Open the settings menu before you open the game

I've developed a ritual with any new install: before I touch the play button, I open the settings menu. It sounds fussy, but it's saved me from a lot of early frustration.

The first thing I check is controls — layout, sensitivity, and whether there's a left-handed or one-handed option. Getting this right before the first session means I'm never relearning muscle memory halfway through.

Then I look at graphics and battery. Many games hide a performance mode or a frame rate cap that the default never uses. Flipping it on costs me nothing I can see and keeps the phone cool.

Notifications are the last stop. Games love to beg you to come back, and a quick trip to the settings usually lets you silence the worst of it without uninstalling anything.

Two minutes up front, a much better experience after. I genuinely think the settings menu tells you a lot about how much a developer cared — a rich, well-labeled one is usually a good sign for the game as a whole.