Arcade racers are the perfect five-minute game

Not every game needs to eat your evening. Sometimes you want five minutes of speed in a waiting room, and that's where arcade racers earn their keep.

The genre is built for short bursts. One race, one win, phone back in pocket. Nitro District nails this: quick load, instant handling, a drift button that feels good from the first corner.

I steer clear of racers that drown you in menus before a race. The good ones get you onto the track in seconds and save the tuning for when you actually want it.

Keep one on your phone for the dead moments. It's a low commitment that pays off every time you're stuck waiting for something.