Touch Controls Make or Break a Mobile Game

You can forgive a lot in a mobile game, but not controls that fight your thumbs. A brilliant idea buried under a clumsy touch layout is still a frustrating game.

We test everything on actual phones of different sizes. A UI that looks fine on a tablet can bury its buttons on a six-inch screen. Ironline Command earned its score partly because its selection system never left me cursing.

The best touch design feels invisible. You stop thinking about how you're inputting and just play. That's rarer than it should be.

When you try a new game, pay attention to the first five minutes of friction. If you're already misclicking, it won't get better. Trust that early instinct.