Tideborn Tactics

Tideborn Tactics drops you onto hex grids suspended above the sea, where you position units, manage line of sight and try to outthink an aggressive AI. It's slower and more deliberate than most mobile strategy, and that's the appeal.

Each campaign mission introduces one new idea, like tides that flood certain tiles or enemies that split when hit. We appreciated that it teaches by doing rather than dumping a wall of tutorials on you. Difficulty spikes a little in the mid-campaign, so save your stronger units.

Touch controls are precise, with a handy undo for movement before you commit. For anyone who misses old handheld tactics games, this scratches the itch nicely.

What we liked

• Clever one-new-idea mission design
• Precise touch controls with undo
• Good challenge for tactics fans