Games you can play with one hand (and no shame)

Not every game needs two thumbs and your full attention. Some of my favourite mobile moments come from games built for one-handed, half-distracted play, and there's real craft in designing those well.

Legends of Slots fits here perfectly with its single tap and a swipe. So does Tidecrown Tactics, which somehow fits a whole strategy game into thumb reach. The trick these games share is a clean interface that never asks you to stretch across the screen.

My test is simple: can I play it while holding a mug in the other hand? If yes, it earns a place on the home screen. It sounds silly, but one-handed playability is one of the most underrated things about a mobile game.

Designers, take note. The games that respect how people actually hold phones are the ones that stay installed.