Ironhold Command

Ironhold Command asks you to hold a chain of mountain forts against waves of raiders, and it does it without the endless timers that ruin most mobile strategy. You place towers, reroute supply lines and decide where to spend a scarce pool of workers. Every mistake is visible within seconds.

The pace is quicker than I expected. Battles play out in real time, so you're constantly nudging units and reprioritising. Later maps introduce weather and night waves that force you to rethink layouts you thought were solid.

There's a fair bit to learn, and the tutorial rushes some ideas. Once it clicks, though, it's the sort of game that makes you say 'one more map' when you should be asleep.

What we liked

• No pay-timers blocking progress
• Tense real-time defence
• Maps that keep introducing new twists