Ember of the Hollow Crown

Ember of the Hollow Crown is a proper old-school RPG shrunk down for a touchscreen, and it mostly nails the fit. You lead a party of four through a ruined realm, fighting turn-based battles, managing gear, and making choices that actually shift how characters treat you later on.

Combat is where it shines. Every fight rewards positioning and timing your special abilities, and the difficulty ramps just fast enough to keep you experimenting with your party build. The writing has real bite too — the companions bicker, doubt each other, and occasionally surprise you, which kept me pushing through the slower stretches.

It's not perfect. The inventory screen is cramped and the early hours move slowly. But once the story opens up and your party finds its footing, this is one of the most complete role-playing experiences you can carry in your pocket.

What we liked

• Deep turn-based combat with real strategy
• Companions who feel written, not generated
• Choices that ripple through the story