One-handed controls that actually work on a phone

Most of us play on phones in awkward moments — standing on a train, waiting for a kettle, one hand busy. Games that ignore this end up unplayed no matter how good they are. The ones that design for it get hours out of us.

Big Bass 3in1 is a small example done right: everything works with a thumb. Neon Drift Circuit is another, letting you pick touch steering when tilt isn't practical. The pattern is flexibility — give players more than one way to hold the phone.

The worst offenders bury actions in corner buttons you can't reach without shifting grip. Every time that happens I feel the friction, and friction is what kills a mobile game on a busy day.

When you're deciding whether to keep a game, try playing it one-handed for a session. If it fights you, it probably won't survive your commute.