Templar Battleforce (v2.7.20)

Leviathan battle mechs, righteous knightly soldiers, and hostile alien worlds give Templar Battleforce a satisfyingly old-school science-fiction flavor. It is a turn-based tactical RPG built around leading a hand-picked Templar squad through a galaxy threatened by Xenos, renegade humans, and an ancient enemy whose presence grows throughout the campaign. The tone is grim and militaristic, but the focus stays on disciplined battlefield problem-solving rather than cinematic spectacle. Every mission asks whether careful positioning, a timely retreat, or one aggressive push can keep your veterans alive.

Combat unfolds on grid-based maps where facing, cover, range, action points, and overwatch all matter. You recruit specialists such as Scouts, Soldiers, Engineers, Hydras, Berserks, and turret-focused units, then shape their roles with equipment, talents, armor choices, and fireteam synergies. One squad might ambush foes with stealth and grenades, while another locks down corridors with flamers and sentry guns; neither approach works everywhere. Missions range from close-quarters ship assaults and defensive holds to open-area engagements, infiltration jobs, capture-point battles, retreats, boss encounters, and puzzle-like tactical challenges, keeping the lengthy campaign from becoming routine.

Its strongest feature is the degree of control it gives over a relatively small force: individual Templars develop into valuable assets, and losses or poor builds can have consequences across later operations. The scenario variety and large enemy roster demand adaptation, while New Game+ lets a successful roster return for another harder run with different squad concepts. Visually, it favors functional 2D tactical readability over flashy presentation, but the dense systems reward patience and repeated experimentation. Players who enjoy the deliberate squad management of XCOM, the cramped firefights of Space Hulk, or classic turn-based wargames will find plenty to like, though newcomers should expect a demanding learning curve rather than a casual strategy romp.