I came across ACORN: Seed of Resistance just today, and it was announced last week; anyway, its mix of exploration, party building, and short roguelite adventures immediately captured me, even if we are talking about an auto battler.

Developed by Guidelight Games, the studio behind SpellRogue, ACORN takes us into a surprisingly dark woodland kingdom where a group of small creatures is trying to fight back against a much more powerful enemy.

ACORN: Seed of Resistance is being developed by Guidelight Games and published by Ghost Ship Publishing. It is currently planned for PC via Steam in 2027, with no specific release date announced yet. A Steam Playtest is also available for players who want to request access ahead of launch. Below is the trailer.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/acorn-seed-of-resistance-turns-woodland-rebels-into-a-roguelite-fighting-force

I went through the Steam Autumn Sale looking specifically for heavy-hitter turn-based RPGs, tactical games, and strategy titles, and honestly, this time around there are some pretty absurd deals. I tried to pick games that I genuinely consider among the best in their respective genres.

Highlights:

• Library of Ruina — 66% off
• Sid Meier’s Civilization VI — 90% off
• Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus — 95% off
• Jagged Alliance 3 — 90% off
• Darkest Dungeon — 85% off
• Darkest Dungeon II — 69% off
• Slay the Spire — 75% off
• ENDLESS Legend 2 — 50% off
• Wartales — 72% off
• XCOM 2 — 85% off
• Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — 75% off
• Divinity: Original Sin — 90% off
• Battle Brothers — 70% off
• Tactical Breach Wizards — 45% off
• Chained Echoes — 65% off
• Old World — 90% off
• BATTLETECH — 75% off
• Wasteland 3 — 70% off
• Ruined King — 75% off
• Into the Breach — 65% off
• TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children

Some of these discounts are pretty wild. Mechanicus is 95% off, Civilization VI, Jagged Alliance 3, Divinity: Original Sin and Old World are 90% off, while plenty of other excellent games are sitting at 70–85% discounts.

What are you picking up during the Autumn Sale? And did I miss any great turn-based deals?

SOURCE

I love huge RPGs, but sometimes I really don’t want to start another 60–100-hour adventure. 😅

So I put together a list of turn-based RPGs that you can realistically finish over a weekend — or at least without turning them into a month-long commitment.

I ended up with games like Felvidek, Jack Move, This Way Madness Lies, West of Loathing, Hylics 2, Child of Light, Cosmic Star Heroine, Shadows of Adam, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and SteamWorld Quest.

Some are only a few hours long, while the longer ones run 12–15 hours, so there’s a decent mix depending on how much free time you actually have.

What short turn-based RPG would you add to the list? I’m especially curious about lesser-known ones.

link

I somehow almost missed this one, even though its Early Access launch is right around the corner.

Olympus 2249 is a post-apocalyptic CRPG clearly inspired by the classic Fallout formula, with turn-based combat, targeted attacks, factions, dialogue choices that can actually close or open opportunities, and a Karma system that changes depending on how you behave.

Different character specializations can unlock new dialogue options and alternative quest solutions, while battles let you interact with the environment, target specific body parts, use traps, ignite oil, blow up barrels, and generally approach encounters in different ways.

There’s also crafting, stealth, radiation, poison, NPC schedules, random encounters, and a proper day/night cycle.

The developers are the team behind Olympus 2207, the Fallout 2 total conversion, so the classic Fallout influence definitely isn’t accidental.

It enters Steam Early Access on October 6.

Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself here, but this really looks like one to watch if you miss old-school Fallout-style CRPGs.

Have you heard about Olympus 2249 before?

If you want to learn more.

Square Enix currently has a pretty big selection of JRPGs discounted on Steam, with some games going as low as 75% off.

I went through the sale and picked 17 that I think are worth highlighting. There are plenty of classics here, but also some relatively recent releases.

Here's the list:

• Final Fantasy IX – $6.29 (-70%)
• Chrono Trigger – $7.49 (-50%)
• Final Fantasy VIII Remastered – $7.99 (-60%)
• Dungeon Encounters – $8.99 (-70%)
• Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars – $11.99 (-60%)
• Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster – $11.99 (-60%)
• Lost Sphear – $12.49 (-75%)
• Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age – $14.99 (-70%)
• Tactics Ogre: Reborn – $14.99 (-70%)
• Octopath Traveler – $17.99 (-70%)
• Bravely Default II – $17.99 (-70%)
• Fantasian Neo Dimension – $19.99 (-60%)
• Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven – $19.99 (-60%)
• Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – $19.99 (-50%)
• Triangle Strategy – $23.99 (-60%)
• Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles – $29.99 (-40%)
• Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake – $38.99 (-35%)

There is a really good mix here depending on what you're looking for. What would you pick from this sale? And are there any Square Enix JRPGs currently discounted that you think should be on the list?

A robotic dog trying to find its humans faces a city full of hostile machines. That is the premise of Dog in the Machine, a tactical turn-based roguelite where escaping means learning new attacks and putting the battlefield’s hazards to good use.

French developer Studio Chahut and Goblinz Publishing have announced that the game will arrive on Steam on September 29, 2026.

The AutoDog’s journey takes it through compact grids populated by enemy guardians and objects that react to your actions. Conveyor belts, interactive buttons, explosive obstacles, and a collision system create opportunities to trigger chain reactions.

Dog in the Machine will cost $17.99 / €17.99, with a 20% launch discount during its first two weeks.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/news/tactical-roguelite-dog-in-the-machine-sets-september-as-release-date

I noticed that I had already talked about Thornetica back in March this year, only to mention it again a few hours ago as one of 10 interesting demos to try during the Party-Based RPG Fest 2026. Yet, through all of that, one thing was still missing: a proper overview page gathering all the general information about this intriguing SRPG.

The developer describes the project as Fire Emblem meeting Persona, a useful shorthand for its division between tactical encounters and social time. The theater setting gives that structure a more specific identity, particularly when friends become opponents during a performance.

A free Steam demo is available now. It contains the first three acts and takes approximately 90 minutes to complete. The full game is coming to Windows PC through Steam in Q4 2026.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/thornetica-turns-a-university-theater-production-into-a-tactical-rpg

In Seen NOT Heard, the monsters may know more about the heroine’s past than she does. Developed and self-published by Odd Indeed, this hand-drawn, turn-based RPG follows a young girl trying to recover her memories while exploring how trauma has affected her family. It is coming to PC, with a release date still to be announced.

A Steam demo released a few hours ago covers the complete prologue, introducing Melia and Anselin through exploration, combat, and illustrated dialogue.

It includes two areas and two bosses. Demo saves will carry over to the full game, so there will be no need to repeat the prologue at launch.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/seen-not-heard-is-a-beautifully-hand-drawn-turn-based-rpg

One Fenix Down is moving from September 28 to November 9, 2026, with its PC release still planned for Steam. Developer and publisher Regalcraft Games is taking six additional weeks to refine combat, visual effects, and story presentation before launching its debut turn-based RPG.

The project has been part of founder Ryan Dunn’s life for nearly a decade, including its planning and development.

In the announcement, Dunn explained that releasing a complete, polished game was a promise he made to himself early on. The revised date gives the team more time to work toward that goal, with the remaining work focused on refinement.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/news/old-school-rpg-one-fenix-down-delayed-to-november-9-for-final-polish

Finding a powerful artifact is only half the job in Seeker Tactics. Getting your squad home with it is the other half. Developed and published by DA2 Creative Inc., this upcoming PC strategy RPG puts dungeon expeditions, summonable monsters, and the risk of losing your loot at the center of its adventure.

Seeker Tactics is planned for Windows PC through Steam, with DA2 Creative handling both development and publishing. A release date has not yet been announced.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/seeker-tactics-brings-monster-collecting-to-a-turn-based-extraction-rpg

A pretty busy week for turn-based games, especially if you don't mind trying a few demos or jumping into Early Access.

Here are the new releases and playable demos I found over the last few days:

• DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Withered World — Demo — Monster collecting, talent development, and synthesis. Progress lets you transfer up to eight monsters into the full game, although they'll return to level 1 with their default talents.
• Ex Sanguis — Early Access — Tactical roguelite RPG built around manipulating the turn timeline, delaying enemies, accelerating allies, flanking, knockbacks, and environmental interactions.
• Effulgence RPG — 1.0 — A compact sci-fi RPG presented entirely through ASCII graphics. Defeated enemies become matter that can be recycled into weapons, ammunition, and equipment.
• Save the Forest — Demo — Tactical roguelite where most enemy attacks are telegraphed, letting you reposition your militia and prepare around incoming actions.
• Shroom and Gloom — Early Access — First-person deckbuilding roguelike with separate combat and exploration decks. You can also cook and eat monsters to survive.
• Forsworn — Full Release — Party-based tactical roguelite supporting solo play and four-player online co-op, with simultaneous player turns and six heroes with multiple subclasses.
• PSYCHO CASKET — Demo — Pixel-art horror RPG mixing turn-based battles, character-specific combat minigames, puzzles, and a story about a vampire trying to rescue her friends.
• Veterum — Out of Early Access — Large-scale tactical RPG where facing, morale, fatigue, weather, lighting, trenches, barricades, frozen rivers, and even spreading fire can influence battles.
• Outcast Tales — Demo — Post-apocalyptic party roguelite where personalities matter almost as much as classes. Companions can become friends, rivals, or romantic partners during a run.
• The Legend of Fancy Realm Remake — Full Release — Remake of a tactical RPG with branching storylines, relationship choices, job changes, manual stat allocation, and multiple character development paths.
• Deadzoned — Early Access — Sci-fi turn-based roguelike centered around scavenging weapons and ammunition while exploring randomized underground areas after a nanite apocalypse.
• Infinity: HexaDome Tactics — Full Release — Arena-focused tactical game with 12 heroes, action points, cards, ultimates, objectives, a single-player campaign, and competitive PvP.
• Seven Blasphemies — Full Release — Traditional roguelike with an interesting time-pressure system: every new dawn can add another permanent curse, and reaching the seventh Blasphemy ends the run.
• Heads Will Roll: Reforged – Revenge of the Black Prince — DLC — New campaigns and story routes for the medieval RPG, including adventures involving Edward the Black Prince, John Hawkwood's White Company, and the Count of Savoy.
• Master of Luna — New Demo — Fantasy 4X strategy game where you rebuild the power of a forgotten god through exploration, settlements, research, armies, heroes, and tactical battles. The demo has a 40-turn limit.
• Roguecraft DX — PC Release — Compact traditional roguelike originally developed for Amiga, with Warrior, Rogue, and Wizard classes and runs designed to last roughly 30–40 minutes.
• Starfinder: Afterlight — Demo — Party-based sci-fi CRPG based on Paizo's Starfinder universe. Combat gives characters three actions per turn that can be spent on movement, attacks, and abilities, while the demo introduces three preset protagonist classes and several companions.
• Echoes of Agony — Demo — This one technically arrived a little earlier, but it's worth catching up on. Dark fantasy roguelite with a stamina-based timeline where spending more stamina lets you do more now but delays your next turn.

Quite a varied batch this time. Ex Sanguis, Veterum, Starfinder: Afterlight, and Dragon Quest Monsters are probably the ones I'd look at first, but there are several smaller projects here that seem worth checking out.

Which one are you playing this weekend?

https://turnbasedlovers.com/news/new-turn-based-rpgs-to-play-september-12-2026

Bad House is a single-player dungeon-crawling RPG with automatic combat, developed by Andrew Morrish and published by The Arcade Crew.

Announced a few hours ago, the game begins in a newly occupied house whose previous tenant has left behind belongings and a warning to avoid the basement. Going downstairs reveals an ever-changing dungeon inhabited by demons, skeletons, bats, and other hostile creatures, with successive floors leading further beneath the property.

Combat plays out automatically, using your selected skills alongside items strategically positioned around each room.

The setting includes blood, gore, and occasional body horror, while the basement’s changing layout and unknown depth form part of its mystery. Bad House is scheduled for PC via Steam in 2027, with no specific release date announced.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/bad-house-auto-battler-dungeon-crawler

Eternal Anima is a new turn-based JRPG from Marvelous built around a combat system called Future Sight, which allows players to preview enemy actions and their expected results before committing to a response.

Previously known as Project Life is RPG, the game also connects exploration and character progression through Psychometry, an ability that lets protagonist Wade recover memories, classes, and abilities from objects found throughout the world.

Eternal Anima is scheduled for release in March 2027 on:

• PC via Steam
• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X|S
• Nintendo Switch 2

Marvelous lists the worldwide release date as March 4, 2027.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/eternal-anima-is-a-turn-based-jrpg-that-lets-you-predict-and-rewrite-enemy-turns

I checked SteamDB’s current Most Wishlisted chart and picked out 20 upcoming RPGs and strategy games that caught my attention.

Small clarification before the list: SteamDB shows the wishlist ranking, but exact Steam wishlist totals are not public. The numerical figures available are Steam follower counts, which are a separate metric.

Here’s the current selection:

• #7 – Total War: WARHAMMER 40,000 — Creative Assembly brings the Total War formula into the 40K universe, mixing turn-based planetary conquest with large-scale real-time battles.
• #18 – Persona 4 Revival — ATLUS’ remake of Persona 4, rebuilding the Inaba murder mystery around social simulation, Persona development, and weakness-driven turn-based combat.
• #28 – Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy — Owlcat’s next CRPG puts you in the service of the Inquisition, combining investigations, dialogue choices, party building, and tactical turn-based battles.
• #51 – Persona 6 — The next mainline Persona entry, with a new cast and another mix of school life, relationships, supernatural events, and Persona-based combat.
• #82 – Threads of Time — A time-traveling JRPG where party members come from different historical eras, with turn-based combat built around coordinated attacks and character synergies.
• #87 – FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE — An HD-2D Final Fantasy RPG focused on exploiting weaknesses, staggering enemies, building a party, and summoning Visions based on familiar Final Fantasy characters.
• #119 – Sea of Remnants — A free-to-play ocean RPG with ship exploration, crew recruitment, turn-based battles, city development, and a pirate-themed open-world structure.
• #127 – Guildrun — A PvE roguelike autobattler about recruiting heroes, creating unconventional builds, and finding equipment and specialization synergies during each run.
• #168 – Shroom and Gloom — A first-person roguelike deckbuilder using separate decks for combat and dungeon exploration, with plenty of card upgrading and build experimentation.
• #179 – Shadow of the Road — A tactical RPG set in an alternate 1868 Japan where samurai, yōkai, and steam-powered technology coexist.
• #211 – Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter — The continuation of Estelle’s journey, mixing Falcom’s command-based RPG combat, orbment customization, Crafts, and a large returning cast.
• #231 – Heroes of Might and Magic III Remake — Ubisoft’s full 3D remake of the classic strategy RPG, retaining adventure-map exploration, town management, army recruitment, and turn-based battles.
• #258 – Mars Tactics — A turn-based tactical war game combining squad combat with a strategic campaign, destructible environments, suppression, logistics, and soldier development.
• #260 – SacriFire — A pixel-art RPG mixing turn-based and real-time combat elements, weapon-based combos, exploration, crafting, and a science-fantasy setting.
• #314 – Parasite Mutant — A sci-fi horror RPG with an Active Time Chains battle system, manual movement, equipment customization, exploration, and mutated enemies.
• #393 – Hero’s Adventure: Another Tale — A wuxia RPG with martial arts progression, companions, branching decisions, Team Skills, and turn-based combat.
• #523 – Kriegsfront Tactics — A turn-based mech tactics game inspired by 1970s Southeast Asia, with pilot management, mech customization, salvage, and procedural campaign elements.
• #585 – Alliance of the Sacred Suns — A character-driven 4X strategy game where you rule an interstellar empire while managing politics, relationships, limited actions, stress, and your emperor’s lifespan.
• #707 – Project Haven — A squad tactics game with gridless movement, manual aiming, body-part targeting, detailed ballistics, weapon management, stealth, and hacking.
• #744 – Roman Empire Wars — A large-scale Roman strategy game centered on real-time battles, army formations, flanking, and campaigns across several historical regions.

Some very big names here, but I’m especially curious about Dark Heresy, Mars Tactics, Threads of Time, Kriegsfront Tactics, and Heroes of Might and Magic III Remake.

Which one are you most interested in?

Some pretty good turn-based deals on Steam this week, so I went through them and picked out the ones that looked most interesting.

There’s a bit of everything here: tactical RPGs, old-school dungeon crawlers, JRPGs, 4X, survival games, and a few stranger experiments.

My main picks

• The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos — 85% off | $5.24
• Into the Breach — 80% off | $2.99
• Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord — 70% off | $10.49
• Born of Bread — 85% off | $3.74
• Terra Memoria — 75% off | $4.99
• ONE PIECE ODYSSEY — 75% off | $9.99
• Wizardry 8 — 80% off | $1.99
• Dead Age 2: The Zombie Survival RPG — 90% off | $1.79
• Wander Stars — 50% off | $12.49
• Keep Driving — 30% off | $12.59
• Astria Ascending — 90% off | $3.49
• tERRORbane — 70% off | $4.79
• Master of Magic — 60% off | $15.99
• Dead Season — 60% off | $7.99
• Loop8: Summer of Gods — 88% off | $4.79

10 more deals worth checking

• Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars — 50% off | $24.99
• Lands of Sorcery — 60% off | $9.99
• Disciples: Liberation — 70% off | $11.99
• Takara Cards — 75% off | $3.74
• Sea Horizon — 80% off | $2.99
• Absolute Tactics: Daughters of Mercy — 50% off | $12.49
• Anoxia Station — 50% off | $7.49
• Titanium Court — 50% off | $7.49
• Gods of Sand — 50% off | $4.99
• SUPER ROBOT WARS Y – Deluxe Edition — 40% off | $56.99

If I had to highlight a few, Into the Breach for $2.99 is ridiculous value, Wizardry 8 for $1.99 is an easy recommendation if you can handle an old-school CRPG, and Naheulbeuk at 85% off is a very good excuse to pick up a solid party-based tactical RPG.

Prices are in USD and may vary by region.

What are you picking up? And if you spotted another good turn-based deal this week, drop it below.

Shop Crush mixes thrift-store management with psychological horror.

Negotiate prices, stock 70+ items, manage reputation, level up customers, and uncover their secrets through visual “Literal Illusion” puzzles.

A strange mix of Papers, Please, VA-11 Hall-A, and Reigns-style decision-making.

Coming to Steam Early Access.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/shop-crush-hides-a-psychological-horror-story-behind-limited-turn-bargaining

A pretty damn good CRPG Humble Bundle just went live, especially if you're into old-school RPGs, deep character building, and turn-based combat.

The CRPG Pack: Isometric Immersion has three tiers:

• $10: Disco Elysium – The Final Cut, UnderRail, Torment: Tides of Numenera, Gamedec – Definitive Edition, Balrum
• $15: Everything above + Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous – Game of the Year Edition, SKALD: Against the Black Priory – Deluxe Bundle, Black Geyser + Tales of the Moon Cult
• $23: Everything above + Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader + Season Pass

For me, the $15 tier is probably the sweet spot. Pathfinder GOTY alone includes the six major expansions, while SKALD is an easy recommendation if you enjoy classic party-based CRPGs with turn-based combat.

The $23 tier is also excellent if you don't already own Rogue Trader, since the included Season Pass adds both Void Shadows and Lex Imperialis.

A small clarification: despite how some listings may present it, we're talking about 9 games plus DLC, rather than 11 separate games.

I put together the full breakdown here, including what each edition actually contains:

👉 https://turnbasedlovers.com/news/humbles-new-crpg-bundle-packs-rogue-trader-pathfinder-disco-elysium-and-more

And a small disclosure: the Humble links in the article are affiliate links, so if you're planning to pick up the bundle anyway, using one of them gives Turn Based Lovers a small commission at no extra cost to you. It genuinely helps support the site and lets me keep covering stuff like this.

Which tier would you go for?

A smoke grenade in Tactical Squad can do more than conceal an advance. In a developer-described match, a criminal unit used smoke to evade the AI sniper that normally prevents defenders from leaving the building, circled the exterior, and reentered behind the SWAT team. It is a concrete example of how the game’s visibility rules can create routes that initially appear unavailable.

Developed and self-published by Anarchy Corner, Tactical Squad pits six-unit SWAT and criminal squads against each other in 1v1 turn-based matches.

The closed beta is now live and initially includes the Office map and two playable classes. According to the developer, this roughly represents the content intended for the public demo. Beta participants are also expected to receive additional maps, classes, and other additions as development progresses.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/tactical-squad-multiplayer-pvp-tactical-game

Defending against an enemy’s hand is also how you set up your damage in Fabulous Fool. This fantasy roguelite deckbuilder uses conventional playing cards as the foundation for battles, then introduces demons and relics that turn successful counters into chains of offensive effects.

Enemies play threat cards first. Your response follows a straightforward rule: counter with a higher-ranked card of the same suit, or use a trump. The developer identifies the traditional card game “Fool” as the basis for these exchanges, with opponents setting up the problems your hand must solve.

Developed by Diamond Head and published by Polden Publishing, Fabulous Fool is coming to Windows PC through Steam, with its release date currently listed as Coming soon. Access requests for the Steam playtest are available, but participation depends on the developer admitting additional testers.

https://turnbasedlovers.com/overview/fabulous-fool-deckbuilder-pc-game

Another busy week for turn-based games. Here’s a quick recap of the biggest news from August 31 – September 5:

Final Fantasy Resonance – A free demo is now available and includes the entire first chapter, with save data carrying over to the full game. Release: October 22, 2026.

Fate/EXTRA Record – The remake finally has a worldwide release date: January 28, 2027, for PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.

Project Zircon – Konami revealed a new dark fantasy deckbuilding roguelike where you manage and develop an entire nation across five-year runs while preparing for the return of the Calamity Dragon. PC confirmed; no release date yet.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger – The A Hero’s Eternal Legacy expansion arrives in 2027, set three years after the main game with a new protagonist, partner, and around 50 additional Digimon.

Astonishia Story – The remake of the 1994 Korean tactical RPG launches in the West on February 11, 2027, for PS5, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.

Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World – A new Monster Wrangler trailer showed more of its monster-recruiting adventure ahead of the December 3, 2026 release.

Mega Man X: Command Mission – The PS2 turn-based RPG is joining the PlayStation Plus Premium Classics Catalog this September on PS5 and PS4.

Wicked Seed – The big Daybreak update adds a post-game story chapter, new weapons and challenges, Chaos Mode, randomized equipment, and combat revisions.

Terminus: Zombie Survivors – Update 1.3 brings full Steam Workshop support, allowing mods for occupations, traits, items, recipes, enemies, and more.

Terminus: Zombie Survivors 2 – Longplay Studios announced an open-world sequel focused on scavenging, crafting, farming, and base building. Whether it retains the original's turn-based structure hasn't been confirmed yet.

Ghost Justice – The tactical game received its first gameplay trailer, showing multi-team operations, stealth, intelligence gathering, ambushes, and sniper/spotter coordination. Targeting Q1 2027.

Lie of Caelum: Spirit – The PS1/Saturn-inspired mecha JRPG launched its Kickstarter campaign. Combat mixes traditional turn-based commands with input combinations and timed attacks/guards.

Cloudsphere – An interesting roguelike deckbuilder where upgrading your airship also changes your deck: installed modules add corresponding Captain's Order cards. Steam playtest registrations are open.

HexLands – Portgate Studios has partnered with Aquila Interactive. The combat-free settlement-building roguelike deckbuilder is targeting Q1 2027, with a public demo planned for Q4 2026.

What caught your attention the most?