Ashen Covenant

Ashen Covenant is the kind of mobile RPG I didn't expect to sink thirty hours into. You build a party of four from a fairly diverse roster, and the combat is turn-based with a twist: positioning on a small grid matters as much as picking the right skill. Flanking, cover, and shoving enemies into hazards all come into play once you're past the opening chapters.

The writing is the real reason to stay. Companions have actual arcs, and they'll comment on choices you made hours earlier. I lost a favorite character because of a decision I barely thought about at the time, and honestly that stung in a good way. Progression is generous but not mindless; you feel your build coming together instead of just watching numbers climb.

My one gripe is the menu-heavy inventory that gets clunky on a smaller phone. But everything else, from the pacing to the surprisingly good voice snippets, makes this an easy recommendation for anyone who wants a proper story on the go.

What we liked

• Choices that actually stick with you
• Grid combat with real tactical depth
• Companions worth caring about