Why your party makes or breaks a mobile RPG

I've played a lot of mobile RPGs, and the ones that stick with me all have one thing in common: companions who actually matter. Ashen Vigil is the latest example, and it reminded me why this is the heart of the genre.

When each party member fights differently, every battle becomes a question before it's a fight. Who do I bring? Who do I leave home? That choice is the fun, and it happens before you ever tap an enemy.

Weak RPGs treat companions as stat sticks — interchangeable numbers you swap for slightly bigger numbers. The good ones give them quirks, weaknesses, and stories that make you want them around for reasons beyond math.

So when you're weighing a new mobile RPG, poke at the party system first. If your companions feel like people with roles, you're probably in for a good one.