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3 Best Japanese Strategy Games 2025

Strategy is a genre that is often forgotten when people talk about the impact specific genres have had on the gaming landscape. Which is nothing short of disrespect as it has been single handledly been responsible for some of the best games of the last few decades. And while it might not be the shining beacon it was in its golden age. It still stands as a core pillar of the gaming industry, as it also has given birth to subgenres that have grown into full-fledged genres of their own. However due to its vast nature, many might find the task of finding a good game tedious. So to help out with that I have compiled a list of the best strategy games developed by Japanese studios down below. Which will provide you with the perfect jumping-off point to explore the genre.


Table of Contents

1. The Touhou Empires
   
2. Unicorn Overlord
   
3. Triangle Strategy
   

The Touhou Empires

Figure 1-1. The Touhou Empires

In a discussion of strategy games, a name sure to be mentioned is The Age of Empires. As it is single-handedly responsible for revolutionizing the strategy genre alongside Starcraft. This is exactly why when a small Japanese game developer announced it was gonna be making a strategy game harking back to these classics, with the premise set in the infamous Touhou series gamers could not help but be hyped. With due reason, the Touhou series in recent years has gained massive popularity with the plethora of games to have come out. It also coincides with the re-popularization of the RTS genre as a whole. Meaning that Neetpia the developers of the game selected the perfect time to merge them both to create Touhou Empires. A game that from the released media seems to be a more optimized and modern take on the classics, with a healthy dose of quality-of-life changes to elevate the genre as a whole to a new level. Plus the narrative of the game will also be faithful to the lore of the Touhou series meaning we might get to see fan-favorite characters in an all-new setting. So if you wish to get the game, wishlist it on Steam as it is an exclusive there.

Figure 1-2. The Touhou Empires Gameplay

Unicorn Overlord

Figure 2-1. Unicorn Overlord

Next, we have a game from a developer that has gone under the radar for many years now, but with its recent release players are finally giving it the attention it deserves. It is none other than Vanillaware, and their latest release Unicorn Overlord developed alongside Atlus has taken the strategy genre by storm. With valid reasons, as the game perfectly blends the tactical nature of a Real-Time Tactics game with a gripping narrative that will have you walking the fine line between righteousness and desperation. All of this coupled with the stellar art direction and unique art style Vanillaware has become known for. Speaking of the gameplay strictly, it is comprised of many smaller complex mechanics that play off of each other to stimulate a wartime environment. Complete with resource depletion, unit fatigue, and formations. The real-time aspect with a dedicated time limit, ensures that the battles are never stale. But what elevates it to a new level is the way the story intermingles with the gameplay ensuring that each decision taken in the narrative has major effects. So if you also wish to experience this tactical masterpiece, get it now on all major consoles other than Windows and Android.

Figure 2-2. Unicorn Overlord Gameplay

Triangle Strategy

Figure 3-1. Triangle Strategy

Last on the list we have one of the most unique games to have come in recent years, for the tactical turn-based genre. It is none other than Triangle Strategy, which was developed by the acclaimed studio Square Enix. Now while on the surface it might seem like a standard run-of-the-mile turn-based game, the kind the developer is popular for. It takes but a glance to see the sheer effort that went into making this game the best turn-based tactical game since the release of Final Fantasy Tactics. Which is no small feat, but I guess having the same developer helped. But the reason why it is so unique is the decision system which is divided into three scales. Each of these takes every small decision taken by the player and weighs it against destiny to determine the conclusion of the story. Not only that this also affects the combat potential of units and the kind of units one can recruit in the future. So if you wish to experience a narrative unlike any other with solid tactical turn-based combat reminiscent of the classics, then Triangle Strategy is the game for you. You can find it now on all major platforms.

Figure 3-2. Triangle Strategy Gameplay

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