The Golden Age of Tactics Games Is Right Now

The tactical genre is experiencing an undeniable renaissance, one that has been quietly building momentum for quite some time. Yet, until recently, I rarely gave these games a genuine chance. Aside from indulging in Worms and the brilliant Hogs of War during my childhood, my experience with the genre was practically non-existent. Despite hearing glowing recommendations for the XCOM franchise over the years, my first true deep dive into modern turn-based strategy didn’t happen until I played Marvel’s Midnight Suns in 2022.

Looking back, I largely dismissed these titles because my teenage years were entirely consumed by fast-paced, high-reflex genres like first-person shooters, sports titles, and action RPGs. I simply assumed I wouldn’t enjoy the deliberate, methodical nature of positioning units turn-by-turn, plotting out every single move, and patiently watching those strategies unfold. I could not have been more mistaken. Today, I am thrilled to see such a phenomenal collection of tactical masterpieces currently available, alongside an exceptionally promising lineup on the horizon.

Recent years have delivered a wealth of incredible strategy titles, including Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle, Blood Bowl 3, Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden, Gears Tactics, Jagged Alliance 3, Wargroove, Mewgenics, and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. Even within such a stellar crowd, however, Star Wars Zero Company manages to stand apart. For any fan of a galaxy far, far away, diving into this experience is an absolute no-brainer.

While Zero Company doesn’t completely reinvent the foundational rules of the genre, it comes remarkably close to perfecting them, utilizing its exquisite Star Wars backdrop to elevate the entire experience. Players step into the boots of Hawks, a veteran soldier turned commander of an independent mercenary outfit who finds themselves buried in monumental debts to the Hutts. Fortunately, Republic Intelligence steps in with a viable escape route—provided you are willing to take on their covert assignments.

Much like the acclaimed tone of Andor, this presents a much grittier, grounded side of the Star Wars universe, operating entirely outside the grand galactic scale of the Skywalker sagas. Each companion brings distinct personality, charm, and unique capabilities to the table, and you can steadily recruit fully voiced soldiers to expand your roster. While various progression systems offer meaningful upgrades and stat boosts, the stakes are permanently raised by permadeath; if a squadmate falls in combat, they are gone for good. Once you push past the opening tutorial missions, putting the controller down becomes nearly impossible.

For newcomers looking for something a bit more accessible to ease into the genre, Worms Galactic Tactics—slated for release in 2027—offers an ideal gateway. Marking the franchise’s formal transition into full-scale tactical strategy, it retains the timeless franchise philosophy of being intuitive to learn yet challenging to master. Interestingly, it shares a conceptual bond with Star Wars: Galactic Racer (beyond just sharing a word in their titles) by weaving robust roguelite mechanics into its core genre formula.

In Worms Galactic Tactics, players compete within the grueling Galactic Gauntlet tournament, fighting through escalating rounds of difficulty against rival invertebrate squads across varied landscapes. Featuring fully destructible environments, a wealth of iconic weaponry, and the franchise’s signature brand of irreverent humor, it successfully translates classic Worms chaos into a 3D tactical framework. Having gone hands-on with the title at Gamescom earlier this year, I am immensely excited; the gameplay felt fantastic, and the integration of roguelite elements promises boundless replay value.

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That wasn’t the only strategy title that left an impression during Gamescom. I also caught a glimpse of Ubisoft’s upcoming Rainbow Six Tactics via a hands-off presentation. Serving as a thematic contrast to the lighthearted nature of Worms Galactic Tactics, this military-centric experience will immediately give Rainbow Six Siege enthusiasts a strong sense of familiarity through its roster of recognizable operators.

What truly makes Rainbow Six Tactics stand out is its innovative “breach planning phase.” Because encounters generally commence with your team forcefully breaching hostile territory, players must map out sequential actions multiple steps in advance—resembling a high-stakes match of chess. You issue precise movement and action directives to your operators, then sit back to watch the choreography unfold in real time. For those who master the system, entire rooms of adversaries can be neutralized in the blink of an eye before they ever have a chance to counter.

Ultimately, the current landscape—and the upcoming release calendar—is packed with exceptional tactical experiences well worth exploring, particularly from the independent sector. But if you have yet to discover the unique appeal of this genre, starting with Star Wars Zero Company, Worms Galactic Tactics, or Rainbow Six Tactics would be an exceptional place to begin.

After 10 hours, Star Wars Zero Company really is just ‘Star Wars XCOM’

Not that it’s a bad thing

Source: Polygon