I played Knight’s of Pen and Paper (and 2) and enjoyed it quite a bit, even though, I don’t usually like turn-based RPGs. And I think I figured out exactly what about that game made me enjoy it - there’s no walking. I mean, there’s no world, where you control a single character and can move in any direction, all there is is a map, you click on a location and your party is there. So I’m looking for a turn-based party RPG with no walking. Anyone know of any such games?
You should look into Gloomhaven. It’s a 1 to 1 recreation of a board game. It’s really good imo, but I will warn you that it’s also REALLY hard. You really have to think about you turns and plan ahead to make it very far, but if you like grimdark fantasy I highly recommend it.
Someone else recommended Darkest Dungeon. Any time I see it I also recommend Iratus: Lord of the Dead. It’s a similar game but has a much more forgiving learning curve, less grind, and IMO is much more customizable. Both are excellent though. Iratus uses a nav map much more akin to slay the spire, so no “walking”, just click and it goes, and you can route plan ahead. DD is similar but you do walk through parts of the dungeons from room to room.
Also check out Symphony of War, which is an old school style strategy RPG. Maybe not quite what you’re looking for but I’d argue more similar in style than not, and the “walking” I think of from your post is 100% absent from this game.
Turn-based tactics are my jam, although I don’t usually mind the world-walking. Some of my recommendations:
Fae Tactics - Pixel Graphics with a heavy emphasis on the tactics combat. It reminds me a little of a deck-builder in some ways, in that you can change your party composition very quickly and easily if a battle is failed.
Battletech - Battle mecha in turn-based combat. If you like that aesthetic, I think it’s a fantastic game.
Phantom Doctrine - Cold War spy tactics. I wouldn’t say this is an objectively great game, but I was a big fan mostly because of I love stealth tactics and that setting.
Valkyria Chronicles - A little different in that it’s third person and very… japanese I guess. Although there is some uniqueness to the units, it doesn’t quite have as much “party RPG” feel, but could be worth a look.
Triangle Strategy - Pixel art as well, this is very much a party tactics RPG. Personally, I think the actual combat mechanics are fine, but not mind-blowing, but this one has more emphasis on story and branching paths.
XCOM Chimera Squad - A bite-sized version of XCOM just focused on the combat.
Banner Saga Series - Norse themed tactics game, mostly focused on the tactics combat. Beautiful artwork.
Massive Chalice - Unique tactics game. The game is multigenerational, so the gameplay in between battles is focused on building strong family lines to get good units in the future.
Othercide - Pure tactics gameplay with some rogue like aspects
Alita if the Arena - Full rogue like tactics game, with some really interesting and well-designed mechanics. Is a deck-builder in addition to a tactics game, which may be a deal breaker for some.
