While we wait...what's there to scratch the itch?

[Sarin]

I've played JA series, XCOM (old and new), Xenonauts, Syndicate, Wasteland 2...what else is there? Toss a few suggestions...kinda itching to play something similar again.

[Acid]

Try the demo to Project Haven, its not out yet but the demo gives you an idea of the gameplay.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/443190/Project_Haven/

Edited September 21, 2021 by Acid

[GODSPEED]

Here are a few similar and oddballs:

 

- Hired Guns The Jagged Edge

Kind of a clone of basic JA2 with a 3D Isometric engine. It's quirky, has its flaws, but it's fun to just explore and get into. Same gameplay, 25 AP, you select body parts and aim more or less, similar variety of weapons as stock JA2. You can officially get ot from Matrixgames dot com. Or slitherine (same dev/pub store).

 

- Stirring Abyss

Same store as above, and also on steam. It's a re-imagining of Xcom Terror from the Deep. Very "Lovecraftian", also very hard. Unique style and elements. You fix up and build up rooms in a sub instead of underground base.

 

- Hard West

Very enjoyable and very unique setting. Turn-based tactics with unique characters, set in the Wild West with a strong Occult theme. They came up with a super neat perk system, instead of permanent perks, you combine poker cards into hands to place in the inventory, which give different buffs.

 

- Battle Brothers

"Hardcore" Tactical game set in a low fantasy medieval world. You manage a big squad of mercenaries.

 

- 7,62 High Calibre (with Blue Suns Mod)

JA2 beefed up to full 3D with pause and go system. Quirky,,buggy, but a must for gun porn.

 

- Phoenix Point

New Xcom, but better.

 

When all fails, just go check out the bear's pit and look up 1.13 mods.

I'm currently playing Arulco Vacation 1.12

You can find it on facebook directly under the name Arulco Vacation.

Very nice mod. Beefed up vanilla maps kind of how Wildfire did it.

[Sarin]

Thanks, I'll definitely check some of those out.

[Low_K]

Another great (albeit short) game is Gears:Tactics. A lot of gore, but really enjoayble. Huge AAA company so excellent graphics, voice acting and story.

Wasteland 3 is also great.

Xenonauts 2 is in development but is the modern X-Com clone.

I second the recommendation of Project Haven.

[GODSPEED]

Ah yea... others that kind of came to mind because I was thinking of characters with personality....

These might have different settings, themes and even style of gameplay, but they have that unique personality with characters.

- Baldur's gate 2
Another incredible labour of love of the late 90's.
Yes, the setting is completely different, but the gameplay is relatively tactical. While it does away with turn-based and tried a real-time with pause, in this case, it worked very well.
And, just like JA2, it doesn't hold your hand and tell you what to do or where to go. It can be a little overwhelming at first, especially if you don't know the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset. But they are decently well hidden so you can get the game without being a D&D player.
It's great strength is a mature theme storytelling and incredible characters that will banter between one another, insult one another, bitch about one another and even go to killing one another and there is nothing you can do but watch. You have characters that have limited patience for other characters and romance and all that. It's still slightly subtle like JA2. Some characters just really make you laugh, sincerely.

While Baldur's Gate 1 might have less banter, for story and setting it's almost necessary to start here. 1 & 2 form a complete story.

- Dragon Age
Like above, but they pushed the whole relationship thing a notch towards romance and friendly team... less of the dislikes and bitching though. It's Mass Effect fantasy style.

- Mass Effect
..has good, but cliché character interactions, romance and all that.


The Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 and/or Mass Effect 1-3 will keep you busy for a good amount of time until the release of JA3, they will most likely pull you in and grab you by the b@lls.

Edited September 23, 2021 by GODSPEED

[Sarin]

8 hours ago, GODSPEED said:

Ah yea... others that kind of came to mind because I was thinking of characters with personality....

These might have different settings, themes and even style of gameplay, but they have that unique personality with characters.

- Baldur's gate 2
Another incredible labour of love of the late 90's.
Yes, the setting is completely different, but the gameplay is relatively tactical. While it does away with turn-based and tried a real-time with pause, in this case, it worked very well.
And, just like JA2, it doesn't hold your hand and tell you what to do or where to go. It can be a little overwhelming at first, especially if you don't know the Dungeons & Dragons ruleset. But they are decently well hidden so you can get the game without being a D&D player.
It's great strength is a mature theme storytelling and incredible characters that will banter between one another, insult one another, bitch about one another and even go to killing one another and there is nothing you can do but watch. You have characters that have limited patience for other characters and romance and all that. It's still slightly subtle like JA2. Some characters just really make you laugh, sincerely.

While Baldur's Gate 1 might have less banter, for story and setting it's almost necessary to start here. 1 & 2 form a complete story.

- Dragon Age
Like above, but they pushed the whole relationship thing a notch towards romance and friendly team... less of the dislikes and bitching though. It's Mass Effect fantasy style.

- Mass Effect
..has good, but cliché character interactions, romance and all that.


The Baldur's Gate 1 & 2 and/or Mass Effect 1-3 will keep you busy for a good amount of time until the release of JA3, they will most likely pull you in and grab you by the b@lls.

I was looking for things more tactical than RPG like that, since I played all of those...some long ago. And yes, that includes Icewind Dale series...

[Wigen]

There is still hope (if JA 3 would break expectations) in "Urban Strife", which, however, is kept in a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, which, of course, may not appeal to everyone because, for example, because there are many games set in such realities.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEZIsfQcE6s

Edited September 28, 2021 by Wigen

[GODSPEED]

Sometime today, the demo for STARSHIP TROOPERS - TERRAN COMMAND is being released on Steam.

[GODSPEED]

CEPHEUS PROTOCOL

Real-time, tactical, zombies... a good time-killer I'm planning on trying out soon!

[Acid]

Did anyone play Urban Strife demo? I thought it was fun, needs some improvement here and there but overall I like it, the shooting mechanics based on real ballistics was interesting. 

[Hendrix]

I have enjoyed Door Kickers (SWAT) and Door Kickers 2 (Rangers and CIA). The second installment is still in Alpha or Beta but I like it better than the first. Squad based, tactical, top down, "problem solving".

I recommend the youtuber Controlled Pairs Gaming for some introduction to the game.

 

When it comes to shooters, me and my friends used to play Insurgency: Sandstorm.

Again I recommend Controlled Pairs Gaming if you want to see some gameplay.

 

For strategy games I am keeping an eye on Songs of Conquest. Heavily inspired by Heroes of Might and Magic (especially the second and third instalments). It is still in development however.

 

Last, a game I still enjoy is Fallout Tactics: Brootherhood of Steel. NOT to be confused with Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel!

[Acid]

These aren't tactical strategy games, they're more click adventure type games, but I like them, made by a developer called The Brotherhood, 'Stasis', 'Cayne', and 'Beautiful desolation' (which I'm playing at the moment) also another game they're working on 'Stasis 2 bone totem'.

[Acid]

 

[Vee2003]

You might try Templar Battleforce by Trese Brothers. It's art style is very indy(It was made by basically two guys) but it's cheap and has a surprising amount of depth to it.

[GODSPEED]

Is anyone following PHANTOM BRIGADE ?

It's been in early access for some time, and while you can't buy in now on Steam, you can through Epic.

I know it isn't exactly in the same vein as JA, but it looked like an interesting game and the game mechnics see pretty neat.

[Acid]

I forgot about that game, might check it out on epic.

[GODSPEED]

I know this is a stretch in almost every aspect; especially gameplay and theme.

 

A couple years ago, the Resident Evil 2 Remake caught my eye...

...and it really grabbed my attention; absolutely loved that game!

 

I've always "kinda" liked the Resident Evil movies with Milla Jovivich, mostly for theme and just as some cheesy action/horror weekend movies. But not really growing up around consoles, I had never played any of the Resident Evil games and until this remake, had never even really thought of it much.

RE2R sent me down the rabbit hole and I've set myself the goal to play every game in proper order.

It's been a little bit of a roller coaster ride; loved 1-3, hated 4, didn't care much for 5 & 6, back in love with 7 and looking forward to 8/Village during the winter holidays.

 

So why the heck am I talking Resident Evil here?

 

GUNS!!! 🤭

 

I didn't expect a zombie/virus/horror franchise to really go out of its way in recreating unpopular, odd or rarely heard-of firearms. Nothing that will blow us gun nuts out of our brains, but enough to give the game a sense of gunnutery that I am perfectly fine with (which is a hard thing to please my type).

 

Resident Evil 2 Remake's primary protagonist is most seen with the Mathilda (HK VP70M). Even Jagged Alliance 2 1.13 doesn't have that interesting pistol.

They've even recreated the buttstock/holster that unlocks 3-round bursts! (Not nearly as fast as the 2200rpm of the real VP70M, but still a decent effort).

 

 

Anyhow, that was my rant of the day. 😇

 

 

Hopefully JA3 will give us a few very out-of-the-ordinary firearms to play with.

 

[Wigen]

"Urban Strife" may turn out to be the best turn-based strategy in last years.

https://bigbossbattle.com/urban-strife-could-be-the-best-turn-based-squad-based-strategy-game-for-years/

Except for the Jagged Alliance, of course.😎

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2021 by Wigen

[GODSPEED]

For anyone who likes Turn-Based games, mostly Strategy, I HIGLHY recommend checking out Slitherine/Matrix Games.

https://www.slitherine.com/

 

They are one of those longtime dev/pubs that stick to what they know, from higher to lower budget games with a more old-school approach.

Most of their games are slightly larger scale than squad-based, but they do tackle various historical, fantastic and military styles.

They do make many Cpose Combat style games too.

[Wigen]

"Thunder Tier One" - real-time tactical shooter with top-down action. The premiere took place on December 7, 2021. Available for purchase on Steam.

 

Gameplay

 

Edited December 11, 2021 by Wigen

[Hendrix]

Hey I guess there's a few Stargate fans around.

New upcoming game: Stargate: Timekeepers.

Reminds me of the Commandos games.

[Wigen]

"Project Haven" - 9 minutes of gameplay.

 

[GODSPEED]

While I am not the GREATEST all-time fan of the Warhammer universe, WARHAMMER 40,000: DAWN OF WAR II  was among my favorite small squad tactical games.

Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters has kind of caught my eye (Steam store page link).

Although it does come closer to the modern xcom which I am not the biggest fan of, I find it is fitting for that type of game/world.

 

[Hendrix]

I know I have mention the game before, but Songs of Conquest is coming to early access in May.

A stratergy game heavily inspired and to some degree shamelessly copied the old Heroes of Might and Magic games.

Now early access might not be your thing, I myself are very sceptic to its uses. But it should atleast provide some deeper gameplay videos.

I for one am very curious about this title, to see if it triggers that "just one more turn" addiction. 😂

Edited March 25, 2022 by Hendrix