Arc the Lad III

Tactical RPG where you guide Alec, a survivor of a catastrophe called the Great Disaster, as he chases his dream of becoming a Hunter. He and his friend Lutz start with small-time jobs in nearby towns until they cross paths with a shadowy group called the Academy. Combat is turn-based on grid battlefields—you position party members freely, then execute attacks, techniques, and magic spells in sequence. Weapons can be upgraded by forging them with materials you collect. The story picks up years after the events of the second game, though you don't need prior series knowledge to follow Alec's arc. If you like grid tactics with character progression and don't mind a slower setup before the plot kicks in, this delivers both.