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Turn-Based hidden gems on Steam
Every game here is tagged Turn-Based on Steam, sits between 1,000 and 5,000 reviews, is rated at least 80% positive, and carries a catch drawn from its own negative reviews. Showing the 60 most reviewed of 87. How these pages are made.
This is a turn-based tactical RPG with cyberpunk themes. Players manage a team of runners in a gritty, futuristic Hong Kong.
What players likedPlayers praise its masterful story and characters, comparing it favorably to previous Shadowrun titles and other tactical RPGs.
The catchHuge walls of irrelevant dialogue smother the pacing and leave little actual gameplay.
Games like Shadowrun: Hong Kong - Extended Edition →
Disgaea PC87% positive from 4,791 reviews20168% finish itDeck Verified
Disgaea PC is a tactical RPG with deep character progression and over-the-top combat. Players level characters to 9999, transmigration, and explore the Item World for immense damage.
What players likedPlayers praise Disgaea PC as a great, goofy, and funny tactical RPG with amusing characters and satisfying "number go up" grinding.
The catchA buggy, crash prone port missing the quality of life features later versions added.
Games like Disgaea PC →
This is a digital collectible card game with a core loop of deck building and strategic combat. It offers a fantasy adventure feel with a focus on spellcasting and creature battles.
What players likedPlayers praise its free custom deck-building and experimentation, similar to other card games but without the recurring cost.
The catchExpansions and card unlocks are gone from the store, leaving content locked out.
Games like Magic 2014 — Duels of the Planeswalkers →
Astrea is a dice-deck-building roguelike where players manage Purification and Corruption to defeat enemies. It features customizable dice and a dynamic health bar for high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
What players likedPlayers praise this beautiful deckbuilding roguelike as a unique spin on Slay the Spire, with varied characters and deep build diversity.
The catchKeeping track of every dice face and lookalike icon gets exhausting fast.
Games like Astrea: Six-Sided Oracles →
This is a turn-based, hex-grid tactical monster battler with real-time multiplayer. Players strategically position and control monsters with unique skills in fast-paced matches.
What players likedPlayers praise this turn-based tactical monster collector as a fun, strategic blend of Heroes of Might & Magic, Pokémon, and Clash Royale.
The catchPvP comes down to monster levels, so free players hit a paywall and stall.
Games like Tactical Monsters Rumble Arena →
Fantasy turn-based strategy RPG with tactical combat and hero progression. Explore, conquer, and battle demons in a 3D world.
What players likedPlayers praise its satisfying strategic gameplay and beautiful landscapes, similar to other long-term engaging titles.
The catchCampaign missions break, with objectives like the Tear of Asha failing to complete.
Games like Heroes of Might & Magic V →
This is a 3D tactical space combat game where players command Colonial fleets against Cylons. It features WEGO turn-based combat and fleet building with an original story.
What players likedPlayers praise its fantastic strategy and intense, detailed tactical battles, capturing the Battlestar Galactica universe perfectly.
The catchBattles play out slowly and repeat the same routine, with no way to speed turns up.
Games like Battlestar Galactica Deadlock →
A story-driven RPG where you manage a Viking village and lead expeditions. You'll make choices impacting reputation and engage in raiding or trading.
What players likedPlayers praise its CRPG elements, solid story, and improved systems, comparing it to Wasteland, Divinity: Original Sin, and Baldur's Gate.
The catchEarly combat is stacked against you: enemies outnumber, outgear and outshoot the party.
Games like Expeditions: Viking →
Panzer Corps 285% positive from 4,136 reviews20201% finish itDeck Unsupported
Turn-based strategy game focused on tactical combat and strategic decision-making. Features deep simulation of WWII warfare with a massive amount of authentic units.
What players likedPlayers praise Panzer Corps 2 as the best turn-based WWII strategy game, surpassing even Panzer General and HQ: WWII.
The catchSeries veterans call it a step down from the first game, less fun despite better looks.
Games like Panzer Corps 2 →
This is a PC Japanese role-playing game featuring strategic union-based combat and a story-driven adventure. It offers fast-paced battles and character customization.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique squad-based combat system, despite awkward controls, for its strategic depth and charming characters.
The catchEnemies scale with your grinding, so levelling up can soft lock you out of progress.
Games like The Last Remnant™ →
Lara Croft GO93% positive from 4,052 reviews201617% finish itDeck Verified
Turn-based puzzle-adventure with a focus on exploration and environmental challenges. It features a methodical pace and a sense of discovery.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a beautifully designed, turn-based puzzle adventure that distills classic Tomb Raider essence into engaging, challenging, and relaxing mobile-first experiences.
The catchMovement is a clumsy mobile style mouse drag with no keyboard support.
Games like Lara Croft GO →
Isometric, party-based RPG about navigating factions on a generation ship. Your choices shape alliances and survival in a harsh, enclosed world.
What players likedPlayers praise Colony Ship as a challenging, story-rich CRPG reminiscent of classic Fallout and Age of Decadence.
The catchCombat is punishing and unbalanced, with low hit chances even on specialised builds.
Games like Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game →
This is a turn-based tactical fantasy RPG with real-time exploration. Players command armies in strategic battles to find treasure and complete quests.
What players likedPlayers praise this fantasy strategy RPG as a mix of HOMM and classic RTS, with great tactical combat and visual style.
The catchThe publisher tried to bolt a third-party ad launcher onto this decades-old game.
Games like King's Bounty: The Legend →
This is a digital board game of 4X strategy with engine building and area control. Players manage asymmetric factions to expand their territory and build powerful mechs.
What players likedPlayers praise "Scythe: Digital Edition" as a great digital version of one of the best designed board games, capturing the original well.
The catchOnline games regularly desync, crash or drop players, and the devs stopped fixing it.
Games like Scythe: Digital Edition →
This is a JRPG with real-time combat and exploration. Players gather materials, craft items, and battle enemies in a vibrant fantasy world.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a refined sequel that improves upon the first game with better characters and story, while retaining familiar areas.
The catchOwners get no upgrade path to the DX rerelease and must buy the same game again.
Games like Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy →
This is a turn-based survival strategy game with hexagonal exploration. It features village management, crafting, and a card-based combat system in a dark fantasy setting.
The catchDense stat menus and a clunky interface make even simple turns slow and tedious.
Games like Thea: The Awakening →
Turn-based strategy game where players build and manage a civilization through history. Core loop involves exploration, expansion, exploitation, and extermination.
What players likedPlayers praise Civ IV as a better version of Civ III, with great gameplay, an iconic soundtrack, and addicting fun.
The catchIt crashes constantly on modern Windows and can corrupt saves so they will not load.
Games like Sid Meier's Civilization® IV →
This is a strategy RPG with over-the-top, hilarious combat and hundreds of hours of content. Players lead a demon army on a revenge quest across Netherworlds.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a fun, time-wasting game for power-levelers, despite a repetitive board game-like mechanic.
The catchThe PC port randomly hard freezes the whole computer, especially on Windows 11 24H2.
Games like Disgaea 5 Complete →
This is a 3D remake of a classic Japanese role-playing game. Players explore a world, battle monsters, and master jobs to save the land.
What players likedPlayers praise its turn-based combat, enhanced story, and graphics, making it a solid, challenging remake for grinding fans.
The catchSaves are unreliable, with cloud sync and quick saves wiping hours of progress.
Games like Final Fantasy III (3D Remake) →
Shogun Showdown97% positive from 3,487 reviews202457% finish itDeck Verified
Turn-based roguelike deckbuilder with tactical combat. Upgrade attacks and combo them to defeat the Shogun.
What players likedPlayers praise this strategic roguelike for its satisfying combat, depth, and replayability, often comparing it to Slay the Spire and Hades.
The catchRuns feel identical with almost no build variety, so it gets repetitive fast.
Games like Shogun Showdown →
This is a turn-based JRPG with a party-switching mechanic and customizable equipment. It features anime aesthetics and a lighthearted, humorous tone.
What players likedPlayers praise its improved plot and charming characters, especially the CPU Candidates, over Re;Birth 1.
The catchReaching the other endings takes heavy grinding and repeat runs through the same story.
Games like Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth2: Sisters Generation →
Turn-based civilization-building strategy game. Explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate to conquer a procedurally generated world.
What players likedPlayers praise "The Battle of Polytopia" as a simplified, fast, and accessible "Civilization"-like 4X strategy game with surprising depth.
The catchA few tribes are badly overpowered, and matches against them feel decided in advance.
Games like The Battle of Polytopia →
Trials of Fire86% positive from 3,255 reviews20217% finish itDeck Verified
Tactical deck-building adventure with multi-character combat and loot-driven progression. Explore a ruined world, strategizing card synergies for survival.
The catchEquipment stuffs your deck with junk cards, so random three card draws decide fights.
Games like Trials of Fire →
This is a retro pixel-art RPG simulating a tabletop session where players control both characters and the game master. Players choose classes and characters, then engage in turn-based combat and exploration with customizable encounters.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a refreshing RPG that blends classic fantasy with tabletop gaming, like a meta D&D experience.
The catchThe game stops booting after the first session unless you create a Paradox account.
Games like Knights of Pen and Paper +1 Edition →
This is a JRPG featuring turn-based combat with combo linking and enemy part breaking. It offers multiple story paths and a transformation mechanic for a strategic, multi-world adventure.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a high-quality, polished next-gen JRPG with improved production values and an interesting combat system.
The catchBosses and progress demand long stretches of grinding rather than smarter play.
Games like Megadimension Neptunia VII →
Turn-based fantasy strategy game. Build armies, conquer lands, and use magic and tactics.
What players likedPlayers praise it as the finest version of Heroes of Might and Magic, with first-class graphics, sound, and animation.
The catchCrashes often on modern Windows, and saved games frequently fail to load.
Games like Heroes of Might & Magic V: Tribes of the East →
This is a story-driven JRPG with turn-based combat. Players guide a new class of heroes through an evolving narrative and refined battle system.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging combat and updated graphics, comparing it favorably to previous entries in the Trails series.
The catchAlmost nothing happens for dozens of hours until the final stretch and a cliffhanger.
Games like The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III →
This is a tactical turn-based JRPG with a focus on character relationships and a branching story. It features strategic combat, exploration, and a dramatic narrative of war and friendship.
What players likedPlayers praise its improvements over Cold Steel 1, with a better story structure and battle system, comparing it favorably to Sky SC and Azure.
The catchThe civil war plot is padded filler that ends with no real tension or consequences.
Games like The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II →
Onmyoji82% positive from 3,082 reviews201819% finish itDeck Unsupported
Japanese fantasy RPG with spirit collection and strategic turn-based battles. Players collect and evolve spirits to fight demons in a historical setting.
The catchThe PC version is a rough mobile port with a cluttered UI and loading problems.
Games like Onmyoji →
Star Renegades83% positive from 3,041 reviews20204% finish itDeck Verified
This is a turn-based tactical roguelike with a reactive combat system where enemies evolve. Players fight through procedurally generated missions, with fallen heroes sending knowledge to future runs.
What players likedPlayers praise its tactical, low-RNG turn-based combat, wishing for more content despite long runs.
The catchRuns drag on for hours and losing sends you back to the start with little progress.
Games like Star Renegades →
A grand strategy game where players build an empire from a single settlement through development, diplomacy, and large-scale battles on a detailed map. It focuses on historical Chinese civilization building and conquest.
The catchBattles play out on their own with random results no matter how strong your army.
Games like Oriental Empires →
Turn-based tactical combat RPG. Build a gladiator, fight champions, and manage your career. Nostalgic, retro arena fighting.
What players likedPlayers praise its addictive simplicity, comparing it to classic Dungeons & Dragons campaigns and other flash games.
The catchWins and losses come down to RNG far more than skill or build choices.
Games like Swords and Sandals Classic Collection →
Strategy adventure game with attitude-based tactical combat and narrative choices. Explore procedurally generated expeditions, manage crew personalities, and build reputation.
What players likedPlayers praise its unique strategic conflict resolution and replayability, reminiscent of a charming turn-based strategy with RPG elements.
The catchnovel mood-based combat grows tedious and restrictive
Games like Renowned Explorers: International Society →
This is a turn-based strategy game focused on empire building. Players manage civilizations through history, expanding territory and developing technology.
What players likedPlayers say it's the peak of accessible strategy games, superior to later Civ titles and Paradox games, praised for its deep strategy and balanced gameplay.
The catchFights are lost even when the displayed combat odds are overwhelmingly in your favour.
Games like Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword →
Turn-based pixel-art RPG where players control gamers playing a tabletop RPG. Core loop involves party creation, questing, and combat with a meta-narrative.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging, silly story, diverse classes, and easter eggs, making it a blast for newcomers to party RPGs.
The catchLevelling relies on grinding the same respawned enemies over and over between quests.
Games like Knights of Pen and Paper 2 →
This is an over-the-top turn-based RPG with monster catching and strategic combat. It features juvenile humor, anime fanservice, and extensive customization.
What players likedPlayers praise EBF5 as a content-rich, polished traditional turn-based RPG with in-depth combat and charming hand-drawn art.
The catchBattles drag because animations are slow and there is no way to speed them up.
Games like Epic Battle Fantasy 5 →
A tile-placement strategy game where players build landscapes and claim areas with meeples. It offers tactical decisions and a new experience each game.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a faithful digital adaptation of the classic board game Carcassonne.
The catchIt needs a server connection to launch, and the servers go down for days at a time.
Games like Carcassonne - Tiles & Tactics →
Turn-based strategy game where you command WWII armies through hundreds of scenarios, carrying core forces across diverse fronts. It offers deep tactical combat and extensive replayability with community content.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a soothing, long-standing strategy game, reminiscent of the original Panzer General series.
The catchCombat odds swing wildly against you, pushing players to save and reload every attack.
Games like Panzer Corps Gold →
Songs of Silence is a single-player, story-driven strategy game with a hand-crafted fantasy world. It features accessible tactical gameplay with diverse unit and skill options.
What players likedPlayers praise its gorgeous visuals, art, and story, comparing it to games like Thronebreaker and Songs of Conquest.
The catchBeautiful art wraps shallow autobattles that give almost no control over the fighting.
Games like Songs of Silence →
dotAGE95% positive from 2,653 reviews202323% finish itDeck Verified
A turn-based town builder with deep worker placement. Manage villagers and resources to survive apocalyptic events.
What players likedPlayers praise this turn-based resource management game with Catan-like elements for its replayability, impactful decisions, and long-term progression.
The catchOne bad random event can doom a run that already took many hours.
Games like dotAGE →
This is a turn-based fantasy strategy game where players build empires, research spells, and conquer enemies. It features deep city management and diverse victory conditions.
What players likedThere is no substantive information in the provided text to form a review.
The catchDecade old bugs still lock up the UI, crash the game and block completion.
Games like Warlock - Master of the Arcane →
Frozen Synapse83% positive from 2,616 reviews20111% finish itDeck Unsupported
This is a simultaneous turn-based tactical strategy game where players plan and execute moves concurrently. It offers deep squad command and replayable missions with a futuristic feel.
What players likedPlayers praise Frozen Synapse as a chess-like tactical combat simulator where predicting opponent moves leads to satisfying, flawless plan execution.
The catchThe fiddly interface makes micromanaging every unit tedious rather than tactical.
Games like Frozen Synapse →
Tower of Time83% positive from 2,609 reviews20181% finish itDeck Verified
Tactical RPG with real-time combat and slow-motion. Features deep character development and loot.
What players likedPlayers praise the interesting story, worldbuilding, and real-time with slow-motion combat, suggesting it's a hidden gem despite a small budget.
The catchWave-based combat repeats in the same arenas and turns into a slog well before the end.
Games like Tower of Time →
This is a turn-based tactical RPG with a unique puzzle-combat system. Players manage units and formations to defeat enemies in strategic battles.
The catchBattles freeze after building a wall, leaving no way to move or end the turn.
Games like Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes →
A JRPG with a focus on character-driven stories and tactical turn-based combat. It explores the pasts of familiar characters in a mysterious new realm.
What players likedPlayers praise it as a fantastic conclusion to a classic JRPG trilogy, offering superior combat and character development.
The catchMost of it is repetitive dungeon crawling through maps recycled from the earlier games.
Games like The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd →
Play a Roman ranker through the Second Punic War in turn-based fights decided by morale, reach and high ground, with permadeath and points carried from your best runs into the next legionary.
What players likedPlayers praise the game's immersive historical accuracy and amazing writing, with menu music reminiscent of Assassin's Creed 2.
The catchFights come down to RNG, and high percentage rolls miss over and over.
Games like A Legionary's Life →
This is a turn-based JRPG with a large cast and strategic combat featuring giant mechs and powerful magic. It focuses on a grand narrative with character interactions and mini-games.
What players likedPlayers praise its refined graphics and deep character development, akin to earlier Trails games but with a grander, concluding scope.
The catchThe finale is a padded slog of endless dialogue that squanders three games of build up.
Games like The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV →
Turn-based tactical combat and global strategy game. Research alien tech, manage resources, and fight invaders to save Earth.
What players likedPlayers praise its engaging tactical combat and strategic depth, finding it a classic that still holds up well.
The catchThere is no tutorial and the interface explains nothing, so expect to read a manual.
Games like X-COM: UFO Defense →
Breach & Clear83% positive from 2,430 reviews20142% finish itDeck Playable
Tactical turn-based squad combat simulation. Plan and execute detailed missions with real-world special forces.
The catchPlays like a shallow mobile port with a clunky interface and repetitive missions.
Games like Breach & Clear →
This is a turn-based tactical strategy game with ricochet shooting. Players manage a crew of steambots on naval adventures, customizing their gear and abilities.
What players likedPlayers praise SteamWorld Heist II as a polished 2D XCOM-like with unique ricochet gunplay, improving on the original.
The catchCrossing the map in the slow submarine turns into a chore between missions.
Games like SteamWorld Heist II →
This is a turn-based strategy puzzle game where players navigate grids to assassinate targets. It features diorama-style visuals and requires strategic thinking to overcome challenges.
What players likedPlayers praise its minimalist design and numerous levels, comparing it to a table game.
The catchMovement is mouse drag only with no undo, so one slip means restarting the level.
Games like Hitman GO: Definitive Edition →
A quick-play puzzle roguelike where you explore single-screen dungeons to regain health and mana. It offers deep tactical gameplay with infinite replayability and a competitive daily mode.
What players likedPlayers praise its depth, content variety, and satisfyingly paced dungeon runs, reminiscent of roguelikes but with unique puzzles and challenges.
The catchIt plays as a punishing RNG puzzle, not the dungeon crawling roguelike expected.
Games like Desktop Dungeons →
Wandering Sword95% positive from 2,325 reviews20234% finish itDeck Playable
Wuxia RPG with tile-based combat and relationship building. Explore diverse regions and master martial arts in a pixel art 3D world.
What players likedPlayers praise this Wuxia RPG for its engaging story, player agency, and HD-2D art, comparing it to Octopath Traveler and Suikoden.
The catchUnmarked missable quests lock you out of companions and good endings without a guide.
Games like Wandering Sword →
Slipways93% positive from 2,290 reviews20212% finish itDeck Playable
A space grand strategy puzzle game focused on building efficient trade networks. It offers quick, deep runs with immediate consequences and a relaxed, economic focus.
What players likedPlayers praise Slipways as an approachable yet deep strategy-puzzle-economic game, like a challenging Solitaire Euro, with perfect-length runs.
The catchRuns die to random map generation when no nearby planets supply what yours need.
Games like Slipways →
A turn-based RPG with deck-building combat. It features a humorous fantasy-steampunk blend.
What players likedPlayers praise its dynamic turn-based RPG combat with unique deckbuilding mechanics, reminiscent of adventure games.
The catchBattles and characters feel repetitive with no new mechanics
Games like SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech →
英雄群侠传II89% positive from 2,202 reviews2019
This is a free, single-player, turn-based martial arts RPG with a focus on player choice, exploration, and a slow-paced, thoughtful experience. It features a unique ink-wash art style and a deep martial arts system.
The catchExtra in-game rewards are locked behind leaving a review or proving your purchase.
Games like 英雄群侠传II →
Gorky 1781% positive from 2,180 reviews2013
This is a sci-fi RPG with tactical combat and adventure elements. Players explore, develop characters, and make choices with unpredictable effects.
The catchIt barely runs on modern systems, needing third party fixes before it works at all.
Games like Gorky 17 →
This is a turn-based strategy game focused on WWII logistics and supply. Players manage divisions, uncover Fog of War, and utilize headquarters for strategic advantages.
What players likedPlayers praise its deep combat and logistics systems, which add strategic depth through planning and surgical strikes.
The catchUnits drop out of supply constantly and the rules for fixing it are never explained.
Games like Unity of Command II →
A traditional roguelike dungeon crawler with randomized levels and unique hero mechanics. Players explore, collect items, and upgrade gear through procedurally generated challenges.
What players likedPlayers praise this challenging roguelike RPG for its strategic depth, replayability, and balanced, knowledge-based progression.
The catchRuns are decided by luck, including long streaks of missed attacks on weak enemies.
Games like Shattered Pixel Dungeon →
Jupiter Hell92% positive from 2,089 reviews202117% finish itDeck Playable
Jupiter Hell is a turn-based roguelike with a classic sci-fi feel. Its core loop involves tactical combat where enemies act after you, and permadeath.
What players likedPlayers praise this challenging, deep, and varied traditional roguelike for its fantastic design and near-perfect difficulty curve.
The catchRuns blur together quickly because the builds and levels lack real depth.
Games like Jupiter Hell →
