Iron Tide Command

Iron Tide Command is a strategy game for people who like to think between moves. You command a fleet, assign captains, ration supplies and pick which routes are worth the risk. There's no rush; you can pause and stare at the map as long as you want.

Battles play out on a hex grid where positioning and wind direction matter more than raw firepower. Losing a ship stings because crews carry over between missions and get better at their jobs. It rewards planning and punishes greed.

The interface takes a bit to learn and the tutorial could be gentler, but once it clicks it's very satisfying. Everything runs offline, which suits a game you play in long thoughtful sessions.

What we liked

• Deep fleet management
• Positioning-heavy hex battles
• Persistent crews you grow attached to