Ember Hollow

Ember Hollow is a proper RPG that respects the fact you're playing on a phone. Combat is turn-based, so you're never fighting the touchscreen in a panic, and the menus are laid out for thumbs rather than mouse clicks. The writing carries it — characters that remember your choices and a world that opens up at a satisfying pace.

Progression feels earned. You gather a small party, each member with distinct abilities, and the game rewards experimentation rather than grinding. We spent a good evening just rearranging party tactics before a tough encounter, and it never felt like busywork.

The only catch is that longer play sessions do warm the phone a little, and the detailed battle animations drain battery faster than our casual picks. There's a graphics setting that helps, tucked in the options menu, and turning it down costs you almost nothing visually.

What we liked

• Turn-based combat suited to touch
• Choices that actually matter to the story
• A performance toggle that genuinely helps