Iron Meridian

Iron Meridian is a strategy game for people who like to plan. You start with a single settlement and expand across a hex map, juggling resources, borders, and rival factions who are all too happy to exploit a weak flank.

It's turn-based rather than real-time, which suits a phone perfectly — you can take a turn, lock the screen, and come back later without losing your thread. The AI isn't a genius, but it's consistent and opportunistic, and higher difficulties force you to defend intelligently rather than just outproduce everyone.

The interface is the one rough edge; some menus are a layer too deep. Once you learn where everything lives, though, it becomes the kind of game you load up meaning to play one match and look up two hours later.

What we liked

• Satisfying hex-based expansion
• Plays well in short sessions
• Rewards long-term planning