How to read a strategy map on a tiny screen

Strategy games and small screens seem like a bad match, but the good ones solve it with clever UI. After playing a lot of them, we've picked up a few habits that make even dense maps manageable.

First, learn the zoom gestures early. Most decent strategy games let you pinch out for the big picture and in for the detail, and swapping between the two constantly is the whole skill. Frontline Cartographer, which we rate highly, lives or dies on how smoothly you can do this.

Second, trust the turn summaries. Good games recap what changed while you were away, so you don't have to hunt the map for enemy movements. Read those before you touch anything.

Finally, play asynchronous modes in short bursts. A single well-considered turn made with a clear head beats five rushed ones. Strategy rewards patience, and the phone format actually encourages it if you let it.