Best Turn-Based Strategy Games On Switch

13/04/2024

The Nintendo Switch has become a hub for turn-based strategy games, offering high-quality titles for fans of the genre.
From Fire Emblem Engage to Triangle Strategy, the Switch boasts a range of challenging and enjoyable strategy games.
Unicorn Overlord and Tactics Ogre Reborn are standout additions to the Switch’s impressive lineup of turn-based strategy titles.

The Nintendo Switch has been a safe haven for fans of the turn-based strategy genre. While most fans of the genre were starved for choice in the early 2010s, with the release of the Switch, it seems that developers have focused on releasing high-quality, enjoyable turn-based strategy games. This has slowly emerged as an extremely popular genre for the Switch, and one would hope recent successes only spur the genre further forward.

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Be it the new Fire Emblem games, remakes of fan favorites, or some new entrants to the genre looking to make an impact, the Nintendo Switch has a litany of incredible turn-based strategy games, and here are some of the best.

Fire Emblem Engage

Metascore: 80

Fire Emblem Engage

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedJanuary 20, 2023Developer(s)Intelligent SystemsGenre(s)Tactical, JRPG

Fire Emblem Engage follows the journey of Alear as he wakes from a thousand-year slumber. In a re-continuation of an ancient war, Alear must gather the 12 Emblem Rings, each of which hosts the essence of a Fire Emblem protagonist, be it Marth, Sigurd, or Lyn. These Emblem Rings are a cool new feature that alters stats, adds in new skills, and allows units to pair to enter into different combat states. Engage also brings back the beloved Weapon Triangle which was missing from the previous game, as well as adding in Chain Attacks and Chain Guards, which are fun new features that spice up the established gameplay loop of a Fire Emblem game.

While Fire Emblem Engage isn’t as groundbreaking as Three Houses, nor does it feature the tactical nuances and difficulty of Fire Emblem Shadow Dragon, it finds a solid balance, and carves out a niche as an enjoyable, challenging, and light-hearted game.

Advance Wars 1+2 Reboot Camp

Metascore: 83

Advance Wars 1+2: Re-Boot Camp

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedApril 21, 2023Developer(s)Nintendo, WayforwardGenre(s)Tactical, Strategy

Reboot Camp is a much-awaited return to the Advance Wars series, which has been completely dormant for years. While the game doesn’t make any huge changes, it provides an incredible strategy game experience for fans of the series and newcomers alike on the Switch, essentially a bundle of two of the best turn-based games out there. While it can feel a little dated, it’s still an incredible package.

Reboot Camp has streamlined the difficulty curve, making some of the later maps of each mission set extremely challenging. In classic Advance Wars fashion, players can develop their units, take control of different territories, and engage in a large, sprawling war with the Black Hole army. Different units have their strengths and weaknesses, as do the Commanding Officers. Overall, while the story isn’t anything special, it’s still enjoyable and complemented by an incredible gameplay loop. While some features such as the multiplayer are dated, Reboot Camp is a welcome addition and one hopes there’s more to come from the franchise.

Triangle Strategy

Metascore: 83

Triangle Strategy

Platform(s)Nintendo Switch, PCReleasedMarch 4, 2022Developer(s)Artdink, Square EnixGenre(s)Tactical, RPG

Triangle Strategy is in a way a spiritual successor to the Ogre Battle franchise, focusing on important player choices and a political crisis arising from class divides, moral conundrums, and greed. The story is centered around Serenoa’s coming of age as a young lord thrown into a terrifying world of murder, war, and intrigue. Players are given multiple choices at important junctures that shape the narrative.

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In terms of combat, while the class/job system isn’t as diverse or fleshed out as other games in the genre, the overall combat is intuitive and fun. The game is challenging on harder difficulties and players must learn to utilize different classes, terrain, elevation, and tactical points to clear maps. Different obstacles and in-game objectives keep the maps engaging.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Metascore: 84

Tactics Ogre: Reborn

Platform(s)Switch, PS5, PS4, PCReleasedNovember 11, 2022Developer(s) Square EnixGenre(s)Tactical, Strategy

Tactics Ogre Reborn is a love letter to fans of Final Fantasy Tactics and the Ogre Battle Series. As a remake of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, it adds in tons of new features, such as a fully voice-acted cast, new skills, the tarot card system, and a much-improved difficulty curve.

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While some may feel it doesn’t do enough to be a proper remake, the fact of the matter is the original game was incredible. This game features an amazing plot, rife with tragedy, gut-wrenching decision-making, and incredible political maneuvering. Coupled with this are memorable characters such as Vyce and Lanselot Tartaros. In terms of gameplay, it’s classic turn-based tactics with added difficulty and tons of classes and different weapons for players to use.

Unicorn Overlord

Metascore: 87

Unicorn Overlord

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, Switch, PS5, PS4ReleasedMarch 8, 2024Developer(s)VanillawareGenre(s)Tactical, RPG

Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord caught the genre by storm. While many fans were excited about it, no one expected it to quickly become one of the best games on the Nintendo Switch so far. Unicorn Overlord has a unique, turn-based strategy system where players can deploy formations of units into one deployment slot and build mini-squads with complementary skills and traits. Players have to manage the ticking clock, their unit’s energy, and a host of different objectives in the game while also dealing with enemy reinforcements. This is an exhilarating and challenging game players can easily sink hundreds of hours into.

The story is a typical fantasy tale, with a promised prince, an evil general, kidnapped love interests, and lots of magic. But it pulls all of this off exceptionally well. Coupled with this are memorable characters, amazing designs, and solid music.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Metascore: 89

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

Platform(s)SwitchReleasedJuly 26, 2019Developer(s)Intelligent SystemsGenre(s)RPG, Strategy

Fire Emblem: Three Houses was one of the headline releases on the Nintendo Switch, and established Fire Emblem as a mainstay successful franchise again. Moreover, this game served to bridge the gap between what newer fans of the series like, and what long-term hardcore fans prefer. Three Houses features a mature and gritty story with interwoven classic fantasy tropes, as well as darker themes. It features a huge, fleshed-out cast of fun and unique characters, and the three routes, spearheaded by the three “lords,” Dimitri, Edelgard, and Claude.

Three Houses also sprinkles in roleplaying elements, has tons of customization and the combat is challenging but fair. Newer mechanics such as battalions, which make battles feel like all-out wars, weapon arts, and the divine pulse system are all fresh and well-received. Three Houses is simply an all-around great game with solid art, music, gameplay, and story. Consequently, it is easily the best in its genre on the Nintendo Switch.