The settings menu is where the good games hide

Default settings are a compromise the developer made for the average phone, not for yours. The first thing I do with any new game is open the options and spend a few minutes tuning. It genuinely changes how a game plays.

Start with the frame rate. If there's a 60fps option and your phone can hold it, a lot of games feel dramatically smoother — but if the game stutters, dropping to a locked 30 often feels better than an unstable 60. Trust your eyes over the bigger number.

Next, audio and haptics. Constant vibration drains battery and gets annoying fast; I usually keep subtle haptics on for feedback and kill the rest. Then I look for accessibility options — text size, colorblind palettes, hold-to-tap toggles. Even if you don't need them, their presence tells you the developers cared.

Finally, hunt for a 'reduce effects' or quality slider. This is the single biggest lever for both heat and battery. A game can look 95% as good with particles toned down and run cooler for twice as long.