Top Best New Turn-Based RPGs Announcements

Let’s look at all the Turn-Based RPGs announced lately on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.

After a quiet August, I realized that September had exploded impressively both in new releases and especially in recent announcements. Lots of you are probably busy with some of the most anticipated RPGs of 2023, like Baldur’s Gate, Starfield, or Sea of Stars, leaving little to no space in your gaming life. But RPGs appear like mushrooms, and I’m pretty confident you’d like to know about these new RPG announcements.

So, let’s go over everything that’s been going down lately regarding new turn-based RPG announcements and trailers. I’ve handpicked the most exciting ones, and trust me, they’re absolutely mind-blowing.

BEAST

From the first glimpse of those chilling and evocative art screens on Steam, I’ve been utterly captivated by BEAST. And now, the enigmatic Polish team, False Prophet, has finally pulled back the curtain to reveal the essence of this game. A shadowy tactical RPG set in the haunting Middle Ages that ensnared my intrigue with its striking graphics and a narrative that promises a mature, profound, and unbelievable journey.

Key Features

• Dynamic Gameplay: BEAST offers a gridless tactical turn-based RPG experience.
• Moral Choices: Your decisions during battles influence the gameplay. Choices you make can have dire consequences for you and your allies.
• Grimdark Setting: The game is set in a medieval world that’s been ravaged by plague and military conflicts.
• Inner Beast: Players have the choice to either exercise or exorcise their inner beast.
• Storyline: The game revolves around a veteran who returns from a 10-year-long Ottoman slavery to find his homeland in ruins and under the rule of a demented prophet-king. The player’s mission is to end a hellish plague.
• Unique BEAST System: The game features an Insanity system that pushes players to make difficult moral decisions during combat.
• Dark Ages Atmosphere: The game world is atmospheric and story-rich, inspired by Carpathian legends. The game emphasizes that there’s only evil, either greater or lesser.
• Brutal Combat: Players can command their squad in fast-paced, gridless, turn-based tactical battles. The combat is intense and visceral.

While the anticipation builds, BEAST remains shrouded in mystery with no confirmed release date, but whispers suggest a 2024 launch on PC via Steam.

Beaten Path

Transitioning from the shadows, we find ourselves in the vibrant world of Beaten Path, another Tactical RPG gem crafted by the imaginative minds at Peacebreak Studio. Here, the canvas is painted with warmer, more vivid hues, inviting players into a fantastical realm where they guide a Wizard and his protégé against the ominous threat known as Grarl. Engage in strategic battles on grid maps, harnessing skills, combos, stealth, and character evolution.

Key Features

• Engaging Storyline: Follow the journey of Shim, an elderly mage, and her student, Panna, as they navigate a world shattered by the monstrous Grarl.
• Turn-Based Tactical RPG: The game offers turn-based tactical gameplay on a hex grid, providing a strategic experience.
• Diverse Maps: Over 20 unique maps to explore, each with its own challenges.
• Varied Win/Loss Conditions: Each map has different objectives, requiring a mix of strength, stealth, and strategy to succeed.
• Advanced Planning: Plan your moves carefully, with units taking turns based on their action order. Position them strategically for follow-up attacks and stat bonuses.
• Auto-Save Feature: The game auto-saves after each character’s turn, ensuring you don’t lose progress.
• Rewind Mechanism: If a strategy doesn’t work out, rewind to any previous turn and adapt your approach.
• Fast Forward Option: Speed up actions if they’re going too slowly for your liking.
• Skill Development: Unlock skills in character trees and choose their path based on their role in your party.
• Economic Strategy: Purchase items and equipment wisely, as money is scarce.
• Character Progression: Level up characters to increase their stats and choose from two advanced class routes for each class.

As of now, winds carry no news of a release date, but adventurers can expect its arrival on PC via Steam in 2024.

New Arc Line

Step into New Arc Line, a narrative-rich RPG that thrusts players into the tumultuous clash between Arcane Magic and the Steampunk Revolution. In the sprawling city of New Arc, players embark on a desperate quest for a cure to their family’s deadly affliction, all while navigating a realm choked by industrial smog, rampant corruption, and stark societal divides. Whether you choose the allure of magic or the innovations of technology, prepare for tactical battles, forging alliances, and shaping the destiny of this intricate universe.

Key features:

• Epic Conflict: Dive into the eternal struggle between Arcane Magic and Steampunk Revolution, navigating the balance between sorcery, mythical creatures, and steampunk innovations.
• Rich Storyline: Embark on a journey with a mage and her student as they explore a shattered world, facing challenges, recruiting allies, and uncovering the origins of the monstrous Grarl.
• Character Customization: Create your own character from various races like Human, Elf, Dwarf, or Giant. Your choices in gender, background, and appearance will influence how the world perceives and interacts with you.
• Party Dynamics: Recruit a diverse cast of characters, each with their own stories and challenges. Build relationships, face shared demons, and decide whether to nurture or exploit these bonds.
• Magic vs. Technology: Choose between mastering the arcane arts or embracing steampunk innovations. Develop your character through a detailed progression system with 6 primary classes and 12 subclasses.
• Tactical Combat: Engage in turn-based tactical battles on a hex grid. Utilize a vast array of skills, spells, and items to strategize and overcome adversaries.
• Dynamic Decision Making: Your choices will have lasting consequences. Rise from humble beginnings to influence the fate of the New World, making allies and enemies along the way.
• Vibrant World: Explore varied environments, from the grand desert city of Marnew to the wooden landscapes of the Palimpsests, and even the resting place of the Sovereign.
• Character Progression: Level up, enhance stats, and choose from two advanced class routes for each primary class. Customize your character’s abilities and role within the party.
• Economic Strategy: Acquire and spend money judiciously. Purchase items and equipment to bolster your party, but be mindful of your resources.

Crafted by Dreamate and soon to be unveiled by Fulqrum Publishing in 2024 on PC.

Hexxen: Hunters

Hexxen: Hunters transports players to an 18th-century alternate reality, where they rally a team of valiant Hunters against the evil forces of Hell. A century after the sinister opening of Hell’s Gate in Germany’s enigmatic Black Forest, players are tasked with managing a stronghold, honing the skills of Witch Hunters, and confronting the encroaching darkness.

Brought to life by Ulisses Spiele Digital and soon to be showcased by Hooded Horse, this game beckons players to thwart the impending apocalypse through real-time exploration, strategic warfare, and base fortification.

Key Features:

• Historical Setting: Set in the 18th century, lead a party of Hunters against the forces of Hell.
• Turn-Based Tactical RPG: Engage in strategic turn-based combat against a variety of hellish foes.
• Diverse Character Choices: Choose from eight unique Hunters, each with their own equipment, skill trees, and mechanics.
• Dark Alternate History: Explore a world where the gate to Hell has opened, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.
• Character Development: Train and upgrade your Hunters, arming them with weapons, alchemical concoctions, arcane research, and magical devices.
• Dynamic Combat: Face off against massive hordes, powerful monsters, and learn their attack patterns to devise effective strategies.
• Base Building: Develop your hamlet into a fortified base, making strategic decisions on which buildings to construct and upgrade.
• Research and Strategy: Delve into research to unlock new opportunities against the forces of Hell, while also navigating the political and strategic challenges posed by various dark cults.
• Narrative Depth: Make critical decisions that will influence the outcome of the game, from forming alliances with dark cults to determining the fate of the world.

Mark your calendars for a 2024 PC release on Steam.

Bloomtown: A Different Story

Venture into Bloomtown: A Different Story, a narrative-driven JRPG that seamlessly melds turn-based combat, creature taming, and social RPG dynamics against the serene backdrop of 1960s Americana. Players will walk in the shoes of Emily and her comrades, battling to shield their picturesque town from the demonic entities lurking within its residents’ souls.

Key Features:

• 1960s Americana Setting: Dive into a seemingly pleasant world reminiscent of 1960s America, hiding dark secrets beneath its surface.
• Narrative JRPG: Experience a rich storyline that combines turn-based combat, monster taming, and social RPG elements.
• Dual Worlds: Explore both the cozy town of Bloomtown and its sinister underside, where demonic creatures lurk.
• Mystery Unfolds: Play as Emily and her younger brother Chester, unraveling the mysteries behind the children’s disappearances and the nightmares plaguing the town.
• Turn-Based Tactical Battles: Engage in strategic combat against giant demons and dungeon bosses, utilizing each character’s unique abilities.
• Monster Taming: Capture weakened creatures during combat and add them to your team, creating a diverse squad with hundreds of potential synergies.
• Character Development: Each character comes with their own set of skills and strengths. Customize and upgrade them to face the challenges ahead.

Crafted by the collaborative genius of Lazy Bear Games and Different Sense Games, and set to be unveiled by Twin Sails Interactive, this game promises a journey where tranquil exteriors belie profound darkness. Await its bloom in Q2 2024 on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Xbox.

MENACE

The masterminds behind Battle Brothers return, unveiling a game that diverges radically from their inaugural masterpiece. Enter Menace, set in a distant future galaxy where interstellar politics, planetary governance, and an extraterrestrial menace converge.

Players are entrusted with leading a formidable strike force against this alien adversary, responding to distress beacons across diverse planets. Players will immerse themselves in intricate turn-based skirmishes, from training infantry to deploying armored behemoths.

As they rally fragmented civilizations against the enigmatic threat in the lawless Wayback system, they’ll confront pirate overlords and unscrupulous corporations.

Key Features

• Turn-Based Tactical RPG: Engage in strategic turn-based combat against alien threats, developed by the creators of Battle Brothers.
• Diverse Settings: Respond to distress calls across various worlds, each presenting unique challenges and environments.
• Detailed Combat: Plan and execute missions in intricate turn-based battles, ensuring every move counts.
• Base of Operations: The strike cruiser TCRN Impetus serves as your mobile headquarters, providing both orbital support and a place for rest and recuperation.
• Character Customization: Equip your squads with a vast selection of weapons and gear, ranging from flamethrowers to sniper rifles to EMP cannons.
• Dynamic Decision Making: Your choices will influence relations with local factions, affecting access to resources, equipment, and support.
• Procedurally Generated Content: Experience varied multi-mission operations and battle maps, ensuring each playthrough is unique.
• Character Depth: Interact with squad leaders, each having their own backstory and personality. Their opinions and morale will impact squad performance.
• Character Progression: Squad leaders and their units earn promotions over time, allowing you to customize them further through a diverse promotion tree.
• Challenging Adversaries: Face off against formidable enemies, both human and alien, each requiring different tactical approaches to overcome.

Awaiting its grand reveal by Hooded Horse in 2024.

Sword of Convallaria

Sword of Convallaria is a nostalgic nod to the beloved Japanese turn-based and pixel art RPGs, rejuvenated for the modern gamer. Traverse Iria, a mineral-laden realm under siege from external adversaries, and as mercenary chieftains, steer its destiny. Players must engage in grid-based tactical skirmishes, navigate a choice-laden narrative, and marvel at the “NeoPixel” artistry that fuses classic pixel aesthetics with contemporary 3D designs.

Key Features

• Fantasy Tactical RPG: Revitalizes the beloved Japanese turn-based and pixel art genre, offering a fresh take on classic gameplay mechanics.
• Profound Story: Journey through Iria, a mineral-rich country facing external threats due to its magical resources. Navigate complex situations as a mercenary leader and determine the fate of Iria.
• Strategic Turn-Based Combat: Engage in authentic grid-based tactical battles, utilizing the environment and battlefield details to your advantage.
• Choice-Based Narrative: Your decisions shape the evolution of your town and the unfolding story. Build relationships, develop skills, and watch the storyline adapt based on your choices.
• “NeoPixel” Art: Combines pixel-style graphics with modern 3D renderings, resulting in HD picture quality and stunning lighting effects.
• Hero Collection & Development: Recruit, train, and customize a roster of unique companions. Teach them skills, craft equipment, and lead your mercenary group on quests with various factions.
• Music by Hitoshi Sakimoto: Renowned music producer Hitoshi Sakimoto, known for scoring games like FF Tactics and FFXII, provides an immersive soundtrack.
• Japanese Voice-Over Stars: Features performances from over 40 anime and game voice-acting stars, including Inoue Kazuhiko, Yuki Aoi, and Eguchi Takuya.

With a soundscape crafted by Hitoshi Sakimoto and voice renditions by iconic Japanese talents, this game, birthed and showcased by XD, is poised for a 2023 release on PC and Mobile.

The Thaumaturge

I’ve previously touched upon The Thaumaturge by Fool’s Theory, but recent revelations at Gamescom have reignited the excitement.

Delve into the world of Salutors, mystical entities perceivable only by Thaumaturges. As Wiktor Szulski, a thaumaturge, players will grapple with familial legacies, harness the power of Salutors, and unearth the enigmas of the human psyche. With morally grey choices steering the narrative, this game promises a unique blend of turn-based combat, character evolution, and historical exploration.

Key Features:

• Historical Fantasy Setting: Dive into the culturally diverse world of early 20th century Warsaw, where esoteric beings known as Salutors exist.
• Story-Driven RPG: Experience a rich narrative filled with morally ambiguous choices, as you navigate the challenges of a city under the yoke of imperial Russian tsardom.
• Unique Turn-Based Combat: Engage in a fresh take on turn-based combat, utilizing both human attacks and psychic strikes delivered by Salutors.
• Character Development: Craft your own version of the Thaumaturge, allowing for varied approaches to situations based on your character’s evolution.
• Manipulate Temperaments: Influence and bend the will of other characters, using your abilities to manipulate their temperaments.
• Harness Salutor Power: Utilize the unique skills of Salutors to gain advantages in exploration and combat.
• Historically Rich Exploration: Delve into the early XX century Warsaw, meeting historical figures and understanding their roles in the overarching narrative.
• Detailed World Creation: The game is crafted in Unreal Engine 5, ensuring a beautifully detailed and immersive world.
• Family Legacy & Thaumaturgy: Explore the intertwined relationship between family legacy and the gift of thaumaturgy, as the protagonist Wiktor Szulski returns to Warsaw due to family matters.

With a slated 2023 release, players won’t have to linger in anticipation for this narrative-rich RPG.

Days of Doom

Days of Doom beckons players into a post-apocalyptic wasteland teeming with the undead, marauders, and unspeakable horrors. In this tactical RPG roguelite, rally a band of heroes and embark on a perilous journey to the fabled Sanctuary.

Crafted by SneakyBox and set to be showcased by Atari, players will navigate this chaotic realm, recruiting eclectic survivors and leveraging their distinct skills in strategic combat. Each playthrough offers a fresh narrative, strategizes, evolves, and harnesses ethereal powers to conquer this vibrant, lawless world.

Key Features:

• Post-Apocalyptic Setting: Dive into a world of colorful chaos in the aftermath of an apocalypse, where players strive to reach a place of promise known as Sanctuary.
• Tactical RPG Roguelite: Embark on a journey that combines turn-based combat, character progression, and roguelite elements, ensuring varied experiences with each playthrough.
• Diverse Threats: Encounter a range of adversaries, from zombies to raiders and even zombie raiders, as you navigate the challenges of this post-apocalyptic world.
• Character Abilities: Discover and strategically utilize each hero’s unique abilities in turn-based combat. For instance, combine the powers of Pyro, Hydromancer, and Thrasher for devastating combo attacks.
• Roguelite Progression: While no two runs are identical, players can permanently upgrade certain stats, such as party size and resource accumulation speed, enhancing the chances of success in subsequent runs.
• Hand-Drawn Art: Experience the post-apocalypse through beautifully animated hand-drawn art that captures the game’s quirky vision.
• Character Classes: Choose from eight distinct character classes, each equipped with unique default and special abilities.
• Dynamic Events: Over 50 random events present players with risk-reward scenarios, adding depth and unpredictability to the gameplay.
• Extensive Item Collection: Collect over 70 items and runes to bolster your team and turn the odds in your favor.
• Original Orchestral Soundtrack: Immerse yourself in the game’s atmosphere with an original soundtrack composed by Jelle Dittmar.

Expected to be released soon on PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch, Playstation and Xbox.

The Time I Have Left

Ground Game Atelier, an indie game visionary, has unveiled its inaugural masterpiece, The Time I Have Left, set for a 2024 launch on Steam. This time-centric exploration RPG emphasizes a riveting narrative, following protagonist Aline in her race against time to flee the expansive subterranean realm of Colony 7, bound by a cryptic ailment sealing her destiny.

With its recent showcase at Gamescom, players can anticipate a harmonious blend of nostalgic gameplay with contemporary innovations, time-driven narrative progression, and myriad features fostering deep exploration and strategy.

Key Features:

• Narrative Exploration Game: Dive into a time-driven exploration game with RPG elements set in the vast underground city of Colony 7.
• Race Against Time: Guide Aline through Colony 7 in a race against the clock, navigating the challenges of the enormous and eerily deserted underground complex.
• Stunning Visuals: Experience the dense environments of Colony 7, rendered in a striking visual style that combines modern graphics with a sense of nostalgia.
• Deep Storyline: Unravel the mysteries behind Colony 7, Aline, and the Miasma, and determine the fate of the underground city.
• Customizable Skillset: Unlock skills through exploration and equip the ones that best suit your playstyle. The more you explore, the more tools you’ll have at your disposal.
• Hidden Secrets: Dive deep into the game to unlock shortcuts, hidden stories, unique items, and secrets. Multiple playthroughs may be required to discover everything.
• Resist Death’s Visions: Battle grotesque creatures in Aline’s Near-Death Experiences, mastering a battle of willpowers.
• Reactive Turn-Based Mechanics: Strategically time your movements to evade directional attacks and master enemy patterns for a successful escape.
• RPG Exploration Twist: Enjoy a unique blend of exploration gameplay combined with elements from the classic JRPG formula.

Arco

Let’s end with Arco, a standout title on Steam, set in a visually stunning world; this tactical RPG game promises an immersive experience where every choice molds the narrative. Traverse dense forests, vast plains, and torrid deserts, leading four unlikely champions in their quest for retribution against the formidable Red Company gang.

With its unique simultaneous turn-based combat system, Arco guarantees strategic depth, urging players to think ahead and plan their moves meticulously.

Key Features:

• Unique Tactical Action: Experience a distinct tactical action game where player decisions directly influence the narrative.
• Simultaneous Turn-Based Combat: Strategize and plan your moves in an innovative “simultaneous turn-based” combat system.
• Resource Management: As you progress, unlock game-changing skills, gather crucial resources, and recruit powerful allies to aid in your journey.
• Multiple Campaigns: Progress through different campaigns, each featuring a distinct character with their own set of special abilities.
• Fantastical Art & Music: Immerse yourself in a world brought to life with captivating pixel art and a mesmerizing soundtrack.
• Character-Driven Exploration: Navigate through the game as different characters, each offering a unique viewpoint and set of abilities.

Don’t miss out on this masterpiece, set to release in 2024 on PC via Steam.