Why turn-based RPGs fit the phone so well

People sometimes dismiss turn-based combat as old-fashioned, but on a phone it's close to ideal. You can stop mid-fight, answer a message, and come back with no penalty. Real-time action games can't offer that.

Hollow Reaches is the one I keep recommending. Its positioning-based fights make you think without demanding fast reflexes, which suits a screen you're tapping with one thumb on a train.

The genre also handles short sessions gracefully. A single battle is a satisfying chunk of progress, so you never feel like you have to block out an hour to make any headway.

If you're new to these, don't rush the early tutorials even when they drag. Understanding the turn order and status effects early saves a lot of frustration later.

Look for a game that lets you save anywhere. It's the single feature that makes or breaks an RPG on mobile for me.