Emberfall Saga

Emberfall Saga surprised me. I've played a lot of mobile RPGs that are basically stat menus with a cartoon on top, and this one actually bothers to tell a story. You lead a band of exiles across a dying kingdom, and the writing has real teeth — characters die, choices stick, and not everyone likes you.

Combat is turn-based on a small grid, which suits touch input perfectly. Positioning matters, and each character's skills chain together in ways that reward planning. I spent a couple of fights just experimenting with combos before I realized I'd been at it for an hour.

The one thing to know going in: it respects your time but it isn't a five-minute game. Battles can run long, and the story wants your attention. Play it in longer sittings and it really opens up.

What we liked

• Genuinely good writing
• Tactical grid combat
• Meaningful choices that carry through