How to spot a mobile game worth installing

The store page tells you almost nothing useful. Screenshots are staged and the descriptions read the same for every game. So I've built a short mental checklist before installing anything.

First, does it let you play a real chunk before nagging you? Good games trust their loop to hook you. Second, are the controls built for a phone, or is it a clumsy port with tiny buttons?

Third, check the pace of the first hour. If you're already hitting hard walls or repeating the same action with no depth, it rarely gets better. The early game is a preview of the whole thing.

This is basically the process we use before reviewing anything here. It saves a lot of storage and a lot of disappointment.