Embercrown Saga

Embercrown Saga surprised me. I expected another auto-battle grind and instead got a proper turn-based RPG where positioning and skill order really matter. Your party of four each has a distinct role, and the fun is figuring out combos, like stunning an enemy so your mage can land an uninterrupted spell.

The writing carries it further than the combat alone would. Characters banter between fights, side quests have actual little stories, and the world map slowly opens up as you learn more about the fallen empire you're crossing. It's paced well for a phone, with battles you can wrap up in a couple of minutes.

There's a fair amount of depth in the gear and skill trees if you want it, but you can also play it fairly relaxed on normal difficulty. I'd recommend nudging the difficulty up, though, since the strategy is where this one shines.

What we liked

• Tactical turn-based fights that reward planning
• Charming, well-written cast
• Flexible difficulty for casual or hardcore play