Games built for five spare minutes

Some of my favorite mobile games are the ones I never play for more than a few minutes at a time. Arcade racers, casual bundles, quick puzzlers — they fit the shape of a real day.

The best short-session games save your progress instantly and never punish you for leaving. Neon Drift Rally does this well; a race is over before your bus arrives.

There's a design honesty to games that don't demand attention. They're not trying to trap you, just to fill a gap pleasantly.

My rule of thumb: if a game gets angry when I leave, I leave for good.