5. Slay the Spire (PS4)

Slay the Spire is a roguelike deckbuilder, something that many might shy away from, but it's fantastic. Each character has their own pool of cards you may find on each run, and you can discover some amazing synergies that'll see you wiping the floor with enemies. With so many random elements and new strategies to find, the replay value is through the roof. Its art isn't the greatest, but it's a seriously smartly designed game from top to bottom.

4. South Park: The Fractured But Whole (PS4)

What do you get if you cross Ubisoft, superheroes, and a bunch of foul-mouthed friends made of felt? The answer is South Park: The Fractured But Whole, of course. This sequel to the also brilliant South Park: The Stick of Truth swaps out fantasy for modern vigilante justice, as your custom character joins forces with Cartman's crew to fight evil. Featuring strategic turn-based combat, the titular town to explore, and all the absurd humour you'd expect, this is a highly entertaining game for fans and newcomers.

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3. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (PS4)

Vanillaware's immaculate track record could have easily gone off the rails with 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim — a visual novel and strategy hybrid that's a far cry from the action RPGs that the studio has become known for. But the finished product is arguably the developer's most impactful game yet. Fantastic characters and a an utterly gripping narrative make 13 Sentinels a borderline masterpiece in terms of storytelling. A genuine treat for your eyes and your brain.

2. Valkyria Chronicles Remastered (PS4)

SEGA's painterly strategy series all started with the original Valkyria Chronicles — a touching wartime tale which follows the brilliantly named Welkin Gunther. Under his command, Squad 7 looks to protect its homeland against the seemingly unstoppable empire. In its lovely visual style and engaging tactical gameplay, Valkyria Chronicles quickly established itself as a modern classic in the strategy RPG genre, and this remaster is the best way to play it on PlayStation.

1. XCOM 2 (PS4)

The inspiration for many console strategy games these days, XCOM 2 is a superb tactics title that taxes your grey matter and forces you to think thoughtfully about any and every decision you make. With real consequences on the line, this is not for the faint of heart – but that’s what makes it so utterly involving from start-to-finish.