Thanks to the Fire Emblem series gaining mainstream popularity, tactical strategy RPGs are finally gaining the appreciation they deserve. The genre has been around a long time with Fire Emblem itself being nearly 30 years old. It’s a genre that plays and feels like a combination of tabletop RPG and chess, beginning on 8-bit systems with games like Ultima III: Exodus and Koei's The Dragon and the Princess in the early 1980s.
Yet despite not becoming a major hit outside of Japan, it was Intelligent Systems’ Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series that set the standard for turn-based tactical RPGs. It isn't the only series one should try in the genre, however, as there are many other great tactics titles wanting to be played.
Updated May 8, 2022 by Michael Llewellyn: Thanks to the popularity of the characters in Super Smash Bros, Nintendo's Fire Emblem series has established itself as one of the most mainstream tactical RPGs in the world. Its combination of great characters, stories, and accessible gameplay play a big role in making the series one of Nintendo's most anticipated titles. Thankfully, several titles offer similar gameplay mechanics while telling a great story of their own. This list has been updated with more games in the genre and titles that are similar to Fire Emblem to keep fans happy until the next entry in the Fire Emblem series.
18 Triangle Strategy
- Released: 2022
- Platform: Switch
- Developer: Artdink and Square Enix
Tactical RPG Triangle Strategy is a classically inspired RPG from the same studio that created the Bravely Default series and Octopath Traveler. It's a visually stunning title that features interconnected storylines and characters by effectively implementing visual novel-like storytelling.
The world-building is intricate, and the story is deep so fans of Fire Emblem's story and characters will enjoy it. Triangle Strategy's gameplay is even more accessible, however, and feels like a modern-day Vandal Hearts. It's long-winded in some respects but the payoff is worth it and thanks to the drop-in and drop-out nature of the Switch much easier to stay on track.
17 Relayer
- Released: 2022
- Platform: PC, PS4, and PS5
- Developer: Kadokawa Games
Fans looking for a title that feels like a modern-day take on the Front Mission series while implementing elements from the Fire Emblem series will love Relayer. It's a sci-fi tactical JRPG with giant mechs and lots of deep mechanics and systems to keep one busy for hours at a time.
Just like Triangle Strategy, Relayer implements the use of visual novel mechanics to tell a long but compellingly deep narrative. However, it has more in common with Fire Emblem than the aforementioned tactical RPG. It also features animated scenes to convey the action between mechs and is always a visual spectacle.
16 Dark Deity
- Released: 2021
- Developer: Sword & Axe LLC
- Platform: PC and Switch
The indie title Dark Deity is a tactical RPG that more than borrows a few elements from the Fire Emblem series. It's fair to call the game a Fire Emblem clone in the best possible way.
In terms of visuals and mechanics, Dark Deity takes more inspiration from the classic Fire Emblem: The Binding Blade on the GBA. If one has exhausted themselves on all the Western released Fire Emblem games in anticipation of the next game, Dark Deity is a great and cheap alternative in the meantime.
15 Into The Breach
- Released: 2018
- Developer: Subset Games
- Platform: Linux, macOS, PC, and Switch
Following the success of the critically acclaimed FTL: Faster Than Light, the team over at Subset Games opted to try their hand at a turn-based strategy title. The resulting game is one of the most original to have been released in recent years and has proven to be a big hit with both critics and players alike. It's won numerous awards in the years since its release and currently holds a 90 rating on Metacritic.
At its core, Into the Breach is an incredibly accessible game and one that is very easy to get sucked into. Its perfectly implemented mechanics are incredibly addictive and there's more than enough content to keep one busy for quite some time. There are occasions when it falls a little short in the challenge department, but for the most part, the developers did a great job balancing the game's difficulty to accommodate a wide range of ability levels.
14 Templar Battleforce
- Released: 2015
- Developer: Trese Brothers Games
- Platform: PC
Templar Battleforce is a little rough around the edges in places, but it's easy to overlook this given the game's many strengths especially if one is looking for a Fire Emblem-like game on Steam. The combat mechanics are well thought out and easy enough to pick up and the top-down viewpoint provides you with the perfect vantage point to survey the battlefield. There's plenty of enemy variation too and the threat of permadeath raises the stakes dramatically and encourages one to think carefully about their every move.
One of the things that makes the game so enthralling is just how quickly the tide can turn. One moment you might be staring death in the face only to find yourself on the brink of victory just a few minutes later. Conversely, it can be easy to get a little complacent and fall with the finish line just in view. Given the addictive nature of the game though, you'll likely find yourself getting straight back up and starting the race all over again.
13 Shadowrun: Hong Kong
- Released: 2015
- Developer: Harebrained Schemes
- Platform: Linux, macOS, PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S
Although the turn-based RPG elements found in Shadowrun: Hong Kong may not be particularly innovative, the game's overall presentation and its fantastic narrative deliver. The futuristic version of Hong Kong it portrays and the interesting characters who reside there really do feel alive while the muted lights and colors perfectly compliment the tone of the story.
Given the brilliance of earlier Shadowrun games and the strong track record of the talented team at Harebrained Schemes, it should come as little surprise that the game is as good as it is. Even so, one can't help but be impressed at how well all of the pieces fit together. The trilogy is often cited as one of the best games in the cyberpunk genre, and thanks to its implementation of fantasy tropes, the Shadowrun Trilogy feels like an original. and deep experience. The trilogy is set to be released on consoles in May 2022.
12 Fae Tactics
- Released: 2021
- Developer: Endless Fluff Games
- Platform: PC and Xbox One
Fae Tactics isn't going to be winning any beauty pageants anytime soon, yet its simplistic and colorful art style remains charming in its own right. There's plenty of variation across its many stages and there's some skill required when it comes to building an effective squad. The occasional special conditions are also a nice touch and give you something else to think about other than just wiping out their foes.
Although interesting in places, its story is something of a mixed bag and is often blighted by issues with pacing. Make no mistake though, the story is only a very small part of what makes this game so enjoyable. Its well-balanced and easy-to-understand combat mechanics make it suitable for beginners and there's more than enough depth and customization to appease even the most experienced tactical RPG veterans.
11 Final Fantasy Tactics
- Released: 1998
- Developer: Square Enix
- Platform: PS1 and PSP
With the Fire Emblem series not making its way west until the turn of the century, fans of the tactical RPG genre didn't have too many viable options back in the mid to late nineties. Thankfully, however, Squaresoft's fantastic Final Fantasy Tactics was among the few that received North American releases.
Featuring a well fleshed-out class system and even a few familiar faces, the game offers an incredible amount of depth and some vintage Squaresoft storytelling that more than lives up to the Final Fantasy name. When combined with its fantastic soundtrack and the wonderful combat mechanics, there aren't too many better games out there when it comes to tactical RPGs.
10 Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle
- Released: 2017
- Developer: Ubisoft
- Platform: Switch
On the surface, this is a crossover game starring the Mario Bros. And the Raving Rabbids may seem like a strange choice for a tactics game but Mario + Rabbids Kingdom Battle made this work brilliantly. In addition, lead producer Xavier Manzanares stated in an interview with Usgamer that Intelligent System’s Fire Emblem and Advance Wars series was an inspiration for Mario + Rabbids.
Of course, being a game based within the Mario universe one can’t expect it to be a game with a deep and involved story. However, with varied maps, a great soundtrack, and a fun multiplayer mode Mario + Rabbids is another great tactics title on the Nintendo Switch.
9 Eternal Poison
- Released: 2008
- Developer: Flight-Plan
- Platform: PS2
Eternal Poison was released toward the end of the PlayStation 2’s life cycle. It’s a tactical RPG that went very much under the radar because of a limited release and some reviewers couldn't get past its brutal difficulty. However, gamers with enough patience will find this Gothic fantasy SRPG perfect for those that enjoy the highest difficulty settings in Fire Emblem.
Eternal Poison features multiple paths and playthroughs to see everything and there’s an incredible amount of depth in the story. Like Fire Emblem, all of the executed attacks on the grid-based battlefield have a corresponding cutscene. In addition, you will need to make sure their characters are always busy in combat to level up as there are no do-overs.
8 The XCOM Series
- Released: 1994
- Developer: Mythos Games, Microprose, Hasbro, Infogrames, Irrational Games, 2K Marin, and Firaxis Games.
- Platform: Amiga, Android, iOS, Linux, PC, PS1, PS3, PS4, PSP, Xbox 360, and Xbox One
Unlike the Fire Emblem series, XCOM isn’t inspired by anime or Tolkien-esque medieval settings. The science-fiction title is a near-future post-apocalyptic world where aliens have invaded the earth.
However, fans of the Fire Emblem series and tactical RPGs, in general, will feel right at home. It’s a turn-based strategy game where the stakes are high and one can potentially lose characters that they have become attached to in battle. Additionally, the characters are player-created with customizable biographies and backstories. As a result, connections to their characters and their loss on the battlefield seem more personal if and when they happen.
7 The Advance Wars Series
- Released: 2001
- Developer: Intelligent Systems
- Platform: DS, GBA, and Switch
Developed by Intelligent Systems, Advance Wars is seen as a sister series to Fire Emblem due to their similarities in gameplay mechanics. However, Advance Wars is a pure strategy game without the JRPG-style drama and character growth systems.
The storylines in the Advance Wars games may not be as deep, but they’re enjoyable in their own right. More importantly, the tactical gameplay is incredibly addictive and whether playing the Game Boy Advance or DS iterations gamers will be glued to their screens for hours. The first two games are getting remade as Advance Wars 1+2 Re-Boot Camp and are set to be released on the Switch.
6 The Valkyria Chronicles Series
- Released: 2008
- Developer: Sega
- Platform: Android, iOS, PC, PS3, PS4, PSP, Switch, Vita, and Xbox One
At first glance, Sega’s Valkyria Chronicles series may not look like it would share much of a resemblance to the Fire Emblem series. While it’s still a turn-based strategy this title doesn’t use a traditional grid-based system. In addition, the series mixes real-time aiming and third-person movement and a beautiful and timeless art style.
What Valkyria Chronicles shares in common with Fire Emblem are its character interactions and development, the class systems, and a permadeath feature. With a heartfelt and emotional story taking place in an alternate universe, First World War setting Fire Emblem fans will love what has been one of the best SRPGs in the last two generations.
5 The Growlanser Series
- Released: 1999
- Developer: Career Soft
- Platform: PC, PS1, PS2, and PSP
The Growlanser series like Valkyria Chronicles plays quite differently from strategy games that employ a grid-based combat system. It is still, however, a turn-based tactics game where you can issue commands to their warriors on the fly in a similar manner to the Active Time Battle system in Final Fantasy.
Fire Emblem fans will also enjoy the dating sim elements where player choices will have a direct or indirect impact on character relationships. These relationships will also affect the game’s cutscenes, story choices, and endings. Despite some differences to standard SRPGs, fans will feel right at home with the Growlanser series.
4 Fell Seal: Arbiters Mark
- Released: 2019
- Developer: 6 Eyes Studio
- Platform: Linux, OSX, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Developed by 6 Eyes Studio, Fell Seal: Arbiters mark was successfully funded by a Kickstarter project and openly uses the likes of Final Fantasy: Tactics and Tactics Ogre as its primary inspirations. Additionally, anyone familiar with Konami’s Vandal Hearts series will feel right at home with this title too.
Fell Seal has a superbly written and mature story with excellent characters. The character class options are incredibly layered, deep, and like Fire Emblem immediately accessible.
3 Vandal Hearts
- Released: 1996
- Developer: Konami
- Platform: PS1
In many ways, Konami’s Vandal Hearts is like an entry-level tactical RPG, especially compared to the likes of Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy: Tactics, and indeed Fire Emblem. Even they play similarly using a grid-based combat system, there’s very little in the way of grinding and there’s no branching storyline.
What is special about Vandal Hearts though, is the dark storyline rivaling the quality of writing seen in Konami’s Suikoden RPG series, albeit on a much smaller scale. In addition, there’s an element of rock, paper, and scissors to the character classes too. For example, airmen beat knights, archers beat airmen and knights beat archers. Its sequel Vandal Hearts II also has a good dark storyline with standout characters but the gameplay is more challenging.
2 The Banner Saga Trilogy
- Released: 2014
- Developer: Stoic Studio
- Platform: Android, iOS, OS X, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One
Like Fell Seal: Arbiters Mark, The Banner Saga was a Kickstarter success story that harkens back to the turn-based tactical RPGs of yesteryear. The story of The Banner Saga spans three games and is set in a Norse mythology-based fantasy where humans and giants unite against an ancient evil known as the Dredge.
Similar to Fire Emblem, the choices one makes throughout the game are vastly important and there’s the potential for losing a character permanently if a battle is lost. In addition, the story is told through beautifully animated cutscenes that resemble Disney's Sleeping Beauty, and the stunning Ralph Bakshi animated classics like Fire and Ice and the 1978 Lord of the Rings movie.
1 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
- Released: 1998
- Developer: Quest Corporation
- Platform: PS1 and PSP
Where games like Vandal Hearts and Mario + Rabbids are a simplistic and easy starting point in the tactics genre, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together is the complete opposite end of that spectrum. It’s a seriously deep, intricate, and time-intensive game, but it’s an incredibly rewarding one too.
Every decision (chaos, law, and neutral) made in the politically motived story will have consequences and its impact on the plot and gameplay is meaningful. Additionally, Fire Emblem fans will love the endless customization options, character class systems, and abilities. There’s a huge amount of depth and flexibility, and perhaps more than any other SRPG available, you can experiment with everything the game has to offer.