Puzzle games built for a five-minute commute

Not every game fits a commute. Some need twenty uninterrupted minutes, which you never get on public transport. The best commute puzzles let you stop mid-level without losing progress.

Gridlock Genius is my current pick for this. Each puzzle is self-contained, so if the doors open and it's your stop, you just close the app. The daily generated puzzle gives me a small ritual every morning too.

Look for games that save state instantly and don't punish you for leaving. Anything with a hard timer or a punishing streak system is a bad commute companion, because life will interrupt you.

The sweet spot is a puzzle you can solve in under a few minutes but still feel clever about. That little dopamine hit is the whole point of pulling your phone out on a crowded platform.