The controls that quietly ruin good games

The most common note in my review sheet isn't about graphics or story. It's about controls. On mobile, an awkward interface can sink an otherwise brilliant game faster than anything else.

Tilt steering is the biggest offender. It's fun in a racer like Neon Driftline where the game builds around it, and a nightmare when it's forced on a genre that never needed it. Options matter — always let me choose.

Then there's the invisible dead zone problem, where a virtual button doesn't quite register a tap near its edge. Players don't diagnose it that precisely; they just feel like the game is 'floaty' and quietly uninstall it.

When you're trying a new game, spend the first five minutes just moving around and tapping things. If the controls already annoy you, no amount of clever design later will fix that first impression.