Turn-based Combat
Ongoing coverage on Turn-based Combat.
Latest coverage
The Arcade Crew mezcla armas con forma de disquete, caballeros cibérneomediavales y píxeles con encanto en el recién revelado Chivalware, demo debut disponible ya en Steam
The Arcade Crew and Regal Pigeon Games have announced Chivalware, a new roguelite adventure featuring real-time grid-based combat and a tile-matching system. A debut demo is available now on Steam, with the full game set to release on PC this autumn. The game blends cyber-medieval aesthetics with charming pixel art.
RPG Asdivine Knot for iOS: Asdivine Knot is now available for pre-order on the App Store!
KEMCO announced that the JRPG Asdivine Knot is now available for pre-order on the App Store and for pre-registration on the Google Play Store. The game features turn-based combat, a deep customization system, and a story about faith and betrayal in a deityless world.
Review – Starbites (PlayStation 5)
Starbites is a charming, short, and sweet turn-based JRPG with PS2-style graphics set in a post-apocalyptic world. Despite its simple combat and progression systems, the game offers a meaningful adventure with character development and a believable atmosphere. It is recommended for players seeking an engaging experience that doesn't demand excessive playtime.
Full Circle Revealed as a PS1-Era Inspired JRPG
Full Circle, a 2.5HD JRPG inspired by PlayStation-era classics, has been revealed by solo developer 2ndPlayerGames and publisher Deck13 Spotlight. The game features turn-based combat with timing-based inputs and is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity lives in flying cities. It is currently in development for PC and consoles, with a playable demo planned for Gamescom.
I'm sorry, but I'm here to say that I really do not enjoy parrying stuff in videogames
The author expresses a strong dislike for parrying mechanics in video games, finding them intrusive and unenjoyable, particularly when they appear in genres like turn-based combat. While acknowledging the skill and thoughtfulness parrying requires for some players, the author feels it detracts from their preferred strategic gameplay and wishes for developers to reduce its prevalence.
Review: Starbites Feels Like a Budget Switch RPG
Starbites is a budget RPG for the Nintendo Switch that suffers from basic gameplay, a predictable story, and significant performance issues. Despite some interesting elements, the game's poor visuals, frame rate drops, and game crashes make it difficult to recommend, especially on the Switch. The game is also available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC, with a Switch 2 version in development.
Retro sci-fi RPG Gravastar re-announced for PC and consoles
The retro sci-fi JRPG Gravastar has been re-announced by Studio Atma Games with a new trailer. The game is in development for PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5, featuring a unique conditional-turn-based combat system inspired by fighting games.
How to Master Deckbuilding Combat in Echo Generation 2
Echo Generation 2, launching May 27 on Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass, features a deep deckbuilding combat system with over 150 collectible cards. This guide offers five tips to master combat, including understanding status effects, rebuilding decks, managing battery charges, spending skill points, and building around powerful synergies. The game is a turn-based sci-fi deckbuilding RPG from Cococucumber, featuring six playable heroes and a multi-perspective story.
LumenTale: Memories of Trey launch trailer – monster-collecting RPG adventure released on Nintendo Switch
LumenTale: Memories of Trey, a monster-collecting RPG adventure, has been released on Nintendo Switch. The game features over 140 Animon to collect and train, with turn-based PvE and PvP battles. Players can also customize a home base in The Anispace and explore the world of Talea.
LumenTale: Memories Of Trey Unleashes Its Magic On PC And Nintendo Switch Today!
LumenTale: Memories of Trey, a monster-collecting RPG developed by Beehive Studios and published by Team17 Digital, has launched today on PC and Nintendo Switch. The game features creature collecting, turn-based battles, customization, and crafting as players guide the hero Trey through the world of Talea to uncover lost memories.
RPG Asdivine Knot for Android™: Asdivine Knot is now available for pre-registration on Google Play!
KEMCO has announced that the JRPG Asdivine Knot is now available for pre-registration on the Google Play Store for Android devices. The game features turn-based combat, deep customization, and a story of betrayal and redemption in a deityless world.
Coming Out in gaming this week — May 25, 2026
Several new games are launching the week of May 25, 2026, across various platforms including PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Notable releases include the life simulation game Paralives, the roguelike Enter the Chronosphere, and the action-adventure Yerba Buena. Other titles span genres like creature collection, souls-like, visual novels, and sports.
Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.3 The Lethe Below the Living Officially Revealed
HoYoverse has officially revealed Version 4.3 of Honkai: Star Rail, titled "The Lethe Below the Living," launching on June 1, 2026. This update continues the Planarcadia story, focusing on Blade's confrontation with his fate and the Aeon Voracity, while the Trailblazer warns Graphia about Asat Pramad. The version introduces the new 5-star character Mortenax Blade and various in-game events and gameplay modes.
Review: Akuma Rise (Nintendo Switch)
Akuma Rise for Nintendo Switch offers a retro JRPG experience with a unique purple aesthetic and a demon-centric narrative. While it employs familiar tropes and a somewhat stilted dialogue style, its turn-based combat system with grid placement and customizable orb skills provides engaging strategic depth, making it a comfortable, if not entirely distinctive, adventure for genre fans.
Demos and Freebies
Atre: Dominance Wars, a fantasy kingdom builder with god powers and turn-based tactical combat, is available on Steam for Windows. Players can build settlements, forge artifacts, and command armies with heroes.
Wandering Sword announced for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch [update: release date]
Wandering Sword, a 3D pixel wuxia RPG, is set to release on Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch in 2026, with an updated release date of January 21, 2027. The console versions will include two major DLC packs and newly recorded Japanese and Chinese voiceovers. The game features a branching story with 20 endings and dual battle modes allowing players to switch between turn-based and real-time combat.
Skinator – Beta Sign Up | Alpha Beta Gamer
Skinator is a turn-based combat roguelite where players transform into evolving monsters by collecting body parts from defeated enemies. The game features procedurally generated environments, strategic combat focused on targeting specific enemy limbs, and NPC trading for upgrades. Players can sign up for the beta on the Alpha Beta Gamer website.
Gotta Net 'Em All In Bite-Sized Bug Collector 'Kabuto Park' For Switch
Kabuto Park, a bug-collecting and battling game developed by Doot and published by Seaven Studio, is set to release on Nintendo Switch on May 28, 2024, for $5.99. The game, which has received overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam for its simple combat and colorful art style, offers a short 2-4 hour gameplay experience focused on collecting bugs to form battle teams.
Nitro Gen Omega launch trailer – cinematic anime-style RPG debuts on Nintendo Switch
Destinybit has released a launch trailer for Nitro Gen Omega, a cinematic anime-style RPG now available on Nintendo Switch and PC. The game features a turn-based combat system where players assemble and customize Mechs to fight machines in a post-apocalyptic world. The 1.0 version introduces a new Main Quest, characters, and expanded lore.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth's director weighs in on the real-time versus turn-based debate, saying that younger players…
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi believes real-time combat is becoming more dominant, with younger players favoring action-oriented gameplay over turn-based mechanics. While acknowledging the universal appeal of strategic thinking in games, he notes the trend towards real-time action in mainstream titles, a shift that has also influenced the Final Fantasy series.
