What are the best combat- and C&C-fag games (ideally turn-based)?

[Zed Duke of Banville]

Forgotten but Unbroken (2024) - Historical WWII setting for squad-based tactics game

Not RPG.

Hence the label "squad-based tactics game" (as with several other games listed), but reading comprehension evidently isn't your strong point.


Upon re-reading the OP, it seems he wasn't asking about recent games specifically, so Dark Sun: Shattered Lands and Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager should be high up there for combining C&C with tactical, turn-based combat.

 

[Nifft Batuff]

Underrail (exploration, tb combat)
Rogue Trader (c&c, tb combat)
Pathfinder: WotR (c&c, tb/rtwp combat)
Age of Decadence (c&c, tb combat)
Colony Ship (c&c, tb combat)
Baldur's Gate 3 (exploration, c&c, tb combat)

 

[Herumor]

Wasteland 2
Expeditions Conquistador
Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
Shadowrun: Dragonfall

 

[Camel]

Forgotten but Unbroken (2024) - Historical WWII setting for squad-based tactics game

Not RPG.

Hence the label "squad-based tactics game" (as with several other games listed), but reading comprehension evidently isn't your strong point.


Upon re-reading the OP, it seems he wasn't asking about recent games specifically, so Dark Sun: Shattered Lands and Dark Sun 2: Wake of the Ravager should be high up there for combining C&C with tactical, turn-based combat.

OP asked C&C and exploration, you autist. But your programming doesn’t account for that.

 

[ClaviculaZ]

Well, combat and C&C (or the simulation thereof) are the most important aspects to me, so that's fine as well.
From the aforementioned games, I have played Expeditions Conquistador which I enjoyed, a bit of Wasteland 2 (didn't really get into the atmosphere of the game; the third part would probably be better suited), and Shadowrun Returns (instead of Dragonfall) which annoyed me quite a bit with its "too cool for school" dialogues, but otherwise seemed quite promising. I have actually bought most of the other games as well at one point in time after reading positive reviews here, but due to time constraints my backlog is now gigantic and it's always good to avoid getting into a game for hours just to finally conclude that it doesn't really fit the criteria.

 

[Zed Duke of Banville]

OP asked C&C and exploration, you autist. But your programming doesn’t account for that.

What are the best combat- and C&C-fag games (ideally turn-based)?​

The thread-title asks for combat and C&C, not exploration; although exploration is mentioned in the opening post, it's more focused on turn-based, tactical combat and on C&C, as he's made explicit in his new post. You dim-witted dotard.

 

[Darth Canoli]

I still love the RPG elements of, for instance, the early Fallouts.
I've also played a bit of TOEE lately which was pretty nice, albeit Hommlet feels empty as hell and why are there even staircases to run up when there will be absolutely nothing inside for 90% of the time?

ToEE
Hommlet was a mistake but the rest of the game is pretty good, particularly from the second floor of the Temple with the elemental priests rivalry.
So don't give on ToEE just yet.
If you get back to ToEE, consider using the Temple+ mod for more classes and races variety, it's a game changer, this and the optional rules.

Colony Ship seems to be right up your alley
C&C, interesting character development and tough tactical combat is what awaits you.
But combat is really tough so you might want to start with something more relaxed.
If you do like Colony Ship, you should consider playing Age of Decadence and Dungeons Rats (dungeon rats is pure tactical combat and dungeon crawler like (but with isometric tactical combat)

Dark Sun Shattered Lands (and its sequel if you like it)
It has everything you're searching for, tactical combat, not the most difficult (depending on how much you cheat and multi-class), some of the best quest design and c&c.
Graphics are charming and the music tracks are some of the best in the history of video games.

Prelude to Darkness
Graphics are not good, i'm not gonna lie and it's a bit buggy at times.
But there is a fixed codex version (if you can't find the thread, someone will)
Best quest design and c&c ever made.
Interesting character development.
And tactical combat.
The game is an acquired taste but the quest design is just spectacular.

TLDR
For pure and great tactical combat:
Dungeon Rats
Knights of the Chalice (KotC) and KotC 2
For the same + exploration : Hearkenwold + KotC 2 (Adventure module made by our resident hero, Dorateen, available on nexusmods)

For c&c, and tactical combat
Age of Decadence
Colony Ship
Prelude to darkness - It's not for everyone, you should start with something else.

Exploration + c&c + tactical combat
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands and then Wake of the Ravager.
Underrail - single character, exploration doesn't always mean great exploration, it's good but not great in my opinion.

So here's my advice.
Come back to ToEE + Temple+ first.
Or start with Dark Sun Shattered Lands.

And then it depends if you like tough combat or not, if you do, head towards Iron Tower games (Age of decadence, Dungeon Rats and Colony Ship) and Knights of the Chalice 1 & 2 + Hearkenwold.

If you don't, maybe try Rogue Trader with Daring or lower difficulty.