Ember Crown Saga

Ember Crown Saga is a proper RPG that fits in your pocket. The story leans on old fantasy tropes, but the writing has enough warmth to carry you through. Battles are turn-based and let you queue skills, so you can play thoughtfully or rush ahead when you know the fight.

Building your party is where it shines. Each character has a branching skill tree, and mixing roles opens up combos that genuinely change how fights play out. I rebuilt my whole team halfway through and it felt like a new game.

It does ask for some grinding in the middle chapters, and the interface can feel cramped on a small screen. Stick with it and there is a solid twenty-plus hours here.

What we liked

• Deep, flexible party building
• Turn-based combat with real strategy
• Story that actually keeps going