Ember Crown Saga

Ember Crown Saga is a proper RPG that respects the fact you're on a phone. Battles are turn-based and pause-friendly, so getting yanked out mid-fight by a text message never costs you progress. You pick up your party of mismatched misfits, learn their quirks, and slowly untangle a story that's warmer and funnier than the grim cover art suggests.

The build system is where I sank most of my time. There's a satisfying loop of rerolling skill trees, and the game is generous about letting you experiment without punishing resets. Combat animations are quick and skippable, which matters when you're grinding a side quest on your lunch break.

My only gripe is the inventory screen, which clearly wanted a tablet. On a smaller phone you'll be squinting at tiny icons. Everything else, though, is a joy.

What we liked

• Interruption-proof turn-based combat
• Deep but forgiving build customization
• A story with real heart