Tidewatch Command

Tidewatch Command asks you to defend a stretch of coastline that changes shape as the tide moves in and out. That single idea reshapes everything — a wall that protects you at low tide is useless when the water rises. We spent our first few maps losing badly before it clicked, and once it did, the game got its hooks in.

Placement matters more than raw numbers here. You're constantly rerouting supply lines and repositioning units around water you can't fully control. It's slower and more thoughtful than most mobile strategy, which we appreciated.

Touch controls are precise enough for the fiddly bits, though a couple of maps felt cramped on a small phone. On a tablet it shines. The campaign is generous, and the optional hard mode gave our resident strategy nerd something to chew on for a week.

What we liked

• Tide mechanic that forces constant adaptation
• Thoughtful pacing over twitchy micromanagement
• Meaty campaign plus a demanding hard mode