Ironline Tactics

Ironline Tactics strips RTS down to what matters. You never command hundreds of units — you get a small squad and a map full of chokepoints, and you win by managing supply and reinforcement timing. It's closer to a puzzle than a war simulator, and that focus is exactly why it works on a touchscreen.

The interface deserves a shout-out: dragging a unit's path feels precise, and you can slow time to issue orders, which saves you from the usual mobile RTS chaos of fat-fingering the wrong soldier. Maps are short, maybe ten minutes each, but they're built like little tactical riddles.

I bounced off the first two missions because I didn't understand supply, then it clicked and I couldn't put it down. There's a satisfying moment where you realise the winning move was cutting the enemy's road, not winning the fight.

What we liked

• Tight maps that play like tactical puzzles
• Slow-time orders that fit touch controls
• Rewards clever positioning over brute force