In praise of games that don't make you wait

Few things drain the fun from a mobile game faster than an energy timer that stops you mid-flow. You're enjoying yourself, then a bar runs dry and the game politely asks you to come back in two hours. It's a design choice built around retention, not enjoyment.

We've started treating the absence of energy timers as a genuine point in a game's favour. Ember of Vael lets you play as long as you want, and it's better for it. So does Hollow Tide Journey — there's no artificial gate between you and the next island.

None of this means a game has to be endless. Short runtimes are fine, even welcome. The problem is specifically the pause-and-wait mechanic that interrupts you against your will.

When we review something, we always note whether it respects your time. If a game keeps interrupting itself to sell you patience, that goes in the write-up.