Tideborn Command

Tideborn Command asks you to manage a cluster of islands connected by shipping routes, and the tension comes from never having quite enough escorts to cover everything. It's slow, deliberate strategy, and it rewards planning two or three turns ahead.

The interface took a session to click, but once it did I found the drag-to-route system genuinely elegant on a touchscreen. Storms and raiders force you to adapt mid-plan, and failing a route teaches you more than winning one.

It's not a game for twitchy moods, but for a quiet evening it's deeply absorbing.

What we liked

• Thoughtful route-planning depth
• Touch-friendly map controls
• Great for slow, focused play