How we actually test a game before writing about it

People sometimes ask how long we play before reviewing. The honest answer: as long as it takes to form a real opinion, which is usually several days and never less than a couple of hours.

We spread sessions out on purpose. A game can dazzle in the first ten minutes and fall apart by hour three, so we come back cold and see if the itch to keep playing is still there. That gap tells us a lot.

We also test on more than one phone when we can, including something a bit older. Plenty of games look great on flagship hardware and stutter everywhere else, and that matters for readers who don't upgrade every year.

Finally, we play in normal conditions — one hand, half-distracted, in short bursts. That's how mobile games are actually used, so that's how we judge them.