Tideborn Tactics

Tideborn Tactics asks you to defend a string of coastal settlements against waves of raiders, one hex grid at a time. You place units, manage limited resources and plan several turns ahead. It's thoughtful rather than frantic, and the campaign slowly layers in new unit types so you're never overwhelmed.

We appreciated the clean interface — tapping units and tiles always does what you expect, which isn't a given on small screens. Each mission has an optional challenge condition for players who want more.

There's no online mode and no need for one. The campaign alone kept us busy for a couple of weeks of evenings.

What we liked

• Clear, tap-friendly strategy controls
• Optional challenges extend each map
• Zero connection required