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Squad-Level Tactical Games

Severian Silk

Guest
Here's a list of squad-level tactical games for the (mostly) personal computer. Please correct any mistakes, update with additional info, etc., etc..


// X-COM CLONES
Invasion 2021: Last Line of Defense (????) [dead link]
OpenXcom (TBA) [faithful open source implementation, there exist mobile ports too]
Pocket UFO (2003) [very faithful conversion for the PPC, dead link]
Talon (2005) [open source]
Taskforce (????) [dead link]
UFO: Aftershock, UFO: Aftermath & UFO: Afterlight (2003, 2005, 2007) [RTwP]
UFO: Alien Invasion (TBA) [open source, has multiplayer, my favorite so far of all the clones]
UFO: Extraterrestrials & UFO2Extraterrestrials (2007, TBA) [so-so reviews]
UFO-2007: Unknown Project (????) [dead link]
UFO2000 (TBA) [in development, open source, very faithful multiplayer update]
UFOLoader [fan-made patch for X-COM]
XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2 (2012, 2016) [recent remakes by Fireaxis]
Xenonauts (2014) [good reviews]
XenoSquad (????) [Adobe Flash, browser, free to play]
Xenowar (2011) [Android mobile]


// JA2/FALLOUT CLONES
ALFA: Antiterror - Advanced War Tactics (2006) [phase-based]
Brigade E5: New Jagged Union & 7.62 (2005, 2008) [RTwP, have multiplayer, mixed reviews]
Cold Contract (2014) [roguelike/JA2 clone]
Fallen A2P Protocol (2015) [buggy, bad reviews]
Fallout: Tactics (2001) [has multiplayer, optionally RTwP or TB though not sure how each works]
Gorky 17 (1999) [a.k.a. "Odium"]
Ground Zero: Genesis of a New World (2006) [real-time]
Hired Guns: The Jagged Edge (2007) [a.k.a. "JAZZ: Hired Guns", RTwP, was supposed to be JA3 at one point]
JA: Back in Action, JA: Crossfire (2012, 2012) [a.k.a. "JA2: Reloaded", 3D RTwP and somewhat dumbed-down remake of JA2]
JA2: Deidranna Lives, JA2: Renegade Republik, JA2: Urban Chaos, JA2: Vietnam SOG'69 & JA2: Wildfire (various) [JA2 total conversion mods, Wildfire has the best maps IMO]
JA2 v1.13 (under continuous development) [community update, huge number of changes to the original, multiplayer under development]
Jagged Alliance: Flashback (2013) [buggy/incomplete, bad reviews, Kickstarter]
Marauder (2009) [real-time, by the makers of 7.62, aka "Man of Prey"]
Metalheart: Replicants Rampage (2005) [bad reviews]
Night Watch & Day Watch (2005, 2007) [bad reviews, based on the Russian novels by Sergey Lukyanenko, uses the Silent Storm engine]
Paradise Cracked (2002) & COPS 2170: The Power of Law (2005) [bad reviews]
Planet Alcatraz (2006) [crap game]
Shadow Company: Left for Dead (1999) [RTwP]
Shadow Vault (2004) [bad reviews]
Shadow Watch (2000) [mixed reviews]
Silent Storm, Silent Storm: Sentinels & Hammer & Sickle (2003, 2004, 2005) [all set in the same universe, maybe the best TB implementation so far, but Panzerkleins suck!!]


// OTHER TURN-BASED GAMES
// FANTASY
Ascension to the Throne (2007)
Banner Saga, The, Banner Saga, The: Factions (2014, 2013) [Vikings, Disney-style cartoon animation, Factions is multiplayer only]
Battle Brothers (TBA) [bobbleheads]
Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance (1996) [based on the DnD franchise]
Blackguards (2014) [TB hex-grid strategy/RPG in Das Schwarze Auge setting]
BrikWars (2009) [open source, LEGO minifig battles, could be for any setting not just fantasy, multiplayer only?]
Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land (2012) [based loosely on the pen-and-paper game]
Chaos (1985) [Gollop bros.]
Chaos Reborn (TBA) [Gollop bros., Kickstarted]
Chroma Squad (2015) [Power Rangers spoof]
Drums of War (2014) [bad graphics, has castle sieges and shit]
Dungeons & Dragons Tactics (2007) [for the PSP, D&D]
Evie and Erebus (2008) [made with Game Maker]
Hovendall Tactics (2007) [made with Game Maker]
Legends of Eisenwald (TBA) [TB Strategy, a mixture of King's Bounty exploration and Disciples-like combat, with cRPG elements]
Lords of Chaos (1990) [Gollop bros.]
Paladin & Paladin 2 (1988, 1992) [by the same developer as the "Breach" series]
Phoenix Point (TBA) [by the original developers of X-COM]
Red Crystal, The (1993) [bad reviews]
Red Mists (TBA) [made with Game Maker, in development]
Spellcross: The Last Battle (1997)
Styrateg (2007)
Telepath Tactics, Telepath Psy Arena, Telepath Psy Arena 2 (2015, ????, ????) [by Sinister Design]
Warmachine: Tactics (2014) [based on the pnp game]
Zatikon (2008) [online multiplayer, free to play]
// MODERN/HISTORICAL
101: The Airborne Invasion of Normandy (1998)
All American: The 82nd Airborne in Normandy (????)
ArmA Tactics (TBA) [in development for nVidia's new handheld console]
Avalon Hill's Squad Leader (2000) [bad reviews, no demo]
Combat Mission series (1999-present) [phase-based]
End State (TBD) [counter-terrorism, detailed combat]
Frontline Tactics (2012) [iOS, PC]
Hard West (2015) [wild wild west, kickstarter, HoMM-like strategic layer]
Legends of War: Patton's Campaign (2013) [has some tanks, but seems mostly focused on small unit tactics]
Omerta: City of Gangsters (2013)
Sabre Team (1992)
Soldiers at War (1998) [good & bad reviews, no demo]
Team Assault (2012)
Twilight 2000 (1991) [good review]
Typhoon of Steel (1990) [phase-based]
Wages of War: The Business of Battle (1996) [ugly prelude to "Soldiers at War"]
Xconq (1987-2005) [open source strategy game engine, there could be a tactics game somewhere amongst the dozens of modules that come with it, if not you can develop one]
// SCI-FI
Alien Assault (????) [Space Hulk clone]
Breach & Breach 2 (1987, 1990)
Dead State (2014) [a.k.a. "DoubleBear's Zombie RPG"]
Frozen Cortex (2015) [futuristic sports]
Frozen Synapse & Frozen Synapse Prime (2010, 2014) [WEGO, has multiplayer, Darwinia meets X-COM, good reviews]
Galactic Insomnia (TBD) [kickstarter]
Halfway (2014) [awesome retro graphics, mod support]
Incubation (1997) [has multiplayer, kind of puzzly]
Invisible, Inc. (2015) [espionage-themed game on Steam early access]
Laser Squad (1988) [no unit advancement or inventory, Gollop bros.]
Laser Squad Nemesis (2002) [phase-based, has multiplayer, no unit advancement or inventory, Gollop bros.]
Legion of Steel (2015) [complexified Space Hulk clone, PC, iOS]
MegaMek (TBA) [open source, BattleTech-inspired game, in development]
MissionForce: Cyberstorm (1996) [mecha]
NetHulk (TBA) [multiplayer Space Hulk clone, in development]
Rebelstar series (1984-1988) [no unit advancement or inventory, Gollop bros.]
Rebelstar: Tactical Command (2005) [Gollop bros., for GBA]
Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall & Shadowrun: Hong Kong (2013, 2014, 2015) [includes a toolset for making your own modules]
Space Hulk (????) [dead link, computerized clone of Games Workshop's table-top game]
Space Hulk (2013) [accurate re-creation of the board game by Games Workshop]
Star Sentinel Tactics (2010) [bad reviews]
Stellar Forces (2010) [open source, PBEM]
Templar Battleforce (2015) [Space Hulk clone]
Titans of Steel & Titans of Steel: Warring Suns (1999, 2003) [mecha, the latter is freeware, mirror]
Ultimate Space Commando (2015) [has multiplayer, let's wear camo in space!]
Warhammer: Chaos Gate (1998) [has multiplayer]
Warhammer 40,000: Deathwatch - Enhanced Edition (2015)


// OTHER REAL-TIME GAMES
// FANTASY
Aarklash: Legacy (2013) [RTwP, story is meh, combat has good reviews]
Battle Bugs (1994) [RTwP, conquest of your kitchen floor]
Confrontation (2012) [based on the Games Workshop series of table top games]
Myth: The Fallen Lords & Myth II: Soulblighter (1997, 1998) [RTT classic]
Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood (2006)
// MODERN/HISTORICAL
Commandos series (1998-2010)
Deadline (1996)
Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive (2001)
Divided We Fall (TBA)
Eric Young's Squad Assault: West Front (2003)
Korea: Forgotten Conflict (2003)
Police Quest: SWAT 2 [other titles in the series range from interactive novels to first-person shooters] (1998)
Tegel's Mercenaries (1992) & Strike Squad (1993) [no unit advancement or witching inventory]
XIII Century: Death or Glory (2008)
// SCI-FI
Abomination: The Nemesis Project (1999)
Blade Thrust Tactics (TBA) [in development]
Breach 3 (1995) [real-time sequel to "Breach" and "Breach 2"]
Conquest Earth: First Encounter (1997) [no info]
Freedom Force & Freedom Force vs. The Third Reich (2002, 2005) [Super Hero comics, RTwP, has multiplayer, good reviews]
FreeSynd (TBA) [GPL cross-platform remake of Syndicate, in development]
Phase: Exodus (TBA) [in development]
Satellite Reign (2015) [kickstarter, spiritual sequel to Syndicate]
Soldiers of Anarchy (2002) [post-apoc]
Star Wolves, Star Wolves 2 & Star Wolves 3: Civil War (2002, 2006, 2010) [RTwP, outer space, mixed to poor reviews, the first is the only one that's good IMO]
Starship Troopers: Terran Ascendancy (2000) [slightly larger squads than usual]
Syndicate (1993) [RTT classic]
There Came an Echo (2015) [uses voice recognition, starring Wil Wheaton]
Trapped Dead (2010) [zombie horror theme]
Urban Legend (2007)


// CRPGs
Age of Decadence, The (2015) [single-character, multiple solutions, Codex GOTY runner-up]
Antharion (TBA) [kickstarter]
Betrayal at Krondor, Betrayal in Antara & Return to Krondor (1993, 1997, 1998) [CRPGs, very light tactics]
Chaos Chronicles (TBA) [d20, in development]
Copper Dreams (TBA) [kickstarter]
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands & Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager (1993, 1994)
Disciples of Steel (1994)
Divinity: Original Sin (2014) [good reviews, kickstarter]
Dungeon Craft (TBA) [open source FRUA remake, in development, intends to support existing FRUA modules]
Expeditions: Conquistador (2013) [TB Strategy/RPG hybrid, based in XVI century New World]
Fall, The: Last Days of Gaia (2004) [real-time, mixed reviews, not released in America, by the developers of "Soldiers of Anarchy"]
Gold Box series (1988-1993) [Pool of Radiance, Champions of Krynn, etc., D&D, first-person exploration]
Helherron (2003) [Nahlakh clone]
Heroes of Jin Yong (1996) [Chinese-language, single character/AI controlled party]
Knights of the Chalice, Knights of the Chalice 2 (2009, TBA) [OGL 3.5 Edition, good reviews]
Nahlakh (1994) [graphical roguelike]
Omega Syndrome, The (2006) [single-character/AI party, good reviews but short, difficult]
Natuk (1999) [by the same developer as Nahlakh]
Prelude to Darkness (2002) [freeware, good reviews, buggy]
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny, Realms of Arkania: Star Trail & Realms of Arkania III: Shadows over Riva (1992, 1994, 1996)
Realms of Arkania: Blade of Destiny HD Remake (2013) [ugly, low production values, kill it with fire!]
Realmz (1994)
Tactica: Maiden of Faith (TBA) [in development]
Telepath RPG Chapter 1, Telepath RPG Chapter 2, Telepath RPG: Servants of God (????, ????, 2012) [by Sinister Design]
Temple of Elemental Evil, The (2003) [very faithful port of D&D to the computer, starting town is boring]
Some early titles in the Ultima series
Underrail (2015) [single-character, very atmospheric, Codex GOTY]
Wasteland 2 (2014) [kickstarter]
Winter Voices (2013) [French anime, no offensive skills]
Wizard's Crown & The Eternal Dagger (1985, 1987) [CRPGs]
Zaharia (TBA) [middle-eastern setting]
Zero-Projekt (TBA) [in development, FIFE engine]


// TACTICAL ROGUELIKES
Dungeon Monkey Unlimited [by the creator of GearHead]
Enemy (TBA) [tactical roguelike Minecraft/Zelda/Mario-clone in development, kickstarter]
Fishguts [tentative title of a tactical roguelike/Gold Box clone in development for the PSP]
GearHead & GearHead 2 [single-character/AI-controlled party, has a "tactics" mode but it needs some work, has both ASCII and graphical modes, GH2 is unfinished]
Lost Labyrinth [single-character graphical roguelike, has an action point system supposedly]
Mysterious Castle [party-based roguelike loosely based on D&D, iOS and Windows desktop]
Renowned Explorers (2015) [graphical party-based roguelike]
Steam Marines (2013) [in development, steampunk tactical roguelike in space, can't attack diagonally]
Stellar Tactics (TBA) [in development, squad combat and Space exploration]
Voxel Quest (TBA) [kickstarter, procedurally generated voxels, no updates since 2016?]


// TACTICAL JRPGs FOR WINDOWS/PC
Battle for Wesnoth, The [anime, open source, Master of Monsters clone]
Exit Fate [anime, switches between tactics and standard JRPG combat modes depending on where you are in the story]
Gadget Trial [anime]
Grotesque Tactics: Evil Heroes (2010) & Grotesque Tactics 2: Dungeons and Donuts (2011) [dumb German humor]
Hellenica (2017)
Power Dolls (1994) [mecha, no English translation]
Regalia: Of Men And Monarchs (TBA) [in development, Kickstarter]
RPG Maker [there are several TRPG scripts for RPG Maker, dunno much about them though]
Skyshine's BEDLAM Redux! (TBA) [uses the Banner Saga engine, kickstarter]
Vantage Master Online [anime, freeware, Master of Monsters clone]
Unsung Story (TBA) [Yasumi Matsuno]
Zion (vaporware) [anime, in early development, made in Australia, last update 2010]


// MMOs
Atlantica Online [player-controlled parties of up to 9 characters each, freemium, little character customization]
Dofus (2004) & Wakfu (2012) [anime, single-character]
GUNROX [anime]
Jagged Alliance Online (TBA) [in development]
Neverwinter Nights [Gold Box circa 1991, free servers available]
PoxNora
Strugarden [anime, Japan/Korea only]
Total Influence [Russian only]


// MOBILE AND BROWSER
AntiSquad (2014) [has PC, iOS and Android versions, dumb dudebro art style]
Blackwinter Demo, Curse of the Wailing Death Prelude, The Elderin Stone, Hearkenwold (????) [four IceBlinkBasic modules]
Cyber Knights RPG (2011) [Android, tactical cyberpunk sandbox game]
Door Kickers (2014) [mobile game]
Dungeoneers (TBA) [single character, browser game, simple rules]
IceBlinkBasic (????) [FOSS Gold Box-style engine and toolset, works on PC too]
utland 17: Void of Liberty (TBA) [Tactical RPG - in development]
Squad Tactics (TBA) [Flash-based browser game, very early development]
Tactical Soldier: Undead Rising (2011) [iPhone, zombie horror theme]
Templar Assault RPG (2011) [Android, 4-character squad game inspired by Warhammer Space Hulk]


// CANCELLED OR ABANDONED
Bourgeoisie (DOA) [dead link]
Dark Triad: Akhazal Quest, The (DOA) [in development, 3D-isometric turn-based, story driven cRPG]
Dreamland Chronicles, The (DOA) [cancelled remake by Julian Gollop]
Outcome (DOA) [real-time, dead link]
PARPG (DOA) [in development, FIFE engine]
Project Xenocide (DOA) [open source, discontinued]
PSG RebelSquad (DOA) [in development]
S.C.O.U.R.G.E. [party-based graphical roguelike, action point system can be enabled in config IIRC, development stalled]
Tactica Online (DOA) [MMO, cancelled]
Tangut Prophesy, The (DOA) [a realistic cRPG on FOnline engine set in XII century China by CrazyLoon]
UFO: The Two Sides (DOA) [freeware, multiplayer remake, in development]
What Remains (DOA) [FOnline engine post-apocalyptic game by Surf Solar]
X-Com: Project Colonisation (DOA) [dead link]
X-Commandos (DOA) [in development]
X-Force: Fight for Destiny (DOA) [in development]
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Lady Armageddona

Liturgist
Joined
Dec 7, 2004
Messages
180
Location
in the middle of hell
// REALTIME TACTICAL GAMES
- Freedom Force vs the Third Reich

- Desperados : Wanted Dead or Alive // a Commandos clone with Wild Western athmosphere and story, therefore waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better than any Commandos

- Robin Hood : Legend of Sherwood // another Comandos type game by the developer of Desperados, and has some very nice innovations to the gameplay
 

obediah

Erudite
Joined
Jan 31, 2005
Messages
5,051
I like the little blurbs you've added in the []'s. Perhaps you could add one for "doesn't suck". Subjective I know, but helpful.

Also, it might be helpful to separate the "other" category into sc-fi and military, with sci-fi taking precedence over military.

My coffee is done, so it's off to work, I'll brainstorm for missing games when I get there.
 

Severian Silk

Guest
obediah said:
I like the little blurbs you've added in the []'s. Perhaps you could add one for "doesn't suck". Subjective I know, but helpful.
I haven't played most of these games.
"Good review / Bad review" is more objective ;)

I'll start adding links, though.
 

Deacdo

Liturgist
Joined
Oct 24, 2004
Messages
585
Um...why are games like Soldier of Fortune and Hidden & Dangerous mentioned? They're shooters. Did they get some good mods or something?
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Woops. I meant Soldiers of Anarchy.
I also assumed Hidden and Dangerous was a strategy game.
 

Shevek

Arcane
Joined
Sep 20, 2003
Messages
1,570
XMen Legends is more of a party based beat em up like Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance and Gauntlet since any semblance of tactics is really tossed out for some very haphazard rt combat. Still a fun little game though.

*edit
For console titles that sorta WOULD fit under this sort of list, you might consider the Shining Force series, Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics, Dark Wizard, etc etc. Often misnamed as "Strategy RPGs," Japanese Tactical RPGs (jTRGs? hehe) can have some ok boardgame like combat though their stories are often very poor and cliche ridden (you almost always are some prepubescent idiot that is somehow given command of an elite squad of warriors (who, also, are children) to do whatever; attempts at 'serious' storytelling is almost always limited by typical jRPG exaggeration and total lack of consistency much less believability).
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Wow! Never heard of those. I'll add them to the list.

On another note, I was really, really hoping that Tactics Mode in GearHead 2 would be further developed by now. Unfortunately, development in that area seems to have stalled. :(
 

Balor

Arcane
Joined
Dec 29, 2004
Messages
5,186
Location
Russia
Hey, Brigade E5 is SPM (Smart Pause), not Realtime.
At least write RTwP...
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Someone elsewhere suggested that Pool of Radiance is a tactical game. Anyone want to second that?
 

Severian Silk

Guest
Does that go for all the games in the series, or just the first? All the gold-box games?
 

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