turn-based war games like advance wars?

[GtehMVP]

Check out Wargroove (inspired by Advance Wars), it's on Steam and Switch (might be more), the latter where I played it.



Another direct inspiration, but closer in era is Empires Shall Fall. I heard good things about it


Like @Zer said, go play Valkyria Chronicles, amazing games. My fav is actually VC 2 from the PSP, poured stupid hours on that. You can emulate that for free if you don't own a PSP.



@Mack Yancy Field Commander (PSP) recommendation is on point too, great game, also easily emulated.

 

[Gene Tunney]

Must have devoted thousands of hours to P.T.O. I & II (Gen and SNES, respectively). It was just so richly detailed and complex. The best.

 

[blaseblase]

The entire Fire Emblem series will keep you busy for a while.

 

[Cal Cutter]

The Ghost Recon game on the DS

 

[GhostZ06]

Xenonauts 2

 

[Prefect]

You all should give the Jagged Alliance series a try if you like X-Com. It is sort of the predecessor.

The series Combat Mission is also a fun realistic military simulator in 3D.

 

[Cal Cutter]

Must have devoted thousands of hours to P.T.O. I & II (Gen and SNES, respectively). It was just so richly detailed and complex. The best.

It is, but its horrifyingly complex. Going from Advance Wars to a Koei Strategy game is like going from Bumfights to K1

 

[Gene Tunney]

It is, but its horrifyingly complex. Going from Advance Wars to a Koei Strategy game is like going from Bumfights to K1

I became acquainted with Koei games at a tender young age.

You had to commit to Koei games. If you couldn't sit down for 50 hours a week and learn how to play the game, you weren't committed.

That commitment is what separated the real deal strategic evander holyfields from the pretenders.

 

[Cal Cutter]

I became acquainted with Koei games at a tender young age.

You had to commit to Koei games. If you couldn't sit down for 50 hours a week and learn how to play the game, you weren't committed.

That commitment is what separated the real deal strategic evander holyfields from the pretenders.

It boils down to this. You locking in when your mind is still spongey and elastic and retaining the insane amount of information you need to naviagate Koei games. Trying to learn these game now is like algebra.

However I was able to pick up Uncharted Waters recently, but that's more of an RPG.

 

[Cal Cutter]

You all should give the Jagged Alliance series a try if you like X-Com. It is sort of the predecessor.

The series Combat Mission is also a fun realistic military simulator in 3D.

Don't forget front mission!

The remakes aren't perfect, but they are a most accessible, and affordable way to play a niche tactical mech series.

 

[Gene Tunney]

It boils down to this. You locking in when your mind is still spongey and elastic and retaining the insane amount of information you need to naviagate Koei games. Trying to learn these game now is like algebra.

However I was able to pick up Uncharted Waters recently, but that's more of an RPG.

I still fire up PTO 2, Operation Europe, Liberty or Death, and Aerobiz Supersonic every now and again. The problem is that, now, they just aren't complex enough (for me).

I remember walking into a family Video circa 1994 and deliberating between Uncharted Waters and this big-boxed game. That was a big-time decision back then. Long story short, I went with Uncharted Waters and rented it out several times over. Although knee deep in rpg's at the time, I never did get around to EarthBound. There is always a tradeoff.

 

[Cal Cutter]

Desert Commander on the NES!

(I've just discovered it.)

 

[Cal Cutter]

I still fire up PTO 2, Operation Europe, Liberty or Death, and Aerobiz Supersonic every now and again. The problem is that, now, they just aren't complex enough (for me).

I remember walking into a family Video circa 1994 and deliberating between Uncharted Waters and this big-boxed game. That was a big-time decision back then. Long story short, I went with Uncharted Waters and rented it out several times over. Although knee deep in rpg's at the time, I never did get around to EarthBound. There is always a tradeoff.

I just rembered the Koei game Gemfire. Have you played this one as well?

 

[PBAC]

I'm still playing Sword of Covalleria this far in now. It has Gatcha elements but has 130 plus hours in the full story inccluding branching paths, endings, a world map, factions and sub quests. I would go so far as to say if it wasnt clearly inspired by FFT and Tactics Ogre, it would be better than it. Purists wouldn't admit that.

It's completely free with optional Gatcha add ons. I don't think I'm there yet but the battles are moving from quick exchanges to more tactical gambits. I'm renewing my recomendation to this because the game has gone from being a cool SRPG to being challenging and tactifully sufficient, not just casting spells but needing to properly position, porotect and prep units.

I don't get stuck into many games anymore so if I find something I cling to it is usually worthwhile.

 

[Gene Tunney]

I just rembered the Koei game Gemfire. Have you played this one as well?

I've been thinking about that game too.

No, I haven't played it.

I knew about Gemfire and considered it. Getting to the point without venturing into a long-winded story, I picked Romance of the Three Kingdoms II over Gemfire.

They were similar games and I had to choose one or the other. Executive decision.