Five-minute games that respect your time

Not every mobile game needs to grab you for an hour. Some of the best ones fit into the gaps: a coffee break, a bus ride, five minutes before a meeting.

Arcade games are the obvious fit here. Nacho Casinacho is a good example, since a run lasts under a minute and stopping mid-session costs you nothing. You leave whenever you want.

Cozy sims like Harbor Keeper also work, because they keep ticking along while you're away. You check in, make a couple of decisions, and put the phone down guilt-free.

The games to avoid for short breaks are the ones with long mandatory intros or energy timers that punish stopping. We flag those in the reviews so you know what you're getting into.