4 – MENACE

MENACE is the first game released in 2026 to make a show on this list, and that’s because it’s probably going to be one of my top 3 games of 2026, to be completely honest with all of you. The end of the year might still be 5 months away, but unless something new and unexpected comes, and let’s be real, with GTA 6 on the horizon, most gaming companies are running for the hills of 2027 with their games, because nobody wants to compete with that. MENACE is the second game from the creators of the iconic Battle Brothers- also known as the Dark Souls of turn-based strategy games because of its difficulty and how unforgiving the game can be- and it follows the DNA of Overhype Studios’ first game rather closely. Let me explain: Instead of commanding a band of mercenaries in a low-fantasy setting, you now lead an expeditionary strike force on a war-stricken solar system. You no longer control and equip individual soldiers, but now control and equip entire squads. You don’t fight an unrelenting and uncaring horde of orcs and undead as an end-game crisis, but go on to fight an unrelenting horde of the titular MENACE… You get the gist. The game is Battle Brothers in space, and I love it.

Players will be answering distress calls across vast worlds, taking on all kinds of missions and facing enemies that range from local fauna to military, pirates, other mercenary outfits, and the alien antagonists that compose the MENACE. After each encounter, it’s back to the TCRN Impetus to upgrade your home base, scour the black market for new items, and refit your squads for the next encounter. MENACE is still in active development, but the game is shaping up to be one of the all-time great turn-based strategy games ever made, and it’s certainly a worthwhile experience in 2026, even if unfinished.

3 – Tactical Breach Wizards

I have to admit that it took me a while to get into Tactical Breach Wizards when almost everyone else that I know loved it from the first moment, and were it not for the amazing story-line and quirky humor, I probably would have dropped this one before I eventually grew to enjoy and appreaciate it’s very peculiar take of turn-based tactics, even though I still think the game shares a ton of DNA with more puzzly-games, but if you want to know more about that, do check out my review. The reason it’s so high on this list is because in a list where a lot of the games are admitedly similar, Tactical Breach Wizards manages to outshine almost all others due to its charm, witty and lighthearted humour, and it’s intriguing storyline I won’t be spoiling here, but just know that it’s a classic tale of betrayal, re-encounters, and dealing with past demons that comes to a very satisfying end, and even manages to be surprisingly dark at times. The game is incredibly easy on the eyes, and the amount of alternative objectives will keep you replaying some missions time and time again to pull off the perfect outcome. It’s also a great game for people who are new to this genre and might be looking for a less steep entry ramp.

2 – Into The Breach

Despite Into The Breach being one of my favorite tunr-based strategy games of the last decade, it took me a while to decide where I should place it on this list, especially since its so different from every other game, so it all came down to this: Do I consider it a good entry experience for new players, and an experience that has a lot to offer for veterans of the genre as well? The answer to both of those questions was a resounding “YES”, so into the second stop it goes. It just doesn’t go into the first one because I want to highlight an amazing gem that you’ll find out next.

Created by the same people who brought FTL: Faster Than Light into existence, Into The Breach is one of those rare gems of games that has nothing wrong going on with it. I really mean that. I cannot fault a single aspect of its existence, no matter how hard I tried. Players take command of a squad of 3 mechs that have to work together on an 8×8 grid to protect human cities from massive kaiju creatures, Pacific Rim style. What makes Into The Breach so unique (aside from the limited map) is the premise that the player is capable of predicting the enemy moves for the next turn, and must physically manipulate them to prevent them from striking vulnerable targets, have them attack one another, and set up massive combos. It’s a refreshing change of pace from the typical shoot-and-scoot playstyle of most games on this list, and I would highly recommend Into The Breach to anyone who enjoys strategy games. It’s also Steam Deck approved, and with its missions lasting only for a couple of turns at a time, it makes for a fantastic title to take around with you for a lunch break or a vacation far from home.

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