Ember Hollow

Ember Hollow is the kind of RPG that trusts you to read. The world is a dying forest kingdom, and the party you build is a collection of misfits who mostly don't like each other at the start. Combat is turn-based with a timing meter, so even easy fights ask for a little attention.

We spent most of our hours on the companion quests, which are genuinely well written. Choices carry over, and a decision you make in chapter two can lock or open a whole late-game path. The gear system is deep without being a spreadsheet, and you can respec cheaply, so experimenting never feels punished.

On a phone it holds up nicely: portrait mode for menus, landscape for battles, and short save points everywhere. If you like your RPGs slow, moody, and character-first, this is an easy recommendation.

What we liked

• Strong companion writing
• Choices with real consequences
• Cheap respec encourages experiments