The Best Tactical RPG On Every PlayStation Console

by

Summary

  • Final Fantasy Tactics is the best tactical RPG on the PS1, offering a dark story and engaging grid-based battles.
  • Disgaea: Hour of Darkness for the PS2 redefined the genre with unique mechanics and quirky story elements.
  • Jeanne d’Arc on the PSP combines historical events with fantasy elements and a classic grid-based battle system.

In 1994, the PS1 debuted first in Japan, followed by North America the next year. Initially, the selection of games was rather scanty, particularly for role-playing game enthusiasts. The tactical RPG genre wouldn’t really take off until the release of “Final Fantasy Tactics” in the West in 1998. This spinoff presented a fresh concept by applying the well-known Job system to characters positioned on a grid.

Instead of questioning whether the game in question is the absolute finest tactical RPG on the original PlayStation, consider exploring which tactical RPG stands out as the best representative for each PlayStation console, starting from the first one up to the current generation. Let’s embark on this journey together and discover the top picks for every platform!

7. Final Fantasy Tactics (PS1)

An Obvious Choice

Undeniably, “Final Fantasy Tactics” stands out as the premier tactical role-playing game on the PlayStation 1, despite facing stiff competition. It marked a darker turn for the “Final Fantasy” series, immersing players in a world of feuding nobles and religions.

In contrast to Final Fantasy 7 a year prior, the grid-based battlefield was a significant advancement. Despite the challenging Job system, it proved an engaging experience that many persevered through, even when certain missions seemed almost unfair. Now, console gamers can revisit this enchanting world come September with the launch of the remaster, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicle.

6. Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness (PS2)

What If RPGs Were Weird?

The original game “Disgaea: Hour of Darkness” revolutionized its genre by creating something unique and unmatched. To this very day, nothing compares to the “Disgaea” series. This first installment is set in the underworld and follows a young, inexperienced demon Prince named Laharl, who’s not yet ready to rule. As a result, a rebellion erupts, aiming to seize the throne from him.

As you advance in the game’s narrative, you can enlist specific characters. You also have the option to create a character from traditional RPG classes such as monks or mages. The court system within the game provides shortcuts or cheats. You can enhance items by exploring hidden dungeons randomly generated by the game. Additionally, you can arrange your characters on a grid and use them to hurl both friends and foes across the map. While it might sound confusing at first, everything makes sense once you start playing.

5. Jeanne d’Arc (PSP)

A French Revolution

Jeanne d’Arc is a Role-Playing Game (RPG) set during the French and English War. Historical characters like Joan of Arc are featured, though they exist in a world filled with both ordinary humans and animal people, as well as demons. The combat system uses a traditional grid setup, but some heroic characters can undergo transformations, much like the Power Rangers’ transformation sequences, when they come into contact with artifacts of power that turn them into armored knights. It’s intriguing to ponder what the actual Joan of Arc might think about this game. Thanks to PlayStation 5 emulation, the game can now be played on contemporary platforms with slightly improved graphics, but it truly shines on the PSP.

4. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)

WW2 Like You’ve Never Seen It

The “Valkyria Chronicles” is a role-playing game set in an alternate historical context, but unlike “Jeanne d’Arc,” it’s not based on real events from a specific country like France. Instead, it’s set within a fantastical Europe during a war reminiscent of World War 2. Initially, players find themselves in a tranquil nation that unwillingly becomes part of an ongoing conflict.

This game stands out uniquely among its tactical RPG contemporaries for two key reasons. Firstly, its art style gives off an impression of a living watercolor painting, reminiscent of a historical textbook. Secondly, instead of following a grid-based movement system, characters can freely roam the battlefield in real-time, with the game pausing only when they begin aiming. This feature heightens the intensity and unpredictability of each conflict, making each skirmish more intense than the last.

3. Grand Kingdom (PS Vita)

A Seldom Celebrated Console

The PS Vita’s game library was less well-known compared to that of the PSP. In particular, there weren’t many tactical RPGs, but one that stood out among remasters and ports is Grand Kingdom. Players command a mercenary group, completing missions both offline and online. The game’s unique feature is its real-time progression – rewards are earned as time passes in the real world. During missions, players move their chess-like units across a board, and when combat ensues, it is displayed on a 2D battlefield. Each unit follows a designated path during movement and action. Although it didn’t garner a large fanbase, Grand Kingdom remains an underappreciated gem worth exploring.

2. SteamWorld Heist (PS4)

An Indie Developer Outdid Japan

Among the most renowned tactical RPGs, many are created in Japan; however, SteamWorld Heist is an exceptional title where a Western developer surpassed their Eastern counterparts. Remarkably, this game was developed by an independent team. The game’s setting takes place in space and allows players to lead a band of robotic pirates who fight in 2D battles on compact spaceships.

Characters in this game can hide and fire precise shots to inflict heavy damage or bounce bullets off surfaces for impressive feats. Due to its short, engaging missions, SteamWorld Heist quickly became more addictive than other games in the series. The subsequent title, set on watery islands, is another enjoyable tactical game as well.

1. Unicorn Overlord (PS5)

Vanillaware’s Grand Resurgence

In the realm of RPG enthusiasts, Vanillaware is quite recognized, yet their games have traditionally catered to a more specific audience. However, with the release of Unicorn Overlord, they experienced a significant boost in popularity in the Western market, and it’s not hard to see why. This was another instance where tactical RPGs broke convention. Players are given the freedom to traverse an open-world between missions, allowing them to gather items or converse with non-player characters. During missions, players can maneuver their units in real time, much like in real-time strategy games. When units engage in combat, they autonomously act out based on how players have positioned each commander. As of now, it’s a game worth checking out on any system aside from the PS5.

Read More

2025-07-24 05:34