Tidecaller Senate

You command a small band of island wardens, and the sea is the most powerful unit on the board. Every turn the tide rises or falls, opening sandbars, flooding trenches and stranding enemy boats. Wardens can call the tide early at a cost, so every battle becomes a puzzle about when to let the water in. Between battles, you argue for funding in a squabbling island senate.

The maps are crisp teal and sandstone, with tiny figures and readable icons. The campaign is around 20 hours with 30 battles, and there is a skirmish mode. Fans of small-squad tactics will love it. The caveat: the senate chapters are text-heavy and slow the pace between battles.