Frontier Command

Frontier Command proves you can build a thinking-person's strategy game around a touchscreen. You manage a small settlement, balance resources, and defend against waves that escalate just fast enough to keep you planning ahead. Everything is designed so you can issue orders with one thumb while holding the phone in the other hand.

The pacing is the clever part. You can pause and queue commands, which takes the panic out of mobile strategy and lets you play like a chess match. I lost a few runs early on because I underestimated how much supply lines mattered, and figuring that out was half the fun.

There's a campaign with a decent difficulty curve and a skirmish mode for when you just want a quick scrap. It never pushes you to grind, and each map feels like a fresh puzzle rather than a repeat.

What we liked

• Pause-and-queue system that suits touch controls
• Supply logistics that reward planning
• Maps that each pose a distinct problem