Turn-based tactics RPGs have long been a popular, if niche, genre. At their best they provide more strategic combat than traditional RPGs, and a wide array of character options for customization in and out of battle. Recently the genre has been picking up a lot of steam. Some of its best releases in years have made their way to PC and console, and more are on the way. TheFalloutfranchise had one of the earlier entries in the genre withFallout Tacticsin 2001. Now that the genre is in somewhat of a renaissance twenty years later, it could be a perfect time for a revival.
Fallout Tacticswas the third game in the franchise and the first spin-off title from the originalFallout. Set in a decimated Chicago, the game iterates on the core of the original games with grid-based combat and exploration. Players take control of a customizable crew of characters and set out into the wasteland. While it has many similarities,Fallout Tacticsuses its now-iconic S.P.E.C.I.A.Lsystem that’s built on the GURPS RPG system instead ofD&DlikeFinal Fantasy Tactics. The games do share some mechanical similarities though, and the resurgence ofFF Tacticsonline means it could be a good time forFallout Tacticsto make a comeback.
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Fallout Tactics Could be Part of the Tactics Renaissance
There are a lot of newer games in the TRPG space, and the popularity ofXCOMwas partly responsible for this boost.Fallout Tacticsrecently came to Xbox Game Pass for PCalongside the other originalFalloutgames. This is adding another quality tactics game to an already impressive line-up for Game Pass that includesGears Tactics,Phoenix Point, andDisgaea.
Game Pass is a great service for fans of the genre, and its likely to only receive more titles in the future. The recently announcedMarvel’s Midnight Sunshas also generated a lot of excitementsince its Gamescom 2021 announcement. Developed by the same team that designedXCOM, the game hasn’t shown off any gameplay as of yet, but it’s confirmed to be in the same vein as previous games.
This climate could be a perfect spot for a newFallout Tactics. Several older properties are set to enter the space like thenostalgia-heavyMetal Slug Tactics, andFalloutcould benefit from the same approach. After the multiplayer-centricFallout 76, many fans are eager for another single-player experience with a focus on narrative and exploring the wasteland. A newFallout Tacticscould be a great appetizer before the inevitableFallout 5, and could be put together quickly compared to a full-scaleFallout. That’s not to say the game wouldn’t be an undertaking - to be successful, it would need to be much more than the originalFallout Tacticswith a new coat of paint.
But the climate is looking like a great one fortactics RPGs. The classicFF Tacticshas gained new life on Twitch, and great offerings in the space are currently available on PC and console alike. New games likeMetal Slug TacticsandMarvel’s Midnight Sunsalso point toward publisher confidence in the genre. It would be great to see Bethesda take a stab in the arena with a newFallout Tactics.
Fallout Tacticsis now available on Xbox Game Pass for PC.
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