Summary
- Not all gamers want action-adventure, some prefer slow, strategic tactics games on PS5.
- Tactical games offer challenging fun with adjustable difficulty settings and engaging narratives.
- PS5 hosts unique tactical games like Tactics Ogre, Persona 5 Tactica, Unicorn Overlord, and more.
When it comes to the newest consoles, the first thing that comes to mind is the giant action-adventure titles with gorgeous graphics and lifelike animations. This is not what every gamer wants, however. Even on the PS5, some gamers want a slower, more intimate experience. This is where tactics games come in.
The genre has a reputation for being obtuse, difficult, and inaccessible, but most of them are still incredibly fun. The difficulty and strategy are all a part of the entertainment. Besides, most of the games below offer multiple difficulty settings for newcomers or those who just want to enjoy the story. These tactics games on the PS5 remind gamers that gaming is about so much more than fast action and great graphics.
Good gameplay alone does not make a great tactics game. They also have to have a great story and compelling characters to reach the highest spots on this list.
7 Metal Slug Tactics
A New Genre For The Metal Slug Series
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ // Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Developer(s)
- Leikir Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Dotemu
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Strategy, War & Military
For all these years, Metal Slug has been exclusively a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter. Metal Slug Tactics takes the game into a new genre. The aesthetics are all here, but the gameplay is completely different.
Metal Slug Tactics: All Characters, Ranked
Here's every character in Leikir Studio's turn-based tactics game Metal Slug Tactics, ranked from worst to best.
The structure is focused entirely on battles, making the game good for fans of the genre who want to jump straight into gameplay. The battles in Metal Slug Tactics are small, with the player entering with just three units. True to the Metal Slug name, a tank occasionally deploys to assist in the fight. It doesn't reach a higher spot on the list because of its simpler gameplay and technical issues.
6 Front Mission 1st Remake
Tactical Combat With Mechs
Front Mission 1st: Remake
- Released
- June 30, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Forever Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Forever Entertainment
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X
- Genre(s)
- Strategy
Many gamers in the US and Europe missed out on the original Front Mission games since they only came out in Japan. Thankfully, the modern remakes made it to all territories. Even though these games are several decades old, they are still worth time and attention.
Players control mechs out on the battlefield, a fact that affects gameplay and strategies. Hurting individual parts of a mech affects its use in combat. Players have to consider whether it is worth it to aim for the body, which damages the unit's overall health, or go for a body part to hinder its overall performance but does less overall damage.
The first three games in the series are all available as remakes on modern consoles.
5 Persona 5 Tactica
Tactical Spin-Off Of An Epic JRPG
- Developer(s)
- P-Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Platform(s)
- PC, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Genre(s)
- Tactical
As if a 100-hour game was not enough for Persona 5, various spin-offs have come out in the years since its release, including Persona 5 Tactica. The game takes place during the school year depicted in Persona 5 and is canon, but it will not provide any shocking revelations of new information essential to fans.
Its placement in the timeline is ambiguous enough to take place anywhere during the winter months. The tactical combat is intuitive and utilizes some mechanics from Persona 5, only translated to the turn-based tactical format.
4 Disgaea 7: Vows Of The Virtueless
The Wacky, Irreverant Tactical RPG
Disgaea 7: Vows of the Virtueless
- Released
- October 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
Some series march on under the radar, pleasing their niche fanbase while being unconcerned about reaching a wider market. It is possible that many readers have gone their whole lives without hearing about Disgaea, but the series is at its seventh main title.
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Many secret and hidden easter eggs are found in Marvel's Midnight Suns, ones that only the sharpest eyes have spotted.
The series distinguishes itself from its kin with irreverent humor, fantasy underworld settings, and a unique progression system that allows for absurd damage and absurdly high levels. Disgaea 7 offers a lot of what fans would expect from the series along with a few new innovations.
3 Unicorn Overlord
An Unconventional Take On Tactical Games
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Vanillaware
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Switch
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Developer Vanillaware has been making niche RPGs for well over a decade. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim elevated the developer's profile, causing more people to look forward to Unicorn Overlord. Battles switch between large-scale movement of units and actual combat once opponents run into each other.
The combat encounters are quick, two-versus-two fights. The two phases of battles add a different layer of strategy and a small twist to the consideration of unit placement that is essential to most tactical games.
2 Marvel's Midnight Suns
Not Quite XCOM 3, But Still A Great Game
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Firaxis Games
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Games
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
While many want nothing more than an XCOM 3 from developer Firaxis, those who tried out Marvel's Midnight Suns were left pleasantly surprised. It is more than just XCOM with a Marvel paint job.
The tactical gameplay still prioritizes movement, but this time, it includes deck-building mechanics. Players create their own hero, but the other units are mostly familiar faces from Marvel along with a few obscure legends only fans would recognize.
In addition to the tight gameplay, Midnight Suns also features incredible writing sure to please any fan of the comics.
1 Tactics Ogre: Reborn
A Remaster With An Intense Story
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, Strategy
This epic saga is just one game in a series taking place in the same continuity, but it stands on its own. Tactics Ogre: Reborn is a remaster of the cult classic Tactics Ogre: Let us Cling Together. The hard-hitting narrative has some mention of magic and ancient curses, but most of the story is propelled by human interactions and betrayal.
The game presents players with choices at key points that affect future chapters and the ending. The combat is a clear predecessor to Final Fantasy Tactics with some minor adjustments.
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There are plenty of amazing one-off games that fans of tactical JRPGs will enjoy. Here are the best of the genre outside franchises.