Emberhold Saga

Emberhold Saga is the game I recommend when someone wants a proper RPG that fits in a pocket. You start with two survivors of a burned fortress and slowly gather a party, each with their own quirks and a surprising amount of dialogue. Combat is turn-based and grid-free, leaning on positioning and cooldowns rather than button-mashing.

The writing does a lot of the heavy lifting. Side characters remember what you said three chapters ago, and choices nudge the story in small but noticeable ways. I lost a whole flight to it and didn't touch the entertainment screen once — the campaign is fully offline after the initial download.

My only gripe is the inventory menu, which gets cluttered late-game. But the pacing and the soundtrack more than make up for it.

What we liked

• Deep offline campaign, no connection required
• Party members with real personality
• Positioning-based turn combat