Turn-based tactics RPGs have long been a popular, if niche, genre. At their best they provide more strategic combat than traditional RPGs, and a wide array of character options for customization in and out of battle. Recently the genre has been picking up a lot of steam. Some of its best releases in years have made their way to PC and console, and more are on the way. The Fallout franchise had one of the earlier entries in the genre with Fallout Tactics in 2001. Now that the genre is in somewhat of a renaissance twenty years later, it could be a perfect time for a revival.
Fallout Tactics was the third game in the franchise and the first spin-off title from the original Fallout. Set in a decimated Chicago, the game iterates on the core of the original games with grid-based combat and exploration. Players take control of a customizable crew of characters and set out into the wasteland. While it has many similarities, Fallout Tactics uses its now-iconic S.P.E.C.I.A.Lsystem that's built on the GURPS RPG system instead of D&D like Final Fantasy Tactics. The games do share some mechanical similarities though, and the resurgence of FF Tactics online means it could be a good time for Fallout Tactics to make a comeback.
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Fallout Tactics Could be Part of the Tactics Renaissance
There are a lot of newer games in the TRPG space, and the popularity of XCOM was partly responsible for this boost. Fallout Tactics recently came to Xbox Game Pass for PC alongside the other original Fallout games. This is adding another quality tactics game to an already impressive line-up for Game Pass that includes Gears Tactics, Phoenix Point, and Disgaea.
Game Pass is a great service for fans of the genre, and its likely to only receive more titles in the future. The recently announced Marvel's Midnight Suns has also generated a lot of excitement since its Gamescom 2021 announcement. Developed by the same team that designed XCOM, the game hasn't shown off any gameplay as of yet, but it's confirmed to be in the same vein as previous games.
This climate could be a perfect spot for a new Fallout Tactics. Several older properties are set to enter the space like the nostalgia-heavy Metal Slug Tactics, and Fallout could benefit from the same approach. After the multiplayer-centric Fallout 76, many fans are eager for another single-player experience with a focus on narrative and exploring the wasteland. A new Fallout Tactics could be a great appetizer before the inevitable Fallout 5, and could be put together quickly compared to a full-scale Fallout. That's not to say the game wouldn't be an undertaking – to be successful, it would need to be much more than the original Fallout Tactics with a new coat of paint.
But the climate is looking like a great one for tactics RPGs. The classic FF Tactics has gained new life on Twitch, and great offerings in the space are currently available on PC and console alike. New games like Metal Slug Tactics and Marvel's Midnight Suns also point toward publisher confidence in the genre. It would be great to see Bethesda take a stab in the arena with a new Fallout Tactics.
Fallout Tactics is now available on Xbox Game Pass for PC.
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