How we actually review a mobile game

People ask how long we play before writing, and the honest answer is: until we have something real to say. For a short casual game that might be a week of bursts. For an RPG it can be twenty hours or more.

We test on at least two phones, usually a current mid-range handset and something a few years old. A game that only runs well on a flagship isn't a good mobile game, it's a good flagship demo.

Battery and heat go in the notes every time, because that's where mobile differs most from other platforms. We also log control options, text readability on the move, and how pushy the game is about notifications.

The score comes last, after all the notes. It's a shorthand, not the review. If you only read the number you're missing the part where we tell you whether the game is actually for you.