7 – FINAL FANTASY TACTICS – The Ivalice Chronicles
Yes! This is true! One of the games that started the whole turn-based strategy craze and that solidified some of the basics we know and love today is coming back. This sweeping epic returns, told as never before… Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is the highly anticipated enhanced remaster of the genre-defining tactical RPG of the late 90s. Releasing on September 30, 2025, for all major platforms, PC included, this new version brings the beloved classic with a host of new features to a whole new audience that was probably too young or didn’t have access to a PlayStation when it originally came out in 1997. You can choose to play the enhanced version, which includes fully voiced dialogue, graphical improvements, a new UI, and other quality-of-life updates, or experience the classic version with the acclaimed War of the Lions translation. The game’s deep, strategic, turn-based combat and elaborate character progression system are back, making this a must-play for both newcomers and veterans who wish to relive the definitive story of Ramza and Delita.
6 – Mars Tactics
If Final Fantasy solidified some of the basics of turn-based strategy, games like Mars Tactics want to expand what’s possible to do with a novel approach to the genre. This game from developer Takibi Games and publisher Hooded Horse combines the squad-level intensity of XCOM with the large-scale management of a 4X title. The two-layered approach of a strategic map and brutal, turn-based tactical battles, along with its fully destructible environments, promises to deliver a truly unique and challenging experience on the Red Planet. Having played a demo for it, I have to say that if you’re a fan of Xenonauts 2, the systems at play here will be very similar, with a twist of environmental destruction. The levels I have played were pretty open, so there wasn’t a lot of strategic thinking to destroy other than making craters for your soldiers to take cover in, but I’m very curious to know what is possible with the system in more complex scenarios. For fans of deep tactical combat with a grand strategic layer, Mars Tactics is a top-tier contender for your 2025 wishlist.
5 – Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II
Boy, if you’re a Warhammer fan, you’re for sure loving what’s coming in 2025 and 2026. The Definitive Edition of Dawn of War, Dark Heresy, Dawn of War IV, and the critically acclaimed return of the Adeptus Mechanicus is also upon us with Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II. The most exciting new feature is the introduction of a fully playable Necron campaign, allowing you to command the deathless legions against the Adeptus Mechanicus. This promises to be more than just a sequel; it’s a re-imagining of the entire game from two distinct perspectives, with a vastly expanded roster and more strategic environmental mechanics.
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