Arcanists

Arcanists is a 2D turn-based combat game along the lines of the popular Worms franchise, albeit from a fantasy standpoint.

As a free member, you get a variety of spells to start with, but you'll quickly become outclassed by the new spells unlocked by the paying members, some of which approach superweapon destructive abilities. However, no matter how many you unlock, you can only take 16 into the arena, which adds a deck-building aspect to it familiar to CCG players.

If you're a paid player, you'll appreciate getting paid "wands" towards new spells even if you lose a game, though a token amount compared to the winner's. Another bonus of being a paid member is the access to ranked games, assuring you're paired with players of similar skill levels.

Lastly, there is a complex balance to be learned between all of the spells, and (thankfully) the game comes with an in-depth tutorial and sandbox mode to play around in.

The Good: Customizable spellbook adds to strategy. Great perks for paid members but free members still have fun, much needed tutorial and sandbox modes.

The Bad: Free members have difficulty keeping up with paid members spells. Very steep learning curve. Turn based combat is slow.