What small studios get right that big ones forget

There's a particular feel to a game made by a handful of people. It's usually a bit rough around the edges, but it has a clear voice, and it isn't afraid to be weird or short.

Big studio mobile games often chase retention above all else. Everything is tuned to bring you back daily, which can make even good ideas feel like a chore. Smaller games tend to just want you to enjoy the thing and move on.

That doesn't mean indie equals good. For every gem there's a half-finished experiment that never found its footing. But the hit rate on personality is much higher.

When I find a small game with a strong idea and controls that respect the screen, I'll take that over a glossy, bloated release every time.