The best one-thumb games for cramped commutes

Not every mobile game respects the reality of playing on public transport. You're holding a rail with one hand, the phone with the other, and you need something that works with a single thumb. This is our running list of games that actually do.

Arcade racers dominate this list for obvious reasons — swipe, tap, done. Big Rush Cast is our current favourite here because its whole control scheme is built around a single thumb, and it never asks for precision you can't manage while standing.

We also lean on endless runners and simple time-management games for these moments. The rule we use: if it needs two thumbs or a steady surface, it's off the list, no matter how good it is otherwise.

The sweet spot is a game with instant restarts and short sessions, so a sudden stop or a dropped signal doesn't cost you progress. That's what separates a great commute game from a merely fun one.