Tactical RPG

Tactical RPGs are games that cross elements of the strategy and RPG (most often JRPG) genres. Like RPGs, players level up character stats and are usually given a limited party, but there is a distinct lack of exploration as many games flow from large sections of character dialogue and story progression straight to long, playable combat sequences.

Most tactical RPGs are turn-based games where characters move around a grid-based battlefield. Characters are limited in how far they can move around the grid and can normally only make one action at a time, although some games allow multiple actions depending on how turns work in them. Players can employ different strategies and use the environment around them to their advantage, such as bottle-necking in a castle corridor or flanking an enemy force. Battles in tactical RPGs generally have specific goals that need to be completed in order to win, such as defeating a certain foe, retrieving an item or surviving for a set number of turns. Outside of battle, players can train and improve their characters and change their equipment and/or classes, depending on the game.

Bokosuka Wars [ボコスカウォーズ] is considered the game to first lay down the foundation of the tactical RPG genre, while some of the most popular franchises since include Final Fantasy Tactics [ファイナルファンタジータクティクス], Fire Emblem [ファイアーエムブレム], Ogre Battle [オウガバトルサーガ] and Disgaea [魔界戦記ディスガイア].