Emberfall Saga

Emberfall Saga is the kind of mobile RPG I keep hoping for and rarely get. The writing has actual bite, the companions argue with each other, and the choices you make in early chapters ripple much further than I expected. I replayed the second act just to see what a different party would say.

Combat is turn-based but with a positioning layer, so you're not just spamming your strongest attack. Learning which characters cover each other's weaknesses is where the game opens up. The touch controls handle it well, with big tap targets and a clean initiative bar.

My only gripe is the inventory menus, which get cluttered fast. Everything else, the pacing, the music, the surprisingly emotional midgame, made this one of my favorites this year.

What we liked

• Choices that genuinely change the story
• Smart positioning-based turn combat
• A cast you actually care about