Is turn-based combat really dead?

How do you feel about turn-based combat? Recent games like Bravely Default, Undertale and Persona show that people still like and enjoy games with turn-based combat? Why do people fight the idea of turn-based combat coming back to games like Final Fantasy, or even newer or existing IPs, when the formula still proves to be popular and engaging today?

Just next year, we are getting:

• Persona 5
• Dragon Quest VII
• Dragon Quest VIII
• Dragon Quest XI
• Bravely Second
• Fire Emblem Fates
• Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Wings
• XCOM 2
• Shin Megami Tensei IV FINAL
• Etrian Odyssey V
• Divinity: Original Sin 2

Plus the fact that Pokemon remains one of the highest selling games on the market.

I'm going to say that no, it is not dead. In fact, I'd say it's making a comeback.

No. Turn based combat is coming back and becoming stronger. Can't wait for DOS 2.

@charizard1605: I'm inclined to agree. I still see tons of people fighting it though. I was really trying to understand why? Some of my fondest memories of gaming are games that include turn-based combat (Legend of Dragoon comes to mind). I'm happy to see it returning and just question why people still fight it?

And yes, I would consider Original Sin 1 and 2 turn-based. And I think you meant Dragon Quest VII and VIII. However, I question the validity of Ni no Kuni being turn-based.

Dude, me too. OS 1 rocked!

I added another few games to my list. But yes. Turn based combat is still around here. Pity Square Enix (well, the FF side, anyway) cannot see that.

It was my 2014's GOTY. Divinity: Original Sin 2 seems to be everything that I want from RPG. A kickass combat system, no handholding, sandbox levels, great encounters, excellent mission design with a lot of freedom and......... now all of that on steroids and Chris Avellone's writing. Hell yeah, baby.

I don't think so. Franchises such as Dragon Quest, Pokemon and Persona are keeping turn based combat alive and relevant (and extremely enjoyable), and games such as Persona 5, Ni No Kuni 2, Fire Emblem: Fates, Bravely Second and DQ 11 next year are going to work towards that as well.

yes it's dead. it's a completely outdated combat system

No genre of game really dies although people do get tired of them and they go away fro awhile. It just needs that 1 game to spark the interest back and then you have the devs spitting out more and more of that genre of games. Turn base will came back as soon as anyone thinks.

But why? What makes it dead to you?

It's an old archaic combat system. Even FF has ditched it. games that use it now are just lazy. even south park SoT made fun of itself for using it. It was the one negative in an otherwise surprisingly good game

No. The best game of 2014 is turned based. Divinity: OS. Next year, PC users get OS 2 and XCOM 2 to look forward to.

There has always been a sub section of gamers that believe turn based combat is archaic, or simply has no place in gaming. They typically have a gross misunderstanding of how turn based games work, or they flat out dislike those types of games and feel like "if I don't like them then they must suck."

I file these idiots under the same category as people who think 2d games have no place in modern gaming.

It's funny seeing as you'll find more turn based rpgs with quality gameplay than you'll find with action rpgs that typically have sub par gameplay. Just as 2d tends to be more suitable for good platformers and fighting games than their 3d counterparts.

But there are just people of the mindset that if it was a standard way back then, then it must be dated now.

Absolutely.

Hear Hear! Larian claims D:OS 2 will be to the first game what Baldur's Gate 2 was to BG1, I've got sky high hype considering how good Original Sin was. I really wonder how the console versions did though of that and Wasteland 2. If XCOM was any indicator probably not well.

@darkangel115: And, arguably, since Final Fantasy has ditched turned-based combat, it's become a worse series for doing so.

Turned-based seems prevalent on portable hardware but I have a feeling that if a game were designed today for consoles and PC with today's graphical prowess that it would be immensely popular.

My friends for example think turn based games are not "fast paced" enough for them. I for one love turn based games. Looking forward to 2016. Lots of offerings this time around.

Simply put, no. I feel like turn-based video games will continue to evolve - this is evident with a game like Atlas Reactor on the horizon, in the name of keeping things short, I recommend checking it out to get an understanding of what I mean.

A considerable chunk of gamers are casuals, and casuals refuse to find enjoyment out of anything that isn't a sports game or a "Cinematic First and/or Third Person" Shooter.

Even though cinematic experiences should be left to the Film Industry, and Gaming should be a different experience all together.

Considering that Underrail was released not too long ago and has already solidified its position as a cult classic. I doubt it.

Wait... is it actually going to be turn based this time?

It is slow fck gameplay

I've never hated turn based combat. Personally I've hated games that auto-level the character for me and are on to much of a predetermined character class path.

It's not dead, but for some reason the AAA sector of the industry has turned it's back on it. It's honestly quite sad. I've been getting into JRPG's lately and have to say that turn based combat can be very satisfying when done right. The issue is that the casual audience want faster games, which is why pretty much all AAA RPGs are action RPGs now, while most turn-based games along with real time combat games are being abandoned. People apparently rather have a sloppy Elders Scrolls/Fallout style combat game with floaty controls, rather than an engrossing strategic turn based game.

I have and will probably always enjoy turn based games.

I even like turn based strategy games which is what I thought this thread was about.

yeah for portable it's fine due to limitation but not for consoles/PC games

Not enough AWESOME ACTION for the kiddies and casuals who just want to spam the left-click button/headshot noobs until the world explodes and they're covered in a pile of steaming bullshit achievements that tells them how great they are and how fantastic it was that they were able to push that left-click button/no scope enough to kill monster/online player #8654476596

Strategy games in general do not do well on console. XCOM EU was a great game and console players did not care. Everything else was in place. It's the game of chess the console players despise. No one likes to think anymore. It's why games like Warhammer and Civ have a slim shot of porting.

Turn based combat is typically very boring, and games that have them usually shine in some other aspect.

Jagged Alliance, Magic: The Gathering, Scrolls, X-COM, Chess, Final Fantasy Tactics, Divinity: Original Sin, Wizardry, Invisible Inc, Pokemon, Shin Megami Tensei, NEO Scavanger, Temple of Elemental Evil had bad combat?

RTwP has only 1 good combat system (7.62 Calibre) under its belt. And that game was pretty niche.

Action RPGs have been a bit more successful with Dark Messiah, Souls, Dragons Dogma, Ys and Mountain Blade. But outside of those games, it has been nonstop crap.

The only good ATB game is Labyrinth of Touhou 1 and 2.

This isn't even slightly true. If you'd played the likes of Fire Emblem, XCOM, Pokemon or Dragon Quest- to name just a few- you'd know that, just like real time combat, turn based combat can be excellent if it is done right. You can point to games like Dragon Age or Oblivion and make a case for real time combat being clunky and broken, but that would be just as untrue as what you said.

The people in this thread who have zero idea of all the turn based combat games that are streaming out at the minute. Think I bought 4 on this steam sale alone.

It was created because of technical limitations at the time of development, not because it's some type of good combat system, it's a product of its time.

Nope, more games than ever next year.

No simply different. It allows a tactical approach vs an action one. Its like comparing mount and blade to total war, I love both types of battles but they are very different.

I think you missed the point of my comment, turn based combat was invented because of technical limitations at the time of its inception, it was the best method of combat for its time.

Looking at game releases it's not dead

And XCOM 2.

Random encounters are a product of technical limitations, sure.

Turn based combat is just a system of play and action type games already existed when turn based video games were in their early days.

turn based is no more tactical then action. It's just slower and lets you take your time making it less tactical IMO

There was no action supplement at the inception of turn based combat that could provide the level of options turn based could in an RPG, that is why it was made, technical limitations of every other form of combat.

That is no longer a reality.

I disagree, it came about because RPG's copied tabletop games.

And its fine when your opinion is wrong ;P

Turn based combat is fine. Some like it and some don't.

I'm pretty sure Bravery Default did pretty damn well, as well as other examples brought up in this thread.

For me, turn-based is fine and I am okay with it making a comeback or being prevalent. One thing I'd be okay with never returning is random battles mixed with high encounter rates though.

Dude, it's a type of gameplay that pre-dates video gaming. It's a type of gameplay that even without the technical limitations of the past, still can't be offered in action form with a shred of its complexities. Nothing has changed in that respect. They both have their strengths and weaknesses now, just as they did back then.

Of course it pre-dates video games, however it was conceived in video game form as the best method of combat for its time with RPG's, in action games those levels of intricacy were impossible AT THE TIME. You have just as many combat options now in action form that completely negate the need or existence of turned based, its entire point in NEEDING to exist has been negated by games like Skyrim which offer just as many if not more options with real-time control.

This doesn't mean you can't like turn based, but to deny its lack of necessity these days is ridiculous.

It isn't dead as others have said, but it is not "mainstream" like open world games or fps where they sell tons of copies in the first week of release.

It's nowhere near as popular as it used to be, but there are plenty of games out there with turn-based combat. Some great... Some not so much.

I'm glad you are happy with your wrong opinion ;)