Why touch controls make or break a mobile game

I've played mechanically clever games that I abandoned within an hour, purely because the controls hurt to use. On mobile, the interface isn't a detail, it's the whole experience, since your fingers cover part of the screen you're trying to watch.

The biggest culprit is fixed button placement that ignores how people actually hold a phone. On a larger device, a button welded to the far corner might as well not exist. Games that let you move or scale controls instantly feel more generous.

Gesture-based controls can be lovely when they're responsive and forgiving, and infuriating when a mis-read swipe costs you a level. Good games add a sensitivity slider so you can tune the feel; great ones default to something sensible.

When I test a game, I spend the first ten minutes just noticing my hands. Am I cramping? Am I covering something important? If the answer is yes and there's no way to fix it in settings, that colours the whole review.