Ironclad Frontier

Ironclad Frontier scratches the planning itch. You start with a single outpost and slowly expand across a hex map, balancing resources against the reach of rival factions. Every decision ripples outward, which keeps you thinking a few turns ahead.

The tutorial eases you in gently, and the pace is yours to set — you can play a full campaign or dip into short skirmish maps. I found the skirmishes perfect for a bus ride.

It asks for patience, but the payoff when a long-term plan finally lands is genuinely great. Not a game to rush through.

What we liked

• Deep but readable resource management
• Skirmish mode for short sessions
• Satisfying long-term planning