Ashfall Wanderers

Ashfall Wanderers is the kind of mobile RPG that respects your time without dumbing things down. You lead a small band of travelers across a cracked, ash-covered continent, and combat is turn-based with a clever positioning system that rewards planning over grinding. Pulling an enemy out of cover before you strike feels great every single time.

The writing surprised me. Companions actually talk to each other at camp, and their little arcs pay off if you keep them around. I spent more time reading dialogue than I usually do on mobile, which says something. Save points are generous, so you can play in short bursts.

Performance is solid even on an older phone, and the hand-painted backgrounds hold up beautifully on a small screen. This is one I kept coming back to after I'd supposedly 'finished' my review.

What we liked

• Thoughtful turn-based combat
• Companions you genuinely care about
• Runs smoothly on older hardware