Best free "squad management" games

Squad management video games focus on controlling and developing a small group of characters rather than a single hero. Players recruit, equip, and train their squad, balancing strengths, weaknesses, and personalities to succeed in missions. Gameplay often mixes tactical combat—turn-based or real-time—with resource management and decision-making. Characters may gain skills, gear, or emotional bonds over time, and losses can be permanent, raising the stakes. The genre emphasizes planning, synergy, and leadership, rewarding careful choices and punishing reckless mistakes.