Best one-button games to play in a spare minute

One-button games are the easiest to start and often the hardest to master. Here are ours, from easiest to trickiest.

Lantern Hop

Technically two inputs, left and right, but each is a single tap. Timing the swing of a lantern is the whole skill.

Skidpaw

Hold to turn left, release to turn right. The trick is to think in short taps rather than long holds; a rhythm of tap, release, tap keeps the car nearly straight.

Lickety Swing

Hold to grab a hook, release to fly. Let go just after the bottom of each swing for the longest flights.

Capyhaul

Gas and brake, but most of the time you only need gas. Lift off before the crest of a hill to keep the melons on board.

Why they work

A single input means there is nothing to look up and nothing to configure, which is why these games are good on a phone in one hand. They also tend to be about timing, which is satisfying to improve at over a few short sessions.