Ironhold Command

Ironhold Command is a slower, thinkier strategy game. You manage a mountain fortress, balancing resource routes against incoming threats, and the pleasure is in laying out a supply chain that just hums.

It plays well in both long and short bursts. You can set up a production queue and check back later, or sit down and micromanage a defense wave. The AI isn't brilliant, but the puzzle of optimizing your own layout carries it.

Menus are a bit cluttered at first and the tutorial could be gentler. Once it clicks, though, I lost a whole evening redesigning my ore pipeline, which is exactly what a good strategy game should do to you.

What we liked

• Satisfying supply-chain planning
• Works for both quick and long sessions
• Fortress layouts you'll keep tweaking