Summary
One of the most enduring factors of tactical RPGs is that they often cater to all playstyles, whether a player wants tostrategically plan their attackor enter conflict with all guns blazing. No matter what the approach to combat, there would often be serious collateral damage, and the most realistic games in the tactics genre, or any other genre, feature destruction physics.
Levels of destruction can vary wildly from game to game, from breaching walls and blowing up structures to outright decimating the landscape and razing entire cities to the ground. Here are some of the best tactical RPGs with destructible environments, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall quality, popularity, and levels of destruction.
From the creators ofXCOM,Phoenix Pointoffersstrategic battles on procedurally generated mapsagainst rapidly mutating enemies who have been infected with an alien virus. Facing issues with adapting Lovecraftian horrors, forcing tactical changes in each battle, and also troubles with rival human factions, saving humanity in this apocalyptic world is no easy job.
Much like the earlyXCOMgames, environments can be obliterated, and this feature is even incorporated into some missions, when players must defend vital facilities or destroy enemy structures. Blowing up walls, floors, and ceilings of buildings can also be used to damage or even trap enemies, offering savvy tacticians another strategic option in the field.
Taking greatinspiration from the earlyXCOMgames,Xenonautsfeatures all the core gameplay mechanics of those classics, but with some added spice and modernization. The unique Cold War setting makes for an interesting premise and requires some deep thinking, especially in the early stages when players only have access to 1970s technology.
New players are bound to make mistakes, which can have devastating consequences, but there are many different victory conditions in battles, and myriad ways of completing missions. Access to explosive projectiles, demolition charges, and plenty of destructive firearms means that players can tear through buildings with ease to eliminate their targets.
After nuclear war ravaged the planet, the world ofMutant Year Zero: Road to Edenis filled with mutated humanoids and animals, all just trying to survive in “The Zone.” Controlling a party of three such mutants, the Zone can be freely explored to find resources or other friendly and recruitable mutants, but enemies are never too far away, and exploration can quickly transition into turn-based battles.
Each playable character possesses their own particular skills, from psionic abilities to weapon specialties, but those who want to cause maximum mayhem should aim to upgrade Selma. Her skills with explosives make her perfect for damaging buildings and other structures on the battlefield. It’s worth noting that enemies can destroy cover, too, so stealth and caution are often advisable.
Set more than a century after a nuclear war decimated the planet,Wasteland 3puts players in control of the Arizona Desert Rangers, who must travel to the frozen wastes of Colorado. Missions need to be completed there to bring vital resources back to Arizona, so every decision matters, andloyalty is extremely importantto the rangers.
Fully voiced conversations offer many options that alter the story, whether forging alliances with other surviving groups, starting a war, or inviting refugees to the HQ. Though the game’s environments can’t be completely leveled like in other tactical RPGs, smashing in doors and blowing up much of the area is still incredibly fun and rewarding, plus blood spatter is incredibly striking against the snow.
All Walls Must Fall – A Tech-Noir Tactics Gametakes place in 2089in an alternative Berlinwhere the Cold War never ended. The divided city features procedurally generated levels, meaning that each scenario and playthrough is unique, as players infiltrate nightclubs.
A core mechanic of the game is rewinding time, allowing players to use trial and error to reach new areas, as well as reset triggered alarms. This also means that any destroyed walls and other objects can be simply rebuilt by reversing time.All Walls Must Falleven has relevant achievements for knocking down and restoring certain structures, so it’s certainly encouraged as a method of infiltration.
Often compared to chess due to its 8x8 tile battlefields,Into the Breachtakes a different approach to destructible environments. During the battles against the terrifying giant monsters known as the Vek, buildings must be protected since they are both filled with civilians and are part of the power infrastructure keeping the mechs operational.
Other buildings can be used to assist in battle, such as the Disposal Unit, which launches A.C.I.D. pools at the target area, capable of wiping mountains off the map and exterminating any units instantly, including allies. Plenty of other units are capable of eradicating mountains, which can prove tactically useful in the main quest to eliminate the Vek, just as long as players don’t accidentally demolish their own buildings in the process.
Over 25 years since its initial release,Jagged Alliance 2is stillone of the best military RPGson the market. Blending role-playing with tactics and strategy in combat, the goal is to take down the ruthless Queen Deidranna in the fictional Latin American country Arulco by hiring a mercenary force and gradually liberating the land.
The mercs ofJA2are certainly well-equipped for destruction, possessing an arsenal of both light and heavy explosives, plus some heavy weapons capable of obliterating walls. Such devastation to buildings and objects is sometimes the objective in any given mission, but it’s otherwise a tactically useful option for flushing out some enemies.
Inspiring countless games over the years,XCOM: UFO Defenseis now over three decades old and continues to define the genre. Also known asUFO: Enemy Unknown, the hallmarks of the series can be found in this entry, from turn-based battles and technological research to managing relationships with world governments to maintain funding for the XCOM project.
The battlescapes offer the opportunity for almost complete destruction, with most objects on the map and the landscape itself being susceptible to damage from gunfire and explosions. Many later games in the series don’t feature quite as much freedom in this regard, especially considering that this game allows XCOM soldiers to freely target specific points on the map and are not forced to fire at visible foes. They are capable of causing untold carnage to the targeted area.
