Iron Frontier

Iron Frontier asks you to think a few moves ahead, which we appreciated. You place buildings, manage a thin supply line and react to raids that get smarter as the map opens up. It rewards planning over panic.

The pacing is deliberate, so this is not a game for two-minute breaks. Settle in with headphones and it becomes surprisingly absorbing. The tutorial is a bit stiff, but once you're past it the systems click nicely together.

Not the flashiest game on the list, but one of the most satisfying to master.

What we liked

• Deep enough to reward planning
• No aggressive interruptions
• Maps that stay tense to the end