Iron Frontier

Iron Frontier asks you to build outposts, manage supply lines, and defend against raids that get smarter as you expand. The clever bit is the tension between growing fast and staying defendable — sprawl too wide and you'll spend every turn firefighting.

Combat is resolved on a grid, and terrain genuinely changes outcomes. Holding a ridge with a small force can turn a losing battle. I found myself sketching layouts on paper, which is a good sign for a strategy game.

It's demanding without being fiddly. The tutorial eases you in, and once systems click, the mid-game opens up into something you can play for weeks.

What we liked

• Meaningful terrain and positioning
• Satisfying long-term base planning
• A tutorial that actually teaches