Tactical games are great for players who want to plan and strategize their moves to ensure their victory. Different choices lead to different outcomes and can completely change the gameplay or situation, forcing players to calculate their steps and plan before making even the most minor decision..
From games featuring superheroes to those that take place in post-apocalyptic worlds, many assume that PC players have access to more tactical games, but that isn’t the case. Some of the top tactical games for PS5 bring an engaging storyline and dynamic gameplay that makes each choice count.
1. Unicorn Overlord
Unicorn Overlord is a visual masterpiece that emphasizes strategic gameplay. The game is a fantasy RPG, but doesn’t focus too much on building up the lore like other games in the genre. Players must liberate kingdoms and build an army to reclaim their birthright and become kings. The game’s given freedom is its strongest point, letting players explore the beautiful world to discover activities and trials, all the while browsing through the vast number of available classes.
The game lets players choose whether they want to advance by fighting level-dependent battles or go above their weight class and see how tough they really are. Decide between settling for unnamed troops or going the king’s path and recruiting unique individuals to lead them to victory. Regardless of what you choose or how your story unfolds, the amazing art and music, paired with the unique tactical gameplay, will make you come back to this excellent tactical PS5 game for more.
2. Tactics Ogre: Reborn
Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a tactical RPG that honors the genre with everything from its story to its combat system. The game’s engaging narrative and dynamic worldbuilding are easy to get lost in, making players want more. Players can make various choices in the game that will determine how the story progresses.
Interesting characters fill the world of Tactics Ogre: Reborn, complete with unique personalities. The game’s crown jewel, though, may be its take on battles. Players need to strategize and form a plan based on their strengths, weaknesses, and more. Tactics: Ogre has been around since 1995, and PS5 players can try out Tactics Ogre: Reborn, which is a remastered version of the 2010 remake with revised battle mechanics and a perfectly remastered soundtrack.
3. The Last Spell
The Last Spell offers a fresh perspective compared to other tactical games on the PS5, merging the traditional turn-based gameplay that so many know and love with some identifiable roguelike elements. This makes the gameplay both strategic and fast-paced. Players are part of a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is making its last stand against zombies.
The game has you building defenses during the daytime and fighting overwhelming zombies during the night. Players must strategically utilize heroes based on their abilities to combat the zombies, and knowing which points must be properly reinforced and defended is key to surviving the night. The goal is to defend your mages until they can complete their last spell and banish all magic from the world, ending the undead nightmare. Naturally, there’s a difference between saying it and putting it into practice.
4. Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun
Shadow Tactics: Blades Of The Shogun is a real-time strategy game set in Japan’s Edo period and tells a compelling tale filled with aspects of betrayal, honor, and revenge. The game features multiple playable characters that players can use to complete various tasks depending on the necessary skills. Players also have the option to utilize different characters in tandem to accomplish a mutual goal.
The game’s stealth-oriented gameplay helps it stand out from other tactical games, along with its focus on the lore and backstories of heroes. Players must strategize the perfect mission, ensuring every available troop’s skills are used in a way that no evidence is left behind. With abilities like shurikens, traps, or even scoped rifles, make the most of what you have by strategizing your every move.
5. Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Developed by Firaxis Games, the minds behind the Civilization and XCOM series, Marvel’s Midnight Suns merges the ever-expanding worlds of Marvel with a unique gameplay loop that merges turn-based and deck-building mechanics. Select cards to control superheroes with unimaginable powers, while constantly having to prioritize every character’s positioning to account for any future situation.
When you aren’t out in the field controlling characters like Captain America and Spider-Man, you’re in the base area forming meaningful relationships with them. Knowing which characters to grow close with is another feature that requires strategic thinking. Experience the rivalries between multiple superhero groups and learn what makes every character tick. Midnight Suns may have Marvel characters, but it’s also one of the best tactical games for the PS5.