If you're searching for an upcoming turn based RPG, the strongest watchlist is not simply a release calendar. The projects most worth tracking pair deliberate turn order with party building, resource management and story decisions that can affect more than a line of dialogue. Solasta II and Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II target tactical planners, while Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate and Threads of Time suit classic party-RPG tastes; Mewgenics offers a more unusual systems-first direction. Development plans can move, so compare each game's combat model, customization, evidence of meaningful choice, platform support and current status before you spend money.
The phrase “turn-based RPG” covers several different experiences. A grid-based tactical game may ask you to manage cover, elevation, movement range and line of sight, while a command-driven adventure may focus on party weaknesses, elemental effects and the order in which abilities are used. Some newer games add timed blocks, interrupts or reaction commands without abandoning turn order.
Good combat creates trade-offs. Spending a powerful ability on a weaker enemy may leave the party exposed when a stronger opponent arrives, while moving a character to safety may mean giving up an attack. The system becomes more engaging when enemies have distinct behaviours and the player has several credible responses instead of one dominant solution.
Customization should work in the same way. A class, skill tree or piece of equipment matters when it changes how you approach a fight, supports a different party role or creates a useful interaction with another character. Story choices deserve the same scrutiny. A different line of dialogue is a small variation; a changed alliance, quest route, companion relationship, resource supply or battle situation shows deeper reactivity.
The projects below represent different interpretations of the genre. They should not be treated as a ranked release schedule. Each has been publicly announced or associated with ongoing development updates, but its timing, platforms and final feature set may change.
| Project | Core combat appeal | Party or story angle | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solasta II | Party-based, grid-focused tactical planning | Character creation and campaign-style party play | Players who enjoy detailed encounters |
| Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II | Faction-based turn-based tactics | Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron campaigns | Sci-fi strategy fans |
| Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate | Traditional command-driven RPG framework | Mainline Dragon Quest adventure | Classic JRPG players willing to wait for details |
| Threads of Time | Retro-inspired turn-based party battles | Time-spanning adventure | Players who enjoy classic RPG structure |
| Mewgenics | Turn-based tactical experimentation | Cat breeding, party management and unusual progression | Players who prefer systems-driven RPGs |
Solasta II is presented as a party-focused tactical RPG from Tactical Adventures. Its main appeal is the space between character creation and battlefield execution: a strong team should come from complementary roles, and a well-built party still needs to use movement, abilities and resources intelligently.
Choose this project if you enjoy studying an encounter before committing to a plan. It is less suitable for players who want a largely automatic battle system or a fast, cinematic adventure with little party management. Before buying, look for confirmed information about campaign scope, difficulty options, co-operative features and how much freedom the final character-building system provides.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II is the watchlist option for players who want turn-based combat with a strong science-fiction faction identity. Its announced focus on Adeptus Mechanicus and Necron campaigns gives the project a clear contrast between opposing forces rather than presenting every unit as a variation on the same party role.
The game sits closer to tactical strategy than to a free-roaming fantasy RPG, which makes it a good fit for players who care about positioning, objectives and battlefield control. It may be a weaker match if your priority is a large social hub, relationship-heavy dialogue or open-ended exploration. Gameplay footage should answer practical questions about movement rules, cover, mission variety and progression between battles.
Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate belongs on this list because it is a numbered mainline Dragon Quest project announced by Square Enix. That makes it particularly relevant to players who want a familiar command-driven party RPG, but detailed information about its final combat systems and release plans should not be filled in with rumours.
Its likely audience is the player who values a structured adventure, memorable party roles and a classic JRPG rhythm more than a tactical grid. If you need deep confirmed skill trees, branching endings or a near-term launch, wait for clearer gameplay information. The sensible approach is to follow Square Enix's own updates and judge the finished system rather than assuming that a long-running series will remain unchanged.
Riyo Games' Threads of Time is built around a time-spanning premise and a classic turn-based RPG structure. That combination gives it an immediate appeal for players who enjoy party adventures with a strong sense of place, changing eras and a traditional relationship between exploration, battles and character progression.
The time-travel concept is an attractive setting, but it does not automatically mean the story will branch in substantial ways. If choices matter to you, look for evidence that decisions can change routes, companions, alliances or endings rather than simply alter a few conversations. It is a promising watch for fans of retro-inspired RPGs, with the usual limitation that the final balance between nostalgia, exploration and modern systems still needs to be demonstrated.
Mewgenics, associated with Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, takes the turn-based tactical RPG in a deliberately unusual direction by centring its concept on cats, breeding and team development. That premise makes it stand apart from the fantasy kingdoms and space armies that dominate many RPG announcements.
This is the project to watch if you enjoy experimenting with builds and seeing how party composition creates new tactical problems. It may not suit someone looking primarily for a conventional heroic narrative with fixed companions and a straightforward quest structure. Check how progression, management systems, difficulty and long-term team development work before deciding whether its unusual theme matches the kind of RPG you actually want to play.
Artwork and story premises can make two games look similar even when their battles feel completely different. Identify the combat model first, especially if you have previously abandoned a turn-based game because it felt too slow or too demanding.
Grid systems make position a central resource. Moving one character out of danger may block another character's attack, expose a flank or leave an objective undefended. Solasta II and Mechanicus II are the clearest watchlist examples for this style. Choose it if you enjoy planning several turns ahead and accepting that a poor opening move may affect the rest of the encounter.
Menu-based systems usually put more emphasis on selecting attacks, exploiting weaknesses and managing the party as a group. They can still be complex when enemies resist different elements, interrupt a plan or punish careless resource use. Dragon Quest XII and Threads of Time are the more natural choices for this tradition, although the confirmed details of any unreleased project should take priority over assumptions based on earlier games.
Some RPGs add timed reactions, active blocks, interrupts or other inputs during a turn. These features can make combat feel more immediate, but they also change what the player must concentrate on. If you want a faster experience, check whether these actions are central to every battle, optional assistance, or limited to specific abilities. A hybrid label alone does not tell you whether the game will feel relaxed or demanding.
Marketing language often promises freedom, deep progression and consequential decisions. Use the following process to separate a genuinely flexible RPG from one that only offers cosmetic variety.
There is no single best choice because the games target different preferences. Solasta II is the stronger match for party tactics, Mechanicus II for faction-based science-fiction battles, and Dragon Quest XII or Threads of Time for players who prefer a more traditional party-RPG structure.
Both emphasise turn-based tactical combat, but they are not identical. Solasta II is closer to a party-focused adventure with character-building decisions, while Mechanicus II is more closely tied to faction-based tactical strategy and battlefield objectives.
Yes. Fast pacing comes from clear interfaces, brisk animations, meaningful enemy turns and decisions that do not require excessive menu navigation. Hybrid reactions or timed inputs can add urgency, but they may also make the game more demanding, so watch full gameplay rather than relying on the genre label.
Look for examples that connect decisions to more than dialogue. Changes to companion loyalty, faction relationships, available quests, exploration routes, battle conditions, resources or endings are stronger evidence than a general promise that the story will react to you.
Pre-ordering makes sense only when the confirmed combat model, platform support and current development status already match your priorities. If those details are still vague, waiting for a full gameplay demonstration or reliable launch information gives you a clearer basis for the decision and avoids paying for a version built around assumptions.
The right upcoming turn based RPG depends on the decisions you want to make. Start with combat: choose grid tactics for detailed positioning, command-driven battles for classic party management, or a hybrid system if you want more active input. Then inspect customization and look for clear evidence that choices affect allies, quests or battles. That approach will produce a more useful watchlist than any release countdown.
