Updated September 2026
This is the ranking of the best Tactical RPGs, sorted by NextGameLike Score: a 0-100 metric blending Steam reviews, IGDB ratings (community and critic), Metacritic, OpenCritic and the NextGameLike community votes into a single number. Unlike opinion-based editorial lists, this order is computed from real data and applies a Bayesian shrinkage adjustment so games with few reviews can't inflate the top of the chart. Undertale, Tabletop Simulator and Pokémon FireRed Version lead the chart — the highest-rated titles in the genre according to our data. The top-25 average NextGameLike Score is 87/100, out of 50 games catalogued. The ranking updates continuously as new reviews and votes come in.
Top 3
Top of “The 20 Best Tactical RPG Games (2026)”: Undertale (91.8/100). Close behind: Tabletop Simulator and Pokémon FireRed Version.
Ranked by NextGameLike Score · 50 games catalogued
Players and critics agree on Undertale, which is rarer than it sounds in Tactical RPGs. It is the most reviewed of the 20: 323,051 Steam reviews. Hence the first place.
Tabletop Simulator is here because of its players — they are who it won over. No other entry of the 20 has a higher share of positive reviews: 96%. That puts it at number 2.
Pokémon FireRed Version has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. That puts it at number 3.
EarthBound has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It is the oldest game in the ranking (1994) and still here. Number 4, inside the top 10.
Pokémon SoulSilver Version earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 5.
Suikoden II earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 6.
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 7.
Pokémon Silver Version has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. Number 8, inside the top 10.
Mother 3 earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 9.
Pokémon Blue Version earns its place on presence rather than on a score. That gets it into the top 10, at number 10.
Pokémon HeartGold Version earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 11 of 20.
No argument here: Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales wins over players and critics alike. It is the newest on the list (2018), and has already earned its place. It sits at 12 of 20.
Pokémon Y earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 13 of 20.
Pokémon Black Version has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 14 of 20.
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 15 of 20.
Pokémon Alpha Sapphire earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 16 of 20.
Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 17 of 20.
Pokémon X has little in the way of ratings and a great deal of standing. It lands at 18 of 20.
Pokémon Sapphire Version earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 19 of 20.
Heroes of Might and Magic II: The Succession Wars earns its place on presence rather than on a score. It sits at 20 of 20.