Best Tactical Games

NXTO's catalog has 555 tactical games. These 30 rank highest once player ratings, Metacritic scores and Steam reviews are combined. The top three: Tactical Breach Wizards, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory and Sid Meier's Civilization V.

How it's ranked: a blend of RAWG player ratings, Metacritic and Steam reviews, adjusted so games with very few ratings can't outrank well-proven ones. Times are average player-reported playtime, so treat them as rough guides.

1. 1
   

   Tactical Breach Wizards

   Indie, StrategyPC ★ 4.5/5~6 h avg. playtime
2. 2
   

   Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Chaos Theory

   2005Adventure, ActionPC, Xbox One ★ 4.5/5~2 h avg. playtime
3. 3
   

   Sid Meier's Civilization V

   2010StrategyPC ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~39.6 h to beat
4. 4
   

   Into the Breach

   2018Strategy, IndiePC, Switch ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~5.8 h to beat
5. 5
   

   Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War

   2004StrategyPC ★ 4.4/5~2 h avg. playtime
6. 6
   

   Dragon Age: Origins

   2009RPGPC, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~40.2 h to beat
7. 7
   

   Plants vs. Zombies

   2009Strategy, ArcadePC, Xbox One ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~8.2 h to beat
8. 8
   

   XCOM: Enemy Unknown

   2012StrategyPC ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~26.7 h to beat
9. 9
   

   Desperados III

   2020Strategy, ActionPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.4/5~5 h avg. playtime
10. 10
    

    FTL: Faster Than Light

    2012Strategy, IndiePC ★ 4.4/5⏱ ~12.1 h to beat
11. 11
    

    Total War: WARHAMMER II

    2017Strategy, ActionPC ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~40.9 h to beat
12. 12
    

    Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain

    2015Shooter, ActionPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~45.7 h to beat
13. 13
    

    Left 4 Dead 2

    2009Shooter, ActionPC ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~10.3 h to beat
14. 14
    

    Left 4 Dead

    2008Shooter, ActionPC ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~7 h to beat
15. 15
    

    Door Kickers 2: Task Force North

    2020Strategy, IndiePC ★ 4.3/5
16. 16
    

    Sid Meier's Civilization IV

    2005StrategyPC ★ 4.3/5~1 h avg. playtime
17. 17
    

    Creeper World 4

    2020Action, CasualPC ★ 4.3/5~7 h avg. playtime
18. 18
    

    I Am Your Beast

    2024ActionPC ★ 4.3/5~5 h avg. playtime
19. 19
    

    Transistor

    2014Indie, ActionPC, PS4, Switch ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~6 h to beat
20. 20
    

    Counter-Strike

    2000Shooter, ActionPC ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~25.4 h to beat
21. 21
    

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

    2009Shooter ★ 4.3/5⏱ ~6.6 h to beat
22. 22
    

    Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines

    1998ActionPC ★ 4.3/5~1 h avg. playtime
23. 23
    

    Star Wars: Republic Commando

    2005Shooter, ActionPC, PS5, Xbox One ★ 4.2/5~1 h avg. playtime
24. 24
    

    Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun

    2016Strategy, IndiePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.2/5⏱ ~24.9 h to beat
25. 25
    

    Silent Storm

    2003StrategyPC ★ 4.2/5~2 h avg. playtime
26. 26
    

    Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew

    2023Strategy, AdventurePC, PS5, PS4 ★ 4.2/5~3 h avg. playtime
27. 27
    

    Sid Meier’s Civilization VI

    2016Strategy, SimulationPC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.2/5~15 h avg. playtime
28. 28
    

    Teardown

    2022Strategy, IndiePC, PS5 ★ 4.2/5⏱ ~13.2 h to beat
29. 29
    

    Cruelty Squad

    2021Indie, ActionPC ★ 4.2/5~2 h avg. playtime
30. 30
    

    The Banner Saga 2

    2016Strategy, IndiePC, Xbox One, PS4 ★ 4.2/5~6 h avg. playtime

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