Thornwatch Saga

Thornwatch Saga is a proper mobile RPG with a party of four, a branching skill web, and a world that leans darker than the art first suggests. The writing carries it — side characters have their own threads, and choices actually shift how a few later scenes read.

Combat is turn-based with a timing element on skills, which keeps fights from going fully automatic. Building your party around synergies is where the fun lives, and respeccing is cheap enough that you'll experiment.

It's a big download and the story takes a couple of hours to find its footing. Once it does, it's one of the more complete single-player experiences we've played on a phone this year.

What we liked

• Writing that gives side characters weight
• Timing-based turns keep combat active
• Cheap respecs encourage tinkering