Ironhold Legions

Ironhold Legions is the game I keep recommending to friends who want something to think about. You build a fortress, arrange defences, and then plan attacks on rival holds. The clever bit is how terrain forces you to commit: a badly placed wall funnels enemies straight past your archers.

The campaign starts gently but ramps up fast. By the third region I was redrawing my whole layout after every loss. Multiplayer skirmishes are tense without needing constant online attention, which I appreciated.

My only gripe is the menu clutter early on. Once you learn where things are, it gets out of your way and lets the strategy breathe.

What we liked

• Terrain that punishes lazy planning
• Campaign that teaches without hand-holding
• Skirmishes that respect your time