Articles Phoenix Point

The best tactical games reward planning over reflexes — here are 24 turn-based tactics games and TRPGs for PC and consoles, from XCOM 2 and Jagged Alliance 3 to Unicorn Overlord. Victory here does not belong to whoever clicks faster, but to whoever plans every move several steps ahead: assessing positions, calculating risks, and making smart use of cover and squad abilities. One wrong order, and a favorite fighter may be left on the battlefield forever. This ranking features 26 of the best tactical games for PC and consoles, divided into five categories: story-driven tactical RPGs, mercenary squads, military and sci-fi tactics in the spirit of XCOM, real-time stealth tactics, and compact tactical puzzle games. The selection ranges from genre classics such as Final Fantasy Tactics and XCOM 2 to new releases from 2025–2026. The list was updated in May 2026.

Grand strategy and 4X games put you in charge of a nation or a galactic empire — here are the 24 best, from Civilization and Stellaris to Crusader Kings 3, Europa Universalis 5 and Total War. Developing your realm and taking part in geopolitical rivalry with your neighbors can be so absorbing that a single session easily lasts until morning. The “one more turn” phenomenon is no joke. Our list includes 24 grand strategy games divided into 5 subgenres: classic 4X civilization-building games, historical state-management sandboxes from Paradox, the epic mix of a global map and tactical battles in Total War, space empires, and unusual hybrids. The selection was updated in May 2026 with the major releases of recent years: Europa Universalis 5 (2025), Civilization 7 (2025), and Victoria 3 (2022).