Door Kickers
Door Kickers is one of those pleasant surprises that comes every now and then.
This is essentially a Top Down SWAT Team Simulator that is extremely Tactical. (And I’m not using the word just because it’s cool)
How would I describe Door Kickers ?
This game reminds me of older releases that change the way FPSes are played such as Rainbow Six and SWAT.
This is a slow and methodical game as it’ll brutally punish you if a mistake have been made. Thought and precise movements must be taken into account if you wish for all of your troopers to survive that one bloody great gunfight.
– Real player with 451.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Strategy Top-Down Games.
One of the best real-time tactics games on Steam.
Having finished all of the single missions and all of the campaigns, both in Normal and in Iron Man, I believe I’m in a position to write a few things about this game. I don’t usually write Steam reviews, but Door Kickers is a special game that deserves recommendation. As someone who is very interested in tactical gaming, the top-down tactics offered by this game are very enjoyable.
The game gives you control over a team of SWAT operators and tasks you with defeating the bad guys and completing missions such as rescuing hostages, arresting a suspect, securing evidence, preventing escape of the suspects or escorting a VIP. There are different ways to play the game, but the way I play it (and I guess the most obvious style of play) is real-time with pause. The way I usually do the missions is like this: I draw actions for my troopers, let them play out those actions, pause, assess the situation and then plan my next move. You can also play the game in 100% real-time or even prepare the entire mission in the planning phase if you want. It’s a lot more difficult and challenging to do, but the option is there. There is no ‘true’ method of playing the game.
– Real player with 66.7 hrs in game
Commandos 2: Men of Courage
As most of the people around the globe would say “the best tactical strategy game of all times”. This game is surely the best around. I’ve played Comandos: Men of Courage countless of times and everytime its like first time. Love the intro’s in beginning of each mission, the story telling takes you deeper in history…
This game by far is the first in list of my favorite games! Pyro studio surely did made a masterpiece, i only wish that more people have played this and i would like to try it online as i never had an opportunity to play against someone.
– Real player with 64.1 hrs in game
Read More: Best Strategy World War II Games.
What other game can you command a squad of elite commandos, be in an 3D simulated isometric world, and explore the world, plus for it to actually be good? Well then, Commandos 2 is the answer you would be looking for.
This game is able to capture that epic feel of being an elite commando, not one, not two, but eight. In a variety of missions all around the world, taking on the Japanese Empire in Asia and the Nazi Forces in Europe. This wide variety of missions are all housed on massive maps, with plenty of ways to tactically go through. As well, each map has bonus content hidden in each one, which unlocks even more maps for the astute players. The level variety, and enemy variety are amazing, with tactics unlimited, as well the music is sublime, unique to each level, and keeps the tone and gravity of the high stakes game of warfightering.
– Real player with 54.5 hrs in game
Breach & Clear
I was fortunate enough to come by Breach & Clear by accident. I found it when it was on sale, but I would have paid full price, it is that good.
It differs from most turn-based strategy games in that you plan each operator’s movements and actions in what the game calls ‘Phases,’ but then they carry out those orders at the same time. The operators engage targets automatically, meaning you don’t have to micromanage the shooting or reloading (there is no reloading). They do have a set cone of fire, so you have to position them right, but once you give the go order, they’ll shoot-and-scoot like professional soldiers. One aspect I enjoy is the ability to observe to action from a number of views. You can see the entire battlespace for above, or select individual operators to follow over the shoulder. Phases can be veiwed multiple times form multiple angles, so don’t be afraid of missing anything.
– Real player with 116.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Strategy Singleplayer Games.
Breach and Clear is a turn-based strategy game in which you control four members of a squad of your own design. While there is no over-arching story, the game offers plenty of scenarios and challenges to overcome.
Pros:
- There’s quite a bit of content: three types of gameplay (“Terrorist Hunt,” “Bomb Defusal,” and “Escape Plan”) across 35 settings (in seven campaign scenarios). That’s 105 levels in the core game. On top of that, there’s a lot of replay value here, especially if you care about earning achievements, acquiring different gear, or improving your mission rating.
– Real player with 73.9 hrs in game
UFO: Aftermath
I just completed the game. Holy crap was that fun!! This game is like crack!
Controls take a bit to get used to, but once you have, they’re not an issue. Only one bug I found, and that’s when one of your party sees a reticulan/bad guy, the movement orders you’ve given up to that point can be reset if you accidentally click the next destination point right as the enemy is sighted. This won’t even occur to you until you get a few rifleman with super-heroic speed that you use for ambushes anyway. If you even do.
– Real player with 90.8 hrs in game
The first and my personal favorite out of the UFO: After(??) series. (I seriously recommend the “Combo-mod” for newcomers and UFO veterans, it turns the game from a good game to a masterpiece.)
A true hidden gem that even fans of the series tend to overlook.
Sadly it hasn’t aged that well so playing the game today might feel like trying to drive a car with flat tires on a sheet of ice so if that is something that would turn you off from the game then i recommend going to one of the newer games, but if clunky controls is something you don’t fear then this game will reward you for mastering it. Unlike the newer games, it’s a lot more raw, chaotic and difficult.
– Real player with 47.5 hrs in game
Agent Awesome
My playtime: 22.8h (based on steam).
Grindy Achievement: Yes (1 achievement).
Optional Achievement: Yes (45 achievements).
Difficult Achievement: No.
Developer Response: No (last response is in 18 Feb 2015).
*Note that around 13 achievements are bugged.
Intro
Agent Awesome is a turn based stealth game where you play as an agent which plans to wipe out everyone in his previous company. There are 12 levels in total and each level can be completed in a few minutes to a few hours (if you retry a lot of times).
– Real player with 374.5 hrs in game
My playtime: 22.8h (based on steam).
Grindy Achievement: Yes (1 achievement).
Optional Achievement: Yes (38 achievements).
Difficult Achievement: No.
Developer Response: No (last response is in 18 Feb 2015).
*Note that around 3 achievements are unlocked randomly.
Intro
Agent Awesome is a turn based stealth game where you play as an agent which plans to wipe out everyone in his previous company. There are 12 levels in total and each level can be completed in a few minutes to a few hours (if you retry a lot of times).
– Real player with 31.9 hrs in game
UFO: Afterlight
If you’re looking for a decent Xcom-esque game, then Afterlight certainly fits the bill. Although the innovations are outweighed by a number of annoyances this just means that it’s not as good as one of the most beloved strategy series, no real shame in that. It is the third in the UFO series after Aftershock and Aftermath and focuses on a human colony on Mars attempting to fend off alien encroachments. So lets see how it stacks up in various categories important to squad based tactics.
Squad Personality: B. While it lacks the customization of Xcom (if you loved this, change the rating to a D), I found the hardcoded team had enough personality to carry me through. Uta (aka BattleGranny) was a highlight but the others were distinct enough without being (for the most part) grating. This is furthered by some people having dual roles, so your scientist/soldier could be medic and your engineer/soldier could be driver/bomb disposal. Nowhere near Jagged Alliance goodness of course and unfortunately voice acting in the base was at times painful and repetitive. Sadly, the aliens you can get onto your team have limited usefulness due to their slow speed so a bit of potential variety is lost there.
– Real player with 60.6 hrs in game
Summary:
An hardcore gamer-oriented and enjoyable game for those who appreciated UFO-like games and don’t pay too much attention to graphics.
Research, characters design, story-telling, and ressource management are nice. RPG aspects are average.
Interface, tactical aspects, game balance, and graphics are desappointing (not completely bad though).
Gameplay:
- The focus is put on ressource management and research. There is a wide range of technologies to discover, and as other people already mentionned, you don’t have a ‘technological tree’ to guide you but I think it’s part of the roleplay and not a problem at all.
– Real player with 55.3 hrs in game
Jagged Alliance 2 Gold
The small country of Arulco has been taken over by a merciless dictator - and only you can loosen the iron grip! Jagged Alliance 2 Gold Pack immerses you into an elaborate role-playing universe where you will interact with more than 150 characters, recruit your own band of soldiers and create your own custom mercenary to win back Arulco - not once, but twice! The perfect blend of strategy, role playing and tactical combat!
Jagged Alliance 3
Grand Chien, a nation of rich natural resources and deep political divides, is thrown into chaos when the elected president goes missing and a paramilitary force known as “The Legion” seizes control of the countryside. Now, the President’s family has pulled together all their resources, including an arrangement with the powerful Adonis corporation, to hire a group of skilled mercenaries tasked with finding the President and bringing order back to the country.
In Jagged Alliance 3, select from a huge cast of mercenaries all with their own unique personalities, quirks, and backstories. Then go out and explore Grand Chien as you meet new people, earn money, grow your team, and ultimately make your own decisions that will decide the country’s fate.
FEATURES
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Engage in rich, tactical turn-based combat
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Recruit from a large cast of unique mercenaries, including many familiar fan favorites
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Loot, salvage, and customize an arsenal of weaponry and equipment
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Choose from a wide array of special perks to customize your mercs as they level up
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Decide the fate of Grand Chien in an open RPG structure
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Control territory, train the locals, command multiple parties, and defend against enemy forces in an alive, active world
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Experience the campaign with friends in online co-op mode
Spacer: Legacies
This is a fun turn-based, hex-grid ship combat game. The ships are somewhat similar between classes of the same type (they do all come from the same tech background, so I give it a pass) but the story missions themselves are fun, and there’s randomized missions you can take from stations to improve your standing with them, make extra money, and salvage some loot if you’re lucky. Your pilots all come from the story line, so there’s little sense in wandering off the beaten path for more than a few missions until you have all of them. They also come with their own ships, so you’re not scrambling to scrounge up the money for another ship b/c someone invited themselves in! They also level up and get better as they take more jobs, so there’s incentive to bring them along.
– Real player with 36.0 hrs in game
Fun game, very reminiscent of battletech.
Some suggestions after playing it for a while, though.
- Add a “Retreat from side quest” option. If I answer a distress call with my two corvettes and a frigate, and I find a convoy defending against four frigates, half a dozen corvettes and a battleship sitting on the gate, I’m going to have to tell the convoy to turn around and go home. Sure, there are some missions worth dying over. Making sure three shiploads of toilet paper make it through pirate space isn’t one of them.
– Real player with 31.5 hrs in game
USC: Counterforce
USC: Counterforce is a turn- and squad-based, tactical sci-fi strategy game, the direct sequel both story- and gameplay-wise to Ultimate Space Commando (“USC” for short), taking up on the events where USC ended. As a high-ranking naval officer of United Space Command, you’re tasked to lead a 3-ship strike force back to planetary body M-8322–the scene of the original Wraith Incident–to investigate and neutralize the remainders of a still mostly unidentified alien threat. But what you find there may very well change the course of history forever…
The “original USC gameplay” returns with a brand new engine with realistic, top-down 3D graphics, an improved and modernized user interface, and partially redesigned, even more in-depth combat mechanics.
Main Features
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FIELD TACTICS REDEFINED: An in-depth, RPG-lite game system with complex character attributes and skills, detailed combat mechanics, and elaborate inventory management fuels the turn-based tactical core of the game, enabling you to truly customize your forces and face the threats as you want. Train and equip your marines according to your tactics with a class-free, yet versatile skill system allowing for many powerful builds and combinations.
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LIVING ENVIRONMENTS: Fight and explore through fully interactable and destructible, varied, multi-layered environments with useful, realistic mechanics: rearrange the battlefield, build barricades, avoid and exploit environmental hazards, lay traps, trigger chain reactions, seal airlocks, or break through walls–but be aware, your enemies can also do so! The combinations of hazardous elements and effects open up even more tactical possibilities and dangers.
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DETERMINE THE FATE OF HUMANKIND: Take command and lead your fleet in the story-driven, semi-randomized, multi-ended Campaign mode, where your tactical tasks are accompanied by detailed management of your planetbase installation, the making of life-changing, narrative strategic decisions, and defending the fleet and the relay station to Earth.
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INFINITE REPLAYABILITY: Discover the other games modes: lead your marines on various, extremely challenging multi-mission Operations with unique goals; build, maintain and defend a functional outpost in Defend the Base!; and play however you want in the fully customizable Single Mission mode featuring a hot-seat co-op multiplayer option. All missions throughout the game are made by our proprietary Random Map Generator, providing limitless possibilities!
- DISPLAY YOUR SKILLS: an optional online profile system takes your experience even further: compete in seasonal challenge missions, earn ranks, achievements and in-game goodies, dominate the leaderboards. Upgrade and improve your official, ranked squads mission by mission to create the Ultimate Space Commando.