Games you can actually play with one hand

Most mobile gaming happens in the gaps — a commute, a queue, a couple of minutes before bed. That means one-handed play isn't a nice-to-have, it's the whole point for a lot of us.

The best-controlling games we've reviewed keep everything within thumb reach and never demand two-finger precision. Casinacho does this beautifully, and so does Tiny Harbor Town where a single tap handles most actions.

Racing is the tricky category. Tilt steering sounds convenient but wrecks one-handed play, so I usually flip Nitro District to on-screen controls and give up a little precision for comfort.

If you're building a phone library for the road, prioritize control comfort over graphics. A gorgeous game you can't steer on a bus stays uninstalled.