Mobile gaming has never been better. There have been unrivaled advances in graphics, multiplayer madness on games like Fortnite, and genuine AAA titles on handheld consoles like the Nintendo Switch. But of course, that’s an entirely moot point if you’re crammed into two square feet of space on your commute, with barely enough room to sneeze, let alone play an expansive open-world game on your mobile.
Whether you’re holding on to a handrail on public transport, cradling an infant, or simply carrying a bag, you may find yourself in situations when you have some time to kill but only have one hand free. This is our selection of the best smartphone games you can play one-handed—we’ve also highlighted which ones don’t need an active data connection so you can play them on the Tube.
If you’re after something a bit meatier to get to one-handed grips with, this port of a console game might fit the bill. The long running Dragon Quest series is typical fantasy RPG fare, but the developers did make one inspired decision when porting it to smartphones: All the action takes place in portrait mode, so you can play with one hand. It’s pricey, but will keep you occupied for weeks.
$19.99 on iOS and $19.99 on Android
No data connection required
Get ready for the greatest sporting saga since Coolen Rooney’s undercover detective work. You start out as an unsigned 16-year-old, and over the course of dozens of seasons slowly work your way through some of Europe’s biggest clubs, and star on the international stage. The gameplay couldn’t be simpler: You draw a line on the screen to make passes and shots, in a series of preset scenarios that are just the right level of frustrating to keep you interested. New seasons are released regularly; if you’ve played all the way to the end, your star is currently in the 35th year of an increasingly implausible career.
Free on iOS and Android, with optional add-ons
No data connection required for main game mode
Simple but almost dangerously addictive, 2048 started out as a browser game before spawning a number of app imitators. You simply slide tiles—all multiples of two—together to add them, so a pair of twos become fours, two fours become eight and so on, with the eventual goal of reaching 2048. There are numerous app versions that add points scoring and the ability to play against others, or even for real money, but simpler is best.
No data connection required for most versions
It’s packed with microtransactions to an almost unreasonable degree, but this game is still undeniably Mario Kart—with the music, power-ups, and all your favorite characters (once you’ve unlocked them, anyway). The portrait layout and control system (you use a single finger to steer) means that this game can easily be played one-handed, although it’s easy to get overly enthusiastic and accidentally jab someone in the ribs with an elbow when that blue shell hits.
A data connection is required
A fairly simple game—just swipe your thumb across a circle of letters to try and make a word that fits into a crossword-type grid, without those handy clues and hints. The game gets progressively more difficult the higher the level though, with more and more letters making up the potential word. It’s perfect for one-handed gaming—just don’t get too frustrated when you can’t get that last word.
A data connection is required
Starting off with 100 balls, your challenge is to release those balls into a series of rotating cups without spilling them. For every ball that you drop into a cup, you'll score points that vary in value depending on the color of the ball. But as the game progresses and the spinning cups get faster, it becomes much trickier to get all of the balls to their final destination. Miss out a cup entirely, and it'll disappear from the game, making things even more frantic as you reach its final stages.
Free on iOS
No data connection required
You are probably already aware of Candy Crush, the gaming phenomenon that launched a billion-dollar gaming company. There's a reason it's so popular: You swipe to align groups of three or more colorful candies, which explode in a dopamine-stimulating burst of animation. Levels get progressively harder—although the timeouts the game gives you to try and get you to spend money can become frustrating very quickly.
No data connection required
In Immortal Rogue, you play a vampire who wakes up once a century to feed. You choose who to hunt with swipes, and there are different timelines featuring a rotating cast of enemies ranging from samurai to cyborgs.
$4.99 on iOS and $4.99 on Android
No data connection required
This serene puzzle game has you sliding around bits of buildings to help a wordless princess on her way through a world of mysterious monuments and optical illusions. A sequel to the critically acclaimed 2014 original, it’s a calming oasis in the often frenetic world of mobile gaming and strikes a delicate balance between simple gameplay and complex levels.
$4.99 on iOS, $4.99 on Android
No data connection required
This story originally appeared on WIRED UK.
- The first smartphone war
- 7 cybersecurity threats that can sneak up on you
- “Forever chemicals” are in your popcorn—and your blood
- EVs fire up pyroswitches to cut risk of shock after a crash
- The spellbinding allure of Seoul's fake urban mountains
- 👁 Prepare for the deepfake era of video; plus, check out the latest news on AI
- ✨ Optimize your home life with our Gear team’s best picks, from robot vacuums to affordable mattresses to smart speakers
