The Best Tactical turn-based Games for Mac OS

Update : Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader added at rank #4.
1

The Banner Saga 2 (2016)

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95
Review score
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PC Windows Mac OS Xbox One Playstation 4 IOS iPhone Android Nintendo Switch

The Banner Saga 2 is a gripping Norse-inspired fantasy adventure that engages you with its exceptional narrative and captivating art direction. The game features a turn-based combat system that challenges your strategic thinking, new creatures and obstacles, and battles resolved through primary objectives rather than max-murdering the other side. Make difficult decisions that can lead to starvation, mutiny or death, while defying traditional conventions and rejecting typical rules of morality. The sequel is a must-play, with vastly improved combat, deep and rewarding narrative, and an immersive visual and sound design.

Buy

What we like:
  • Engaging narrative
  • Captivating art direction
  • Improved combat system
  • New creatures and obstacles
  • Battles resolved through primary objectives
What could be improved:
  • Difficult for new players who did not play the first game
  • Console controls are awkward and obtuse
  • Environmental art can make combat harder to navigate
  • Not very action-packed
  • Characters can die without notice

  • turn-based
  • tactical
  • battle
  • strategy
  • rpg
  • combat
  • narrative
  • story
  • grid
  • fantasy
  • hand-drawn

2

Wildermyth (2019)

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97
Review score
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Mac OS Linux PC Windows

Wildermyth is a wonderful homage to classic tabletop games that combines witty writing, evocative art and engrossing battles. You will lead a band of peasants against otherworldly horrors, move them around a swirling parchment map and watch them grow in abilities and traits as they battle monsters. Enjoy the story beat vignettes set to string music that tell tales of personal history and emotions.


What we like:
  • Witty writing
  • Evocative art
  • Engrossing battles
  • Characters grow in abilities & traits as they battle monsters
  • Story beats with vignettes set to string music
  • Cooperative multiplayer option
What could be improved:
  • Straightforward battle system may not be complex enough for experienced players

  • tactical
  • rpg
  • tabletop
  • turn-based
  • story
  • procedural
  • fantasy
  • battle
  • rogue-like
  • dungeon
  • combat
  • grid
  • dragon

3

Chroma Squad (2015)

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93
Review score
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IOS iPhone Linux Mac OS PC Windows Xbox One

In Chroma Squad, you become the leader of a group of five stunt actors who create their own Power Rangers-inspired TV show. Customize your studio, craft weapons, upgrade equipment, and fight in turn-based battles. Enjoy a branching storyline, skill trees, and a chiptune soundtrack.


What we like:
  • Simple mechanics
  • Charming pixel art style
  • Great soundtrack, Management sim elements
  • Entertaining story
What could be improved:
  • Random crafting system
  • Repetitive boss fights
  • Luck-based mecha battles
  • Lack of tutorial, Underwhelming difficulty for experienced strategy game players

  • tactical
  • turn-based
  • rpg
  • battle
  • squad
  • mech
  • strategy
  • crafting
  • combat
  • boss
  • superhero
  • isometric
  • management
  • fight
  • pixel

4

Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader (2023)

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76
Review score
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PC Windows Xbox One Mac OS Xbox Series X Playstation 5

Dive into the grim darkness of Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader, where your decisions forge an empire or doom worlds. Command voidships, battle Chaos, and ally with unique crew in a universe brimming with peril and glory. Tactical combat and deep customization await in this epic RPG saga!


What we like:
  • Engaging story and well-developed characters
  • Rich, atmospheric Warhammer 40K setting
  • Extensive character customization
What could be improved:
  • Occasional bugs and technical issues
  • Some combat encounters may feel prolonged

  • turn-based
  • warhammer-40k
  • rpg
  • tactical
  • strategy
  • tabletop
  • cooperative
  • workshop
  • combat
  • battle
  • fantasy
  • shooter
  • action
  • war
  • cover

5

The Banner Saga 3 (2018)

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81
Review score
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IOS iPhone Playstation 4 Xbox One Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS

Experience the epic conclusion of The Banner Saga trilogy in a dark and desperate world-ending event. As you lead over 40 powerful heroes through tough odds, your decisions truly impact the game's outcome. The storyline concludes in a beautifully animated epic finale with a Grammy-nominated soundtrack that'll leave you feeling both triumphant and nostalgic.


What we like:
  • Excellent storytelling, art and setting
  • Innovative custom battles
  • A fitting end to the saga
  • The series ages very well
  • Grammy-nominated soundtrack
What could be improved:
  • Some outcomes of fights seem meaningless
  • Lack of impact for decisions made earlier in the game

  • tactical
  • turn-based
  • battle
  • wave
  • rpg
  • strategy
  • narrative
  • combat
  • fight
  • story
  • grid
  • fantasy
  • hand-drawn

6

Worms W.M.D (2016)

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95
Review score
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Xbox One Linux Mac OS PC Windows

'Worms W.M.D' is a classic physics-based game featuring teams of pink invertebrates battling it out with an arsenal of ridiculous and comical weapons. This game brings back the original 2D engine and gameplay of the franchise, and introduces new elements such as random vehicle placements, turrets, buildings, and a crafting system.


What we like:
  • Fun gameplay with new features like mechs, tanks, mortars, and stationary machine guns
  • Entertaining and addictive
  • Lots of replay value
What could be improved:
  • Some in-game text and menus are hard to read on larger screens
  • Crafting tutorial is "hidden" in one stage of the campaign mode

  • turn-based
  • strategy
  • team
  • artillery
  • mech
  • crafting
  • online
  • tanks
  • local
  • multiplayer
  • classic
  • battle
  • ninja
  • tactical
  • physics

7

Let's! Revolution (2023)

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91
Review score
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Xbox Series X Xbox One Playstation 5 Playstation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Windows Mac OS j Xbox Series X/s

Let’s! Revolution! is a colorful roguelite puzzle mashup about stopping a narcissistic King from ruining your world. Flip tiles to uncover the hidden path to the King. Use deductive reasoning to avoid his cronies or take them all down in strategic turn-based combat.

Buy

  • turn-based
  • rogue-like
  • tactical
  • grid
  • strategy
  • movement
  • dungeon-crawler
  • logic
  • tile
  • perma-death
  • class
  • hand-drawn
  • procedural
  • puzzle
  • colourful

8

XCOM: Enemy Unknown (2012)

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93
Review score
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PC Windows Playstation 3 Xbox 360 Mac OS Linux Android Xbox One vita

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is a turn-based strategy game that puts you in charge of saving the Earth from a global alien invasion by managing resources, advancing technology, and planning combat strategies. With over 70 missions worldwide and customizable soldiers, this game provides an immersive experience that appeals to players who enjoy turn-based strategy games.


What we like:
  • Engaging and strategic turn-based combat system
  • Variety of classes and abilities to customize soldiers and build squad
  • Impressive graphics and sound design
  • Strategic depth and replayability
  • Long War mod adds even more gameplay
What could be improved:
  • Long War mod can be frustrating with high difficulty

  • turn-based
  • tactical
  • aliens
  • squad
  • strategy
  • cover
  • combat
  • battle
  • war

9

XCOM 2 (2016)

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87
Review score
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PC Windows Linux Mac OS Xbox One Playstation 4

XCOM 2 puts you in a fight for the survival of humanity against an alien force. Your job is to lead a squad of soldiers to liberate Earth. The game has an exciting blend of tactical, strategy, and RPG elements that will keep you glued to your screen.


What we like:
  • Fantastic turn-based tactics and strategy game
  • Highly engaging gameplay for all players
  • Great customization options for soldiers
  • Strict time pressure in most missions
  • Revamped soldier classes offer more game-changing abilities
What could be improved:
  • Long load times in and out of missions
  • Storyline is straightforward

  • turn-based
  • tactical
  • aliens
  • squad
  • strategy
  • cover
  • combat
  • war
  • sci-fi
  • battle
  • management

10

SteamWorld Heist (2015)

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96
Review score
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IOS iPhone Linux Mac OS PC Windows

Experience the adventure of a lifetime as a steam-driven pirate crew in SteamWorld Heist. With its insane skill shots and turn-based strategy gameplay, this game lets you manually aim the guns of your robots and upgrade your recruits' unique abilities, weapons, and stylish hats. With a well-written story, engaging characters, and a challenging battle system, it combines the best of XCOM and Worms gameplay in a beautifully designed world of robot pirates. And with a soundtrack by Steam Powered Giraffe, this is a game you won't want to miss!


What we like:
  • Fun and challenging battle system
  • Numerous items, weapons, and equipment to collect
  • Engaging characters and well-written story
  • Mixes XCOM and Worms gameplay perfectly
  • Packed with content and replayability
What could be improved:
  • Lack of ability trees for customization
  • Inability to customize preferred characters
  • Linear progression with no choice in bonuses

  • turn-based
  • robots
  • strategy
  • steampunk
  • tactical
  • cover
  • pirates

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