InXile Entertainment was founded in 2002 by Brian Fargo after he left Interplay Entertainment. In 2014, they released Wasteland 2, a sequel to Interplay's Wasteland from 1988. Fortunately, fans only had to wait six years to receive the third game in the series, Wasteland 3, which came out on August 28, 2020.
This CRPG is long, difficult, and full of grueling choices which rarely have a clear right answer. While the title will take players plenty of time to go through, afterward, they might feel like checking out any of the games similar to Wasteland 3 below. Some are CRPGs, while others simply contain gameplay or narrative elements also found in Wasteland 3.
Updated January 13, 2022, by Jason Wojnar: Wasteland 3 has been out for well over a year and fans are overall pleased with what the game offers. Two DLC expansions, Battle of Steeltown and Cult of the Holy Detonation, came out since release to further extend replay value. There is a lot to see in Wasteland 3, but hardcore fans ate up all the content faster than you'd think.
If you are one of these players who has seen everything there is to see in the RPG and looking for games of a similar ilk, then play any of the games below. Because of the game's continued popularity and the developer's increased profile within the industry thanks to being purchased by Microsoft, we decided to add even more games to the list.
18 Empire Of Sin
Romero Games consists of Doom co-creator John Romero and his wife Brenda Romero. The married couple's most recent game is Empire of Sin, a turn-based strategy game taking place in the 1920s.
You spend the campaign building up a criminal empire, either forging alliances or stabbing people in the back. The game was criticized for numerous technical issues upon release. Fans of the genre should still find a lot to love in this title, however, especially considering its unique setting.
17 Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle
Mario does not just cross over with any franchise, Super Smash Bros. excepted. Gaming's favorite plumber teaming up with Ubisoft's Rabbids was too good of a pairing to pass up. The surprising part of the collaboration is the decision to make the game a turn-based strategy game with combat like Wasteland 3 and XCOM.
Kingdom Battle is not nearly as difficult as its inspirations, however. True to the Rabbids games, the slapstick physical humor is infectious. If you want a turn-based strategy game that isn't brutally difficult, this is the one to pick.
16 Syndicate
This classic series is not turn-based, but it is played from an isometric perspective, so strategy is still a large part of the gameplay equation. More role-playing and simulation elements play into the development of new weapons and equipment.
You are also tasked with taxing areas you already won over, but overdoing it might cause a mutiny. The series was rebooted as an FPS in 2012, though it lacked the strategy elements fans loved about the older games.
15 Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Rarely do top-down games feature stories with as much depth as this one. It was lauded by critics for putting in extra focus for its plot, although the frequent bugs and glitches do need to be pointed out.
What’s great about Pathfinder: Kingmaker is that fans of the genre will have hours of gameplay to tackle, as the title is meant to last over 100 hours in total. While the mechanics are nothing revolutionary, it’s still going to feel familiar for Wasteland enthusiasts.
14 Shadowrun: Dragonfall
Many fans of Wasteland 3 have noted how it feels subtle in its playthrough, which is how Shadowrun: Dragonfall will come across. It doesn’t present huge battle sequences, but keeps things flowing at a steady rate.
The sprawling landscape is filled with aesthetic quality, as the level design is a thing of beauty that reflects the world Shadowrun: Dragonfall brings. The game is a lot intellectual than most in the genre, although it’s still the magnificent scope of the world that will enthrall players.
13 Mutant Year Zero: Road To Eden
A highly quirky title that’s mostly unheard of in the turn-based genre, Road to Eden features more personality than most games you’ll find. Similar to Wasteland 3, this game also has plenty of choices for the player to make.
More so than anything else, the most impressive part of Road to Eden is the focus on strategy as players are encouraged to carry out plans that completely dismantle enemy lines and defenses. It’s quite the experience when this does come to pass.
12 Pillars Of Eternity
While many games like to take the combat-heavy approach, Pillars of Eternity has equal rewards for players who go for stealth tactics instead. This makes it a very immersive RPG as there are multiple ways to complete missions.
Another notable quality of the game is the multiple routes for players to take, which brings many side missions with characters of equal quality to the main plot. That’s not to say the combat isn’t special, as the deep combat system effectively represents the game’s supernatural setting.
11 Gears Tactics
A prequel to the Gears of War series, Gears Tactics takes a radically different approach by being a turn-based strategy title. It’s a lot more freeing than it might sound, as players can easily explore the map without feeling trapped in the grid.
The story is just as rich as the main series, bringing a genuine arc for the protagonists and a reason for fans to feel invested. Having character classes with individual abilities, gameplay is multifaceted thanks to this feature.
10 Divinity: Original Sin
The Divinity series has been kicking since 2002, but it was not until the 2014 title Divinity: Original Sin when the RPG series found mainstream success.
Those familiar with Wasteland's isometric RPG gameplay will only have to adjust a little bit to this series' mechanics. Like Wasteland 3, the two games in the Divinity: Original Sin subseries can be played cooperatively from start to finish, a rarity for the genre.
9 Fallout
Fallout is the spiritual successor to the original Wasteland, and its first two entries were also developed by Interplay Entertainment. The isometric RPG tasks players with braving the post-apocalyptic wastes in an effort to save the underground Vault in which they were born.
Bethesda took over the series with Fallout 3, significantly changing the gameplay. In this new era, many consider Fallout: New Vegas to be the crown jewel and most faithful to the original games by Interplay.
8 X-COM
While not a true CRPG, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and XCOM 2's combat is definitely reminiscent of Wasteland 3. The turn-based strategy gameplay makes every move count, and the permadeath mechanics gives every mistake severe consequences.
Building up the XCOM headquarters and developing new gear compels players to keep pushing through. Just when the gear is good enough to take on any threat, the aliens send a new, more devastating type of weaponry to counter it.
7 Final Fantasy Tactics
This turn-based strategy spin-off of one of Japan's most celebrated RPG franchises stands up there with the best of the mainline entries. While player choice does not factor into the narrative, the party is widely customizable, letting one choose how they will tackle the game's grueling battles.
Enemies scale to the player's level, with the difference in strength mainly coming from the job system and the abilities learned. Rumors have been swirling regarding a remake or remaster of Final Fantasy Tactics. While no concrete evidence has come to light about this, the older numbered, 2-D titles are being remastered.
6 The Outer Worlds
This first-person RPG came out in 2019 from Obsidian, which is also made up of former employees of Interplay Entertainment. On the surface, it immediately reminds one of the Bethesda era Fallout games. However, playing reveals several deeper mechanics.
While a smaller experience than the average first-person western RPG, player choice heavily impacts the story and the game world, making the relatively short length more forgivable since one will want to replay the story to see different outcomes. A sequel is currently in development from the same developer.
5 Neverwinter Nights
Before BioWare hit mainstream audiences with smash hits like Mass Effect and Dragon Age: Origins, they carved a niche with RPGs based on Dungeons & Dragons. Neverwinter Nights builds upon some of their previous games by having a focus on online play.
While not an MMO, dozens of players can exist on a single server and interact with a large variety of customizable game modes. One player can even be a dungeon master for a true virtual D&D campaign.
4 Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together
Often considered the spiritual predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics, Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together features similar gameplay, only in a more grounded and brutal world.
Unlike other JRPGs, this turn-based strategy title's narrative does not deal with magic, instead putting the focus purely on political strife and war. Players also make choices that impact the story and ending, though this system is admittedly not as robust as the one present in Wasteland 3.
3 Dragon Age: Origins
BioWare released Dragon Age: Origins in 2009, and it contains several key elements one will also find in Wasteland 3.
Additionally, companions may either approve or show disdain for the player's choices, even going so far as to leave the party. The setting is completely different, however, making this a fresh and interesting continuation for anybody looking for another large-scale RPG after finishing InXile Entertainment's latest offering. There is currently a fourth Dragon Age game in development, though no word on when we can even expect a release date.
2 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is an RPG just like most every other game on this list. What makes it wholly unique, however, is the lack of traditional combat.
Instead of fighting one's way through the world, the gameplay and stats focus on dialog options and skill checks. This unique take on the genre mixed with its stunning narrative and unique world made it one of the most celebrated indie games of 2019.
1 Baldur's Gate
Yet another title by BioWare, the first two Baldur's Gate games stand head and shoulders above their peers and are often considered two of the greatest western RPGs of all time.
Fortunately, non-PC gamers can experience these expansive titles through the enhanced remakes which were brought to the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in 2019. There is still plenty of time to play the first two games before Balder's Gate 3 comes out.