Tactical games are experiences that force players to really think outside the box. It's not always enough to go barging into a situation with guns blazing, and instead approach things with a more clever strategy. Some of the best turn-based tactical games will offer enough freedom to try different things, while also rewarding players for being smart about how they play. When you take the time to think things through, great victories can be achieved and progress made.

So what are the best turn-based tactical games that are coming out in 2025? With so many game releases throughout the year, and a few big hits already on the market, it might be a lot to shift through. But if you're looking for a good tactics game that can get your mind working, there's no shortage of games to look forward to soon. Here are 3 turn-based tactic gems that are coming out this year, yet nobody is talking about them enough.

3 The White Raven

Waging war in a spiritual place

If you like your tactical games with a bit of mystical elements added to them, then you'll want to look into The White Raven from GatherRound Studios. The game was originally pitched on a Kickstarter page, with a goal of around $34,000 at first. However, overwhelming support from online communities allowed the project to obtain more than $190,000 towards their goal, opening up new milestones and additions to the game that curious players wanted to see. The result is a game coming out soon that is a lot more ambitious than originally conceived. The game is set to have mini-games, an expanded skill tree, and even English voice acting and an alternate version of the main character to play as.

Combat in The White Raven has players taking advantage of nearby terrain, friendly unit placement, and magical abilities to bring down enemies. All of this works together on maps filled with a variety of obstacles, or helpful tools, that are rendered with beautiful pixel art. A collection of characters will tell an interesting story of a young shaman living in a mystical open-world filled with dangers, with a variety of interactions outside of combat that offer different plot details and lore. The game has some really good-looking animations for characters as they move and attack opposing units in combat, with designs that are inspired by a variety of anime-esque stories. The White Raven is planned for a PC and console release, but not many details are concrete about when it will officially be coming out.

2 Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II

Destroy the interlopers

The Warhammer 40,000 universe has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. Between multiple game releases, an animated short on Amazon Prime, and an upcoming live-action movie, things are looking pretty exciting for Warhammer fans. But in the midst of everything else, a sequel to the 2018 title Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus is set to come out sometime in 2025. Planned for a console and PC release, Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II has players taking control of one of two factions and fighting for domination. Each faction has a campaign and a unique style of gameplay that will distinguish them from the other, allowing for a different experience depending on which faction is being played. The original game had a variety of units with a range of abilities to strategically take control of areas and manage resources, as well as upgrade augments to power up units and deliver even more pain to the opposition.

The story of Mechanicus II involves the return of Vargard Nefershah and her legion of Necrons, as they try to destroy interlopers who settled upon her world. At the same time, Magos Dominus Faustinius is enlisted to fight the Necrons and prevent them from succeeding. The struggle for dominance brings out an all-out war between the factions, something that fits well within the tone and themes of the Warhammer 40,000 universe. While there is no specific date for Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II to come out, publisher Kasedo Games did reveal that fans should expect to see the game in 2025.

1 The Way of Wrath

Forge your path

In a harsh wilderness riddled with war, one can only do what is necessary for their people to survive. In The Way of Wrath, everything from hunting and fishing to performing rituals is vital to be prepared for what could be incoming annihilation by rival tribes in just ten days. At its heart, The Way of Wrath is a turn-based tactical RPG where you take control of a tribe as their war chief. But it's not just the lingering enemies that pose a major threat. The harsh winter environment will require you to partake in a number of activities to ensure the survival of your people. This means gathering food, crafting items and clothing, and knowing key points to gather resources for even more perks. And if that wasn't hard enough, keeping the trust of people can factor into everything. Delegating disputes and caring for the tribe are important parts of maintaining order within it, otherwise things can get even more dire.

Battles in The Way of Wrath can be vicious with their primal theme, involving an emphasis on smart tactics against enemies and knowing the layout of the field. Crafting tools like bombs and other weapons can give you an edge in combat, but taking advantage of other factors like enemy superstitions and positioning around them will go even further. Every fight can be a difficult struggle for survival, but being prepared and planning ahead for challenges is vital to approaching every situation. The game is being developed by Animmal and being published by Hooded Horse, with a planned release in 2025 for PC on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

Tactically ready for anything

As more games are set to release throughout 2025, there's going to be many options for everyone to choose from. Those who are looking for experiences that can test their tactical prowess will have some great titles to look forward to. While there are many more tactical and turn-based games with upcoming releases in and out of 2025, these three games are definitely worth looking into for any fan of the genre. Just be ready to think over every move you make within them before executing a plan.