Why deckbuilders belong on your phone

Deckbuilders and mobile phones are a natural match. Short runs, turn-based pacing, no need for fast reflexes — it all works whether you have five minutes or an hour. Card of Crows reminded us of that this month.

The best of them, Card of Crows included, give you meaningful choices without overwhelming you. You pick a card here, drop a weak one there, and slowly your deck develops a personality. Doing that on a touchscreen feels completely natural.

The offline factor matters more than people admit. A good deckbuilder that runs without a connection is the perfect travel companion, and far too many mobile games can't manage that anymore.

If you've never tried the genre, start with something small and self-contained. You'll either bounce off it or fall down a very deep, very rewarding hole. There isn't much middle ground.