10 – Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Every time I recommend Marvel’s Midnight Suns, I jump to Reddit to see what people are saying about it, and it’s always one of two things: They either agree with me that this is one of the best strategy games in recent memory, or they absolutely hate it. My incessant and constant ramblings about how amazing the mixture of exploring the supernatural and (mostly) serene Abbey, amongst the tense turn-based strategy missions that are all about saving the world, felt absolutely perfect to me. The fact that you can interact with some of the most beloved superheroes in history, customize their move sets, and take them to battle is a part of the game that cannot be understated. And also having your very own superhero that you can mold to fit your playstyle is a journey in and of itself that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. The fact that it was built by the same team that worked on XCOM 2 also means something, I’m sure.
9 – Phoenix Point
Julian Gallop is the man responsible for us even having this conversation right now. He created the original XCOM (UFO: Enemy Unknown), originally as a successor to Laser Squad. Much excitement imbued the fans of TBS when it was announced that the man who started it all was working on a new game called Phoenix Point. Despite an initial rough launch, with the game being rather underwhelming, looking back at it after half a decade of constant improvements, Phoenix Point is now in a much better state, and it’s an experience worth having. The earth is invaded by Lovecraftian horrors, and it’s up to you to put together a strike force to eliminate them. It’s pretty fantastic, and the game introduced a couple of new mechanics like enemy adaptation to your tactics, a limb-targetting system, and if there’s one thing one cannot fault it for is not having enough content. There’s a lot of everything: missions, enemies, research, equipment, etc. So much stuff already, and that’s not counting Steam Workshop mods.
8 – Classified: France ’44
Since the release of XCOM, everybody thought of the same thing: What if XCOM, but World War 2? Well, considering that WW2 was well on its way out in the late 2000s and early 2010s, it wouldn’t be until 2024 that Classified: France ’44 would attempt, and succeed at pulling that off. The game puts players at the helm of a team of Allied Commandos while they pave the way for the invasion that’s to come on June 6th. The best way to describe this one is to just say that it is just XCOM with WW2 on top of it, with some extra stealth elements, and a more limited strategy layer. The rest is exactly the same gameplay loop, and the team even found a way to make the Germans an interesting enemy to fight, with plenty of different types of units you’ll have to deal with. The strategic layer is interesting and will have you managing your team, escaping from Jerry, picking which Resistance factions to align yourself with, and where to strike. I had fun, and even gave it a 9 out of 10, calling a game that’s “Filled to the brim with personality, all the while still packing some solid turn-based mechanics and perfectly designed missions. Its only drawbacks are the apparent lack of replayability and stiff animation work”.
7 – XCOM: Chimera Squad
Am I cheating by adding XCOM: Chimera Squad to the list? Maybe, but I have made my life-long mission to convert people who hated it because it wasn’t XCOM and XCOM 2 enough. That’s because Chimera Squad is, in fact, a really amazing game. Instead of setting the player lose on an overworld map, Chimera Squad follows a more linear approach and tells the tale of what happened after humanity won the war in XCOM 2, which is quite a fascinating setting if you enjoy the lore of the series.
This time around, Chimera Squad has you leading what’s essentially a human-alien SWAT team going after shady organizations in City 31. The formula changes by having interleaved turns, instead of each team going all at once. The characters are pre-determined and have their own personalities and voice-acting, and the biggest change of all is the addition of a very cool Breach Mode that gives the player the first turn in every fight and allows for the setup of some incredible kill-chains that always feel extremely satisfying to pull off. It’s a shorter, more concise experience that never deserved the hate it got, and I just now noticed that the game is on sale for 3 dollars. If you have the spare change, trust me and get it!
6 – The Lamplighters League
The high standards set by XCOM and XCOM 2 meant that the genre of turn-based strategy is filled with gems that never got the recognition they deserved. Case in point: The Lamplighters League, a charming globethroting adventure that will have you chaing the Banished Court all over the world with a team of outcasts and outlaws that you’ll put together over the course of your campaign, and getting to know them is half the fun. The game mixes its turn-based strategy fights with real-time exploration and stealth, a combo I particularly enjoyed as a palate cleanser from incessant ordering and managing. The Lamplighters League will be perfect for those who love their Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider.
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