Mobile strategy feels better suited to a phone when a short session still contains one useful decision. A readable interface helps, pausing is optional, and progression shouldn’t play the game for you.
Which games get that balance right? I’m especially interested in tower defense, and in the one design choice that makes a game work well on a phone.
I’ve only played it on PC and Switch, but Into the Breach is one of my favorite strategy games and the interface is excellent on touch. The randomized campaigns of short turn-based maps is excellent for short play sessions, and has a ton of replayability with a lot of unlockable squads.
Sadly AFAIK it’s only available in mobile for Netflix subscribers. But if you are one it’s free.
Into the Breach is one of my favourite games ever! Playing on the computer is good, but on the phone is way better because it allows stopping at any time and the game will just resume from where you were next time you open it. No partial save state at the beginning of a turn, no restarting a battle because it forgot to save. Great design.
I got a mobile copy of Into the Breach from apkaward. I would buy it if was possible, but until I can I’ll use a pirated copy.
I feel like Mewgenics is very similar. Tactical gameplay on a grid, and the game gets a bit upset if you try to save scum. Could really use a mobile port.