The moment a strategy game finally clicks

Every good strategy game has a threshold. Before it, you're flailing. After it, you start seeing moves two and three turns out. Crossing that line is the best feeling the genre offers.

With Ironvault Tactics it took me about four missions. Suddenly I stopped charging in and started baiting enemies onto bad tiles. The game didn't change — I did.

Developers can help this along with clear feedback: show me why my unit died, show me what that tile does. The games that explain themselves without hand-holding are the ones that stick.

If a strategy game feels impenetrable, give it a few more rounds before you quit. The click is usually closer than it feels.