Check the settings before you play, not after

I've watched people bounce off games they'd probably have loved, all because the default settings didn't suit them. The options menu is the first place I go now, and I think more people should do the same.

Start with controls. Sensitivity, button size, and layout are all usually adjustable, and the defaults are set for some imaginary average player who isn't you. Bigger buttons alone can fix a game that felt slippery.

Then graphics. A lot of games ship on their highest visual preset, which looks nice and murders your battery. If you don't care about the extra sparkle, drop it a notch and enjoy longer, cooler sessions.

Finally, audio and haptics. Turning off aggressive vibration saves a shocking amount of power on some phones, and it's the kind of thing you'd never notice was on until you switch it off.