Iron Dominion

Iron Dominion asks you to think a few steps ahead constantly. You're building a small empire, managing resources, and defending against rival factions who genuinely react to your choices. It's real-time, but you can slow things down to plan, which saves it from becoming a frantic tap-fest.

The standout feature is supply lines. Your armies are only as strong as the roads feeding them, so a smart player cuts an enemy's logistics instead of charging headfirst. Once I figured that out, matches got a lot more interesting and my win rate climbed.

The interface is dense at first and the tutorial rushes through some important panels. Give it an hour and it starts to feel natural. There's a solid single-player campaign plus skirmish modes for when you just want a quick match.

What we liked

• Logistics that actually matter
• Slow-time planning option
• Reactive AI opponents