across Europe, North Africa and the Near East.
Shogun: Total War
Released: Jun 13, 2000
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Set against the backdrop of the Sengoku Jidai (Warring States) period from the 15th to the beginning of the 17th century, Shogun: Total War is a real-time tactics and turn-based strategy game with a strong focus on historical authenticity.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd
Released: Jun 28, 2007
Critic rating: 85.0 / 100
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PlayStation 3, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation Portable
Game modes: Single player
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd is the third installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC and the ending to the Liberl arc.
Pokémon HeartGold Version
Released: Sep 12, 2009
Critic rating: 85.8 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Nintendo DS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Pokémon HeartGold Version and Pokémon SoulSilver Version are paired Generation IV remakes of the Generation II games Pokémon Gold and Silver.
Magic: The Gathering
Released: Feb 28, 1997
Critic rating: 86.7 / 100 • 26 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Card & Board Game
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player
Magic: The Gathering is a computer game published by MicroProse in April 1997 based on the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering.
XCOM: Enemy Within
Released: Nov 12, 2013
Critic rating: 89.3 / 100
Rating: M
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
XCOM: Enemy Within is a non-console expansion pack for XCOM: Enemy Unknown, a turn-based tactical strategy game.
King's Bounty: The Legend
Released: Sep 23, 2008
Critic rating: 87.3 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player
King's Bounty: The Legend is a Real-time / Turn-based Strategy with RPG elements.
In Stars and Time
Released: Nov 20, 2023
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie
Platforms: PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
In Stars and Time is a time-looping RPG adventure.
Wingspan
Released: Sep 17, 2020
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie, Card & Board Game
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5, Mac, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Split screen
In Wingspan you are bird enthusiasts - researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors - seeking to discover and attract the best birds to your network of wildlife preserves.
Jagged Alliance 2
Released: Apr 19, 1999
Critic rating: 86.4 / 100 • 52 votes
Rating: M
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical, Adventure
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player
Jagged Alliance 2 is a perfect blend of strategy, roleplaying and tactical combat.
Medieval: Total War
Released: Aug 19, 2002
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Experience the middle Ages in all their blood-soaked magnificence.
Pokémon Silver Version
Released: Nov 21, 1999
Critic rating: 85.0 / 100
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Game Boy Color, Nintendo 3DS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Pokemon Silver is a role-playing game played from a top-down perspective, in which the player explores the world, catches wild creatures called Pokemon, and trains them through turn-based battles.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II - The Sith Lords
Released: Dec 6, 2004
Critic rating: 85.8 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Xbox, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords is a sequel to the blockbuster RPG Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic.
Sid Meier's Civilization V: Brave New World
Released: Jul 9, 2013
Critic rating: 85.6 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
Sid Meier's Civilization V: Brave New World is the second expansion pack for Civilization V - the critically acclaimed 2010 PC Game of the Year.
Into the Breach
Released: Feb 27, 2018
Critic rating: 90.0 / 100
Rating: E10+
Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Indie
Platforms: Google Stadia, Linux, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, Mac, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
The remnants of human civilization are threatened by gigantic creatures breeding beneath the earth.
Triangle Strategy
Released: Mar 4, 2022
Critic rating: 84.7 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS), Tactical
Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
Three nations battle for control of the dwindling resources of salt and iron in this HD-2D adventure tactical RPG.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
Released: Apr 23, 2020
Critic rating: 82.7 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is the fourth installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of the Liberl arc and the beginning to the Crossbell arc.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
Released: May 28, 2020
Critic rating: 82.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch
Game modes: Single player
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure is the fifth installment in the main Trails series, serving as a direct sequel to the events of the The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero and the ending to the Crossbell arc.
Xenosaga Episode III: Also sprach Zarathustra
Released: Jul 6, 2006
Critic rating: 82.0 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: PlayStation 2
Game modes: Single player
The story of Xenosaga III starts a year after "Xenosaga II" ended.
Valkyrie Profile
Released: Dec 22, 1999
Critic rating: 86.1 / 100 • 32 votes
Rating: T
Genres: Platform, Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: PlayStation
Game modes: Single player
Valkyrie Profile is a role-playing video game developed by tri-Ace and published by Enix (now Square Enix) for the PlayStation.
Pokémon Blue Version
Released: Oct 15, 1996
Critic rating: 86.1 / 100 • 492 votes
Rating: E
Genres: Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure
Platforms: Nintendo 3DS, Game Boy
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Pokémon Blue is the third core series Pokémon game released as a minor revision of Pokémon Red and Green, which were released earlier that year.
Master of Orion
Released: Sep 6, 1993
Critic rating: 84.3 / 100
Genres: Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, DOS
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Master of Orion is a competitive game of interstellar conquest that combines exploration with conflict.
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen
Released: Aug 29, 2017
Critic rating: 86.4 / 100
Rating: T
Genres: Simulator, Strategy, Turn-based strategy (TBS)
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Linux, PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Xbox One
Game modes: Single player, Multiplayer
XCOM 2: War of the Chosen adds extensive new content in the fight against Advent when additional resistance factions form in order to eliminate the alien threat on Earth.
Off
Released: Jun 5, 2008
Critic rating: 86.0 / 100 • 57 votes
Genres: Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG), Turn-based strategy (TBS), Adventure, Indie
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows)
Game modes: Single player
The player is tasked with controlling the Batter and guiding him on his quest to "purify" the world of spirits.