Shining Force I & II

If tactical RPGs have always tempted you but Fire Emblem felt like a harsh test of nerves, Shining Force is the right gateway. This pair of turn-based tactics games released by Sega offers all the charm of the genre without its sharpest edges — and that is exactly why it won over an army of fans.

At its core is grid-based turn-based tactics, where you pit heroes against enemies while watching ranges, terrain and turn order. But Shining Force adds something extra: between battles you explore towns, talk to people, shop and, above all, recruit new members into your army. Over time you gather dozens of fighters of all sorts of professions, from knights through mages to downright bizarre creatures.

Compared with the harsher representatives of the genre, Shining Force is more welcoming — fallen allies can be revived, progress is readable, and the game does not punish you for a single mistake by taking away a favorite character forever. That makes it an ideal textbook of tactics without losing its strategic juice.

The studio Climax was involved in development, and the charismatic fantasy world together with the well-tuned pacing turned these games into evergreens. The second game is in many ways more expansive and more refined — a bigger army, a more elaborate story and better battles — so releasing both parts together is a little treasure chest of tactical adventure.

The Shining series later branched out into many forms, but this original tactical line remains what fans remember most fondly.

Why play: Approachable, readable and charismatic turn-based tactics that teach you to love the genre instead of driving you away from it.