I sunk dozens of hours into SteamWorld Heist when it originally released on Nintendo 3DS in 2015, and I did so again a year later when console versions came out. The strategy game was brimming with charm, and the tight, skill-based gameplay that made outcomes purely dependent on skill rather than luck had me hooked. Now, nine years later, I’m having the exact same experience with SteamWorld Heist II, Thunderful’s superb sequel.

What makes the SteamWorld Heist games so great is the turn-based combat system. Players can place their robot pirates in environments, gain cover and advantages. And when it comes to firing their weapon, it’s up to the player to carefully aim and line up the shot. Miss? That was your fault, not a dice roll.

Bullets can ricochet off walls, as characters with laser sights demonstrate, so you can line up some pretty incredible kills if you’re good enough. Few games offer as much satisfaction in getting yourself out of a bad situation as SteamWorld Heist II. A few smart choices in how you use the environment and your abilities can be real game changers, as almost every situation has a way out if you think about it properly. It’s this distinction that makes it my favorite turn-based strategy series, more so than even Advance Wars or XCOM.

The biggest difference in SteamWorld Heist II compared to the original is that instead of flying from spaceship to spaceship, you are stuck on land and use a submarine to travel to different islands and ships. This leads to a very interesting overworld with lots of secrets to discover and even real-time combat. You can customize your submarine with different weapons and missiles to take down the navy’s freighters. It’s fast-paced and satisfying, adding a whole new layer of fun to the game.