Quick arcade games for dead time

Arcade games live or die by their first thirty seconds. If I can't understand the loop almost immediately, it's gone. The great ones teach you everything through play, no walls of text required.

The sweet spot is a game where rounds last a minute or two but the skill ceiling is high. That combination means you can play one quick round or chase a high score for an hour, and both feel fine.

One-handed control is underrated here. Half the time I'm playing while holding a bag or standing on a train. A game that needs two thumbs and your full attention isn't an arcade game, it's a commitment.

My pick of the moment leans on timing and reflexes rather than memorisation, which keeps it fresh every round. That replayability is the whole point.