The case for one-handed games

Half the time I'm playing on my phone, my other hand is busy holding a coffee, a bag, or a rail on a moving train. Games that demand two thumbs simply don't fit that reality, and I think developers underrate how common one-handed play is.

The best one-handed games keep their controls near the bottom of the screen, where a thumb naturally rests. Tap-based adventures, simple tappers and menu-driven sims all shine here, while twitchy action games mostly don't.

There's also a comfort angle. Long two-handed sessions cramp your fingers in ways one-handed play doesn't, and phones keep getting bigger, which makes the stretch worse.

So when I review something, I always try it one-handed for a while. If it survives that test, it earns a permanent spot on my home screen.