There are, at the time of this writing, over 120,000 games available on Steam. Not all of them are going to be great, but that also means that there are lots of good games that simply don’t get the attention that they deserve.
Whether there was a bigger, shinier game that landed around the same time, or it just didn’t get that viral stickiness that’s so critical in this day and age, these turn-based RPGs are way better than you’ve probably heard… if you’ve heard of them at all.
Sure, everyone’s played Baldur’s Gate 3 and Clair Obscur by now. If you’re a real turn-based aficionado, though, then you know not to sleep on these fifteen gems, especially given how much you can save on them through Steam right now!
Star Renegades
- Developer: Massive Damage, Inc.
- Release Date: 8 September, 2020
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
If you’re familiar with Massive Damage’s other work, you probably know their games have some very impressive pixel graphics to go along with their richly-imagined, tongue-in-cheek worlds and solid gameplay.
Star Renegades is possibly the best of the bunch, offering a tight roguelite RPG experience with unexpected twists, important decisions to make at every stage of a run, and lots of unique classes with which to build your team.
This dimension-hopping adventure is a great time even at its normal price of $24.99, so getting it for less is a fantastic deal. Steam has Star Renegades listed at an amazing 83% off until 24 July, dropping the price to just $4.24.
Shattered Heaven
- Developer: Leonardo Production
- Release Date: 8 November, 2023
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
Deck builders tend to put gameplay first, and while Shattered Heaven is no different in that regard, in fact, you’ll have to manage a deck for each of your three party members, it has the added benefit of having visuals and story that many other games in the genre lack.
This is a deck builder that really feels like an RPG as well, with a branching narrative that gives you plenty of reason to come back and try new builds as you explore its world.
Shattered Heaven is just $3.99 on Steam until 20 July, an 80% discount off its list price of $19.99. The Anniversary Edition, which includes the soundtrack, is also 80% off for a total of $4.66, and you can get the game as part of Leonardo Interactive’s Mega Bundle to try their other work at the same time.
USC: Counterforce
- Developer: Angry Cat Studios, Creatio 49
- Release Date: 18 July, 2024
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
USC: Counterforce is the Aliens tactical game we never got. Commanding your squad of marines, your job is to find out what happened to a lost colony… and live to tell the tale.
There are a lot of opportunities for environmental gameplay as you breach walls, seal airlocks, and create traps for the alien menace that’s overrun the planet, so you’ll need to do a bit more thinking than just shooting anything that moves.
This is a very cool title that went under a lot of people’s radar, but now you have a chance to get it on Steam for just $1.99. USC: Counterforce is 90% off until 23 July, at which point it goes back up to $19.99. For that price, consider picking up the Firesquid Turn-based Strategy bundle, which at 55% off comes in at $20.77 and includes their recent, Resident Evil-inspired TRPG Vultures.
Heads Will Roll: Reforged
- Developer: 1917 Studios
- Release Date: 4 October, 2023
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Steam Page
If you’re looking for an immersive, hardcore survival experience, Heads Will Roll casts you as a young soldier in the Middle Ages.
Your decisions and your skill in battle will determine whether you are remembered as a great knight or just another casualty, and along the way, there’s intrigue, crafting, and romance to be had as well. There’s even a roguelite mode that unlocks new perks with each inevitable, permanent death!
Heads Will Roll: Reforged has a lot of replay value given how much there is to do, so getting it as a discount offers even more. Steam has it listed at 61% off until 27 July, taking the price down from $24.99 to $9.74, or you can get the Complete Edition with all the DLC for $18.70, less than the regular price of the base game!
Tyrant’s Blessing
- Developer: Mercury Game Studio
- Release Date: 8 August, 2022
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch, Android
- Steam Page
Tyrant’s Blessing combines a roguelite campaign with isometric tactics on small battlefields where every move matters.
With only a small band of heroes to lead a resistance against the undead, you’ll have to choose when to fight and when to save your resources; death is permanent, and there’s no guarantee that any given character will be available to recruit on each run!
Tyrant’s Blessing is just $3.99 on Steam until 23 July, an 80% discount off its usual price of $19.99. It’s also available as part of several bundles with other great tactical games, including Dark Deity and Absolute Tactics, so be sure to check out all the options if you’re planning to add it to your collection!
SCP Operations
- Developer: LUXO Interactive
- Release Date: 14 May, 2024
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
If you’re on the Internet long enough, you’ll eventually run into SCP, Secure, Contain, Protect, a fictional organization dedicated to defending the world from otherworldly entities.
SCP Operations is a tactical game set in that shared universe, where you’ll not only have to deal with human enemies of the rival group Chaos Insurgency, but also the dangerous and unexpected powers of the various entities.
Steam has a free demo for SCP Operations, and the game itself is only $4.99. From now until 20 July, though, it’s listed at 80% off, taking the price down to just $0.99. It doesn’t get much better than that!
Vagrus – The Riven Realms
- Developer: Lost Pilgrims Studio
- Release Date: 5 October 2021
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Vagrus has the same kind of open-world gameplay as Battle Brothers or Wartales, in a harsh fantasy world reminiscent of Darksun.
The narrative is front and center, with a world full of stories to explore, but how you approach them and the consequences of your actions are entirely up to you. In between, you’ll manage your caravan, hiring crew and keeping an eye on supplies and cargo, so there’s always something to do and challenges to overcome.
Vagrus is the kind of game you can play over and over again, and right now it’s 50% off on Steam. Normally it goes for $29.99, but it’s down to $14.99 for the next few hours. Act fast, since there isn’t much time left on this deal!
Moonstone Island
- Developer: Studio Supersoft
- Release Date: 20 September, 2023
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux, Switch, Android, iOS
- Steam Page
This one’s for you, cozy fans! Moonstone Island has everything you’d want in a life sim, from getting to know the villagers to fishing, crafting, and exploring caves, all on a magical, Ghibli-esque floating island.
However, Moonstone also doubles as a creature collector, with over 70 Spirits to capture and train for card-based battles! To top it all off, the map is procedurally generated, so there’s a new world to explore each time you start a new game.
You can try Moonstone Island with the free demo on Steam. If you like it, and what’s not to like? The full game is 75% off until 25 July, taking the price from $19.99 down to just $4.99. The Decorator’s Bundle, which includes the game and all the DLC, is 58% off at $18.28, and there are over a dozen bundles that include Moonstone Island with other games, like the excellent Cassette Beasts!
Wolfstride
- Developer: OTA IMON Studios
- Release Date: 7 December 2021
- Platform: Windows, Switch, Android
- Steam Page
Wolfstride has the same offbeat energy as that weird anime you saw once at two in the morning and never heard of again.
It follows a crew of former criminals entering a junky old mech in a world-class battle tournament, and it’s just as much about exploring the lives of the characters as it is about mecha combat. The black-and-white aesthetic and rude dialogue just add to the thoughtful-but-irreverent feel, making this a game you won’t forget.
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Wolfstride is just $3.74 on Steam until 24 July, a discount of 75% off its usual $14.99 price tag. The Golden God Edition, which includes the soundtrack and illustrated script (a neat alternative to the usual artbook), is 73% off at just $5.33, and there are a few bundles that include the game as well.
Edge of Eternity
- Developer: Midgar Studio
- Release Date: 8 June, 2021
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
If Clair Obscur rekindled your interest in classic JRPG gameplay, Edge of Eternity is another French title that takes you on a grand adventure through a gorgeous world.
Set in the darkest days of an alien invasion where magic and technology have both been deployed to devastating effect, Edge of Eternity has exploration, narrative, and a strategic battle system that often go overlooked.
If you’ve been holding off on trying it out, there’s no need to wait any longer; Edge of Eternity is 90% off on Steam, dropping its price from $29.99 to just $2.99. The Deluxe Edition, which includes the artbook, soundtrack, and some skins and bonus items, is 75% off at $9.95.
Lords of Xulima
- Developer: Numantian Games
- Release Date: 14 November, 2014
- Platform: Windows, Mac, Linux
- Steam Page
If your nostalgia for the RPGs of yesteryear skews more toward CRPGs like Baldur’s Gate or Might & Magic, Lords of Xulima is a deep, immersive experience that’s extremely satisfying to master.
Focused on old-school exploration, this is a game that proudly lets you wander to your doom so that you’ll learn your lesson for next time. If you don’t mind that, with enough patience, you can uncover some of the richest lore to be found in an indie game.
For the right kind of player, Lords of Xulima can offer hundreds of hours of gameplay for just $19.99. Until 20 July, though, you can get it on Steam for 40% off, taking it down to $11.99. The Talisman of Golot Edition, which includes the DLC of the same name, is also 40% off at $13.79, so if you already know you plan to explore Xulima from end to end the $1.80 is well worth it.
My Lovely Empress
- Developer: GameChanger Studio, Neon Doctrine
- Release Date: 21 August, 2024
- Platform: Windows, PlayStation, Xbox
- Steam Page
My Lovely Empress is a kingdom-management sim with a creepy twist. As a bereaved Emperor, you’ve enlisted the aid of the Yaoguai demons in running your kingdom. There are policies to enact and diplomacy to conduct, but ultimately your true goal is to resurrect the late Empress… whatever the cost.
If you’re looking for a management game with a narrative focus that makes it more than just a pretty spreadsheet, My Lovely Empress will have you making questionable decisions and relishing every moment of it. Steam has it for just $5.99 until 26 July, a 70% discount off its usual price of $19.99. You can also get the entire My Lovely series for just $10.81 right now, saving 75% off the whole trilogy.
Vanaris Tactics
- Developer: Matheus Reis
- Release Date: 4 August, 2022
- Platform: Windows, Xbox, Switch
- Steam Page
Vanaris is a short but very enjoyable isometric TRPG in the vein of Final Fantasy Tactics. You’re not waging a heroic war or overthrowing an empire this time around; instead, you’re leading a small group of refugees trying to find a new home after an invasion.
There’s still plenty of fighting to do, and you’ll have to play smart by using elevation, terrain, and status effects, but ultimately your party is just in search of safety.
Vanaris Tactics usually goes for a very reasonable $9.99, but until 23 July it’s 60% off on Steam, taking it down to just $3.99. It’s also offered with a few different bundles, giving you even more adventure to embark on while you’re at it!
Xenopurge
- Developer: Traptics
- Release Date: 20 November, 2025
- Platform: Windows
- Steam Page
In Xenopurge, you’ll command a squad of marines in their efforts to… well, purge xenos. You’re safely in your command bunker, though, issuing orders from a retro-style screen while the troops try not to get torn to shreds.
As you plan routes, give orders, and adapt to changing situations, your ability to keep a cool head is all that stands between your soldiers and a gruesome demise.
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to be an officer in Helldivers, Xenopurge nails it, and it’s 50% off on Steam until 23 July. It’s only $12.49 normally, so getting it for $6.24 is a great bargain. It’s also available in an impressive number of bundles for even more tactical goodness.
Bearnard
- Developer: Michal Wiklinski
- Release Date: 12 August, 2024
- Platform: Windows, Switch
- Steam Page
Bearnard is a puzzle platformer crossed with card battles, so your jumping and shooting skills are just as important as your deck. That’s especially true when it comes to using your bow, as each card is a trick shot you need to pull off – miss, and you lose the card! If you’re in the mood for something that’s familiar but different all at once, this is one adventure that you’ll need your thinking cap for.
Steam has Bearnard listed at 50% off until 20 July, taking it from $16.99 to $8.496. You can also get it bundled with Janosik 2 for a more traditional platforming experience, or Alchemist Shop Simulator for some casual play.
