Ninja Run

A ninja runs forward without stopping across rooftops and city walls, slicing through obstacles and leaping the gaps between them. The interesting part is that both actions share a single button: the game reads what is in front of you and decides whether this press means a cut or a jump.

Collapsing two commands into one is smarter than it first appears. On a touch screen with no physical buttons to feel for, two on-screen controls usually lead to presses landing between them. With only one, that whole class of mistake disappears and nothing is left but timing.

The trade is that you give up choice. Sometimes you would rather vault over an enemy than cut through, and the decision has already been made for you. Players who like controlling every detail may bristle at first, while anyone who wants a game they can run with one finger will appreciate exactly this call.