A beginner's tour of mobile game genres

Mobile gaming covers way more ground than the puzzle games most people start with. If you've only played match-three games, there's a whole world waiting, and finding your genre is half the fun.

If you like thinking ahead, try strategy games — they suit the stop-and-start rhythm of phone play perfectly. If you want a story, mobile RPGs and adventure games have gotten genuinely good, with proper writing and worlds worth exploring.

For quick fun, arcade and racing games are your friends. They're built for short sessions and instant satisfaction. And if you just want to unwind, cozy simulation games ask almost nothing of you and give back a calm little routine.

The nice part is that trying a new genre costs you nothing but a download. Pick something outside your usual and you might be surprised what clicks.