Five quiet games for winding down

Not every gaming session needs to test your reflexes. Some evenings you just want something gentle to hold your attention while your brain switches off, and mobile is full of games built exactly for that.

Cosy simulations are the obvious pick. Running a little town or shop at your own pace, with no failure state, is oddly soothing. The trick is finding ones without aggressive timers that nag you to come back.

Slow adventure games are my other favourite. Something with hand-drawn art and no pressure lets you explore at whatever speed you like, and many of them are light on the battery too, so you can play until you drift off.

The common thread is control. A good wind-down game never demands quick inputs and lets you stop the moment you want to. Anything that punishes you for putting the phone down doesn't belong on this list.