Which genres actually suit a five-minute break

Phones live in the gaps of our day: queues, commutes, waiting rooms. Some genres fit that reality beautifully and some fight it hard.

Arcade racers and casual games are the obvious winners. You can start, get a hit of fun, and stop without losing progress. Puzzle games work too, as long as they save mid-level.

RPGs and strategy games are trickier. They reward long, focused sessions, and dipping in for two minutes can leave you confused about where you were. That's fine, just know what you're picking up.

My rule of thumb: if a game punishes you for closing it, it's a poor fit for your pocket. The best mobile games meet you where you actually play.