Tideborn Empire

Tideborn Empire asks you to grow a scattering of island settlements into a trading power, and it's the kind of strategy game you sink into rather than blaze through. Resource loops are readable, the map is easy to pan and pinch, and the whole thing runs smoothly even on my aging phone.

The naval combat is deliberate — fleets take time to sail, and a bad ambush can undo an hour of planning. That slowness might frustrate people who want instant action, but I found it made every decision feel weighty. You learn to think a few turns ahead.

It's not perfect. The tutorial dumps a lot on you at once, and I had to look up a couple of mechanics. Push past that and there's a deep, quietly addictive strategy game here.

What we liked

• Deep economy without clutter
• Tense, deliberate naval battles
• Great pinch-and-pan map controls