Ironline Command

Ironline Command asks you to think, and it does not apologize for it. You manage units, resources, and territory in real time, and a single bad decision about where to place your defenses can unravel a whole map. It is heavier than most mobile strategy, and that is a compliment.

The touch controls took me a session to get comfortable with, but once they clicked I was pinching, dragging, and issuing orders without thinking. The AI is competent and will punish lazy play, which kept me engaged.

My one gripe is that the early missions are a bit slow to open up the good systems. Push past the first few and it becomes a genuinely tense little strategy game you can carry in your pocket.

What we liked

• Deeper strategy than most mobile titles
• Smart AI that rewards planning
• Satisfying once the controls click