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1''Turn Based Tactics'' is a specialized subgenre of TurnBasedStrategy. What makes Tactical games different is their scope: While strategic games (like ''TabletopGame/{{Risk}}'' or ''{{VideoGame/Civilization}}'') revolve around the abstract mechanics of efficiently waging war, exploiting resources and controlling huge groups of combatants all at once ([[UnitsNotToScale whether or not it's readily apparent]]), tactical games focus on controlling individual soldiers or vehicles. Due to this constricted scope, recruitment and construction take place outside of combat, if they even factor into the game at all.
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3TBT games tend to place a higher worth on individual units. To accommodate this, detailed grid maps, status rules like stance or facing and a spot high up the SlidingScaleOfTurnRealism are common. Backing this up, the combatants themselves tend to be modeled in greater statistical detail, with their load-outs, RPGElements, SubsystemDamage and [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere morale]]. Unlike Grand Strategy games, Tactical games often put a hard limit the number of units that can be fielded, meaning that if one is lost [[KilledOffForReal it can never be replaced]].
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5As with all TurnBasedCombat games, gameplay alternates between players: Each player has the time to contemplate their next move and execute it, before relinquishing control to the next player. There are some exceptions to this, primarily the [[RealTimeWithPause Simultaneous Turn Resolution]] (aka "WEGO") model, in which players formulate and submit their orders for the turn at the same time, and then all soldiers act simultaneously on those orders.
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7Where Tactical games overlap with {{Role Playing Game}}s, several other similarities may be involved. In particular, the ability to alter units' equipment and to [[ExperiencePoints gain experience]] (thereby making units stronger as the game progresses).
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9Some TBT games are self-contained: each match or mission is a singular experience, having no influence on subsequent matches. Most however have a Grand Strategy or Adventure portion that serves to "tie" the matches together, with some large-scale goal to strive towards. Even so, the focus is always on the player's performance in each match. Therefore, Strategic success in such games stems from repeated Tactical success, not the other way around. For example, losing an important territory early on in the Strategic portion of the game may make future Tactical matches a little harder, but failing a single Tactical match may cost you the entire game. This is the opposite of Grand Strategy, where one lost battle rarely means GameOver.
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11Since the start of the 21st century, TBT games have been in recession in what was their strongest market: the personal computer. The appearance of computers that could easily process gameplay in RealTime attracted a large portion of Strategy Game fans towards RealTimeStrategy in one direction, and towards {{Tactical Shooter}}s in the other direction. Recent attempts to make TBT games have been based primarily around free online [[CasualVideoGame casual matches]]. Nonetheless, yesterday's TBT games continue to maintain hard-core supporters who refuse to give up easily. The result is that some of these games are still being played long after they've been abandoned by the mainstream fans. [[VideoGame/XCom Some]] even continue to top the all-time-favorite videogame lists, year after year.
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13Compare StrategyRPG. See also CommonTacticalGameplayElements.
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15'''Note that Turn-Based Tactics is a [[VideoGameGenres genre]]. Games where tactical TurnBasedCombat does not form the central gameplay core (such as [=RPGs=]) should go under [[TurnBasedCombat that trope]]'s examples instead.'''
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17----
18!! Examples:
19[[index]]
20* ''VideoGame/AbominationTheNemesisProject''
21* ''VideoGame/{{Acaratus}}'', a Medieval / SteamPunk-style game, where the battles are waged between battle suits wielding hammers and crossbows.
22* Some sections of games in the ''VideoGame/BattleIsle'' series, like ''Incubation: Time is Running Out'' and ''The Andosia War''.
23* ''VideoGame/BattleBrothers'', a game about managing a mercenary company in a medieval DarkFantasy setting.
24* ''TabletopGame/BattleTech'' - a modern tabletop wargame. Played in a form of Simultaneous Turn Resolution.
25** ''VideoGame/BattleTech2018'', a videogame based on the wargame, with turn-based base-building and {{mecha}} maintenance elements as well
26* ''Videogame/CallOfCthulhuTheWastedLand'', a Cthulhu Mythos-themed videogame set during World War One.
27* ''VideoGame/{{Caravaneer}}''
28** ''Caravaneer 2''
29* ''VideoGame/ChaosReborn'', a skirmish-level tactics game with elements of board and card games.
30* ''VideoGame/CosplayClub''
31* ''VideoGame/CodeNameSteam'', which combines Turn-Based Tactics with elements of a ThirdPersonShooter.
32* The ''VideoGame/CombatMission'' series (uses Simultaneous Turn Resolution).
33* ''VideoGame/CreatureConflictTheClanWars'' (''Worms''-style game.)
34* The ''{{VideoGame/CyberStorm}}'' series (of the ''{{VideoGame/Starsiege}}:{{VideoGame/Tribes}}'' universe)
35* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' actually started as a tabletop Turn Based Tactics game - a system of rules for small-scale fantasy wargames that focused on individual characters instead of whole army units. The Role Playing aspects were initially there only to flesh out the battles. This was eventually reversed, turning D&D into a RolePlayingGame with occasional turn based combat.
36* ''VideoGame/DivinityFallenHeroes''
37* ''VideoGame/DoctorWhoLegacy'' combines this rather brilliantly with a MatchThreeGame system.
38* ''VideoGame/DoorKickers'', with RealTimeWithPause.
39* ''VideoGame/FalloutTacticsBrotherhoodOfSteel'', although turn-based mechanics were optional, and could be freely alternated with real-time mechanics.
40* ''VideoGame/FlashpointCampaigns''
41* ''VideoGame/FrozenSynapse''. It features [[RealTimeWithPause simultaneous turn resolution]].
42* ''Gears Tactics'': It is a turn-based tactics video game and a spin-off of the Gears of War franchise and a prequel to the first Gears game.
43* ''''VideoGame/GhostReconShadowWars''''
44* ''VideoGame/GodWarsFuturePast''
45* ''VideoGame/{{Halfway}}''
46* ''VideoGame/HardWest'', which alternates ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown''-like tactical battles with "Choose Your Own Adventure" sequences on a worldmap.
47* ''VideoGame/HeroicArmiesMarching'', which also combines elements of a card game.
48* ''TabletopGame/HeroQuest'', one of the rare tabletop examples. A videogame adaptation exists as well.
49* ''VideoGame/IAmNotAMonster''. The main story has you control a cast of named characters whose equipment persists between levels. The multiplayer blends [=TBT=] with a SocialDeductionGame, where each player controls a single character.
50* ''VideoGame/IntoTheBreach''
51* ''VideoGame/InvisibleInc''
52* ''VideoGame/JaggedAlliance'' and its sequels. Most of them had plenty of highly-detailed grand-strategy and role-playing elements woven in.
53* ''VideoGame/{{Just Tactics}}'' is a turn-based, 1v1 online multiplayer, tactical war game that involves squad-based combat, deck building, and some awesome teleporter units.
54* ''VideoGame/TheLamplightersLeague'' features a mix of turn based tactics and real-time stealth/exploration, with the combat being either initiated by the player, or after being detected by enemies. Your squad takes on occult enemies in an alternative 1930s.
55* ''VideoGame/LaserSquad'' (the predecessor to ''VideoGame/XCom''):
56** ''Laser Squad: Nemesis'' (using Simultaneous Turn Resolution)
57* ''VideoGame/LegoLegacyHeroesUnboxed'' %%Is this the correct genre for this game?
58* ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsKingdomBattle'' - ''Franchise/SuperMarioBros'' and ''VideoGame/RavingRabbids'' {{Crossover}}
59** ''VideoGame/MarioPlusRabbidsSparksOfHope''
60* ''VideoGame/MercsOfBoom''
61* ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid'', a non-canon spinoff from the ''VideoGame/MetalGear'' franchise which combines turn-based tactics with collectible cards.
62** ''VideoGame/MetalGearAcid2''
63[[/index]]
64* ''VideoGame/MetalheartReplicantsRampage''
65* ''VideoGame/MewGenics'': Think ''VideoGame/XComEnemyUnknown'', but for the Crazy Cat Lady from ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''.
66* ''Moékuri'', a fantasy game with AlwaysFemale {{Moe Anthropomorphism}}s of over a hundred monsters or deities to use, with unique skillsets and backgrounds for every single one of them. Has RPGElements to train the {{Mons}} and summoners and a lengthy campaign involving ''Myth/HinduMythology''.
67[[index]]
68* ''VideoGame/MutantYearZeroRoadToEden'' features a mix of this and real-time stealth/exploration, with the combat being either initiated by the player, or after being detected by enemies.
69* ''VideoGame/NextJumpSHMUPTactics'' applies the mechanics to the scenario of a ShootEmUp game. A single [[SpaceFighter space fighter]] must battle through a horde of enemy ships and take down the mothership.
70* ''VideoGame/{{Odium}}''/''Gorky 17''
71* ''VideoGame/PacificFleet'' and its sequel ''Atlantic Fleet''
72* ''VideoGame/ParadiseCracked'' and its prequel ''VideoGame/COPS2170ThePowerOfLaw''
73* ''VideoGame/{{Pendragon}}'' - Based on Myth/ArthurianLegend, with StoryBranching that can determine the ultimate fate of Camelot.
74* ''VideoGame/ThePerfectGeneral''
75* ''VideoGame/PhantomDoctrine'' - an espionage themed mix of squad management and turn-based tactics set during the Cold War.
76* ''VideoGame/PhoenixPoint''
77* ''VideoGame/RebelCops''
78* ''VideoGame/ReZeroStartingLifeInAnotherWorldTheProphecyOfTheThrone'' ends most chapters with a tactical combat segment, during which you can use information gained during the novel segments to enact specific plans.
79* ''R-Type: Tactics/Command,'' a GenreShift from the rest of the ShootEmUp franchise. It still utilizes a few mechanics from the rest of the series, such as requiring a module be mounted on the rear of a ship to shoot backwards because there's no way to turn.
80* ''VideoGame/ShadowWatch''
81* ''VideoGame/SidMeiersAcePatrol'' and ''Sid Meier's Ace Patrol: Pacific Skies'' - instead of a squad of soldiers, you are controlling a squadron of fighter pilots during UsefulNotes/WorldWarI and UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, respectively.
82* ''VideoGame/SilentStorm''[[/index]]
83** ''Literature/NightWatchSeries'' and ''Literature/DayWatch'', The Games: Most enjoyment is to be had for fans of the setting who can look past the crippling bugs, but otherwise an excellent idea with a horrible execution, based on ''S2''[='s=] engine.
84[[index]]
85* ''VideoGame/SkyshineBedlam'' is a roguelike with grid-based, turn-based battles.
86* ''VideoGame/SpaceRangers'', during the space-flight portion of the game (and using simultaneous turn resolution).
87* ''VideoGame/{{Steambirds}}''
88* ''VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxyOfHeroes''
89* ''VideoGame/SteamworldHeist''
90* ''Videogame/SteelDiver'' has a "Steel Commander" mode based off of ''Tabletopgame/Battleship'', where you do most of the ship sinking manually after you find them, with the opponent have a chance to escape or return fire during your turn depending on what kind of vessels are matching up.
91* ''VideoGame/SteelPanthers''. The third game in the series [[UnitsNotToScale depicts individual units as platoons (4 tanks or 20-something soldiers) instead of seperate squads and vehicles]].
92* ''VideoGame/{{Subverse}}''
93* ''VisualNovel/{{Sunrider}}'' has tactical battles broken up by VisualNovel-style narrative scenes.
94* VideoGame/TemplarBattleforce
95* ''[[VideoGame/TroubleshooterAbandonedChildren TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children]]''
96* ''VideoGame/UFOAlienInvasion''.
97* ''Valkyria Chronicles'' series: select a unit from the map, and then play its actions in a ThirdPersonShooter style. When you've played all of your actions, the enemy take their turn.
98** ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles''
99** ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesII''
100** ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChroniclesIII''
101** ''VideoGame/ValkyriaChronicles4''
102* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer}}'':[[index]]
103** ''TabletopGame/{{WarhammerQuest}}''
104* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}'':[[index]]
105** ''Space Crusade''
106** ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000ChaosGate''
107*** ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000ChaosGateDaemonhunters''
108** ''Squad Command''
109** ''VideoGame/SpaceHulkTactics''
110** ''VideoGame/Warhammer40000Mechanicus''
111* ''VideoGame/WintermoorTacticsClub''
112* ''VideoGame/XCom'', which features Turn-Based combat, but relies on real time for the Geoscape/world-map portion (the exceptions, namely ''Enforcer'', ''Interceptor'', and 2K Marin's ''VideoGame/TheBureauXCOMDeclassified'', are of very different genres):
113** ''VideoGame/XCOMUFODefense''
114** ''VideoGame/XComTerrorFromTheDeep''
115** ''VideoGame/XComApocalypse'', where players were given the option to play combat as either Turn-Based or Real-Time, but had to make that decision before each battle began and could not switch mid-battle.
116** ''VideoGame/XCOMEnemyUnknown'' -- the official remake of the first game.
117** ''VideoGame/XCOM2''
118** ''VideoGame/XCOMChimeraSquad'' -- the sequel to ''XCOM 2''.
119* ''VideoGame/{{Xenonauts}}''
120[[/index]]
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