Atmosphere beats raw graphics every time

We talk a lot about how games look, but after playing Hollow Lantern I keep thinking about how games feel. That little adventure doesn't have cutting-edge visuals. It has mood, and that stuck with me far longer than any flashy effect.

The sound design does most of the heavy lifting. Wind through broken windows, the creak of old wood, the hum of your lantern. It builds a sense of loneliness that no amount of high-resolution textures could buy.

This is good news for anyone with an older phone. Atmosphere costs almost nothing in performance terms, which means a clever developer can hit you right in the feelings without draining your battery.

Next time you're choosing a game, don't just look at the screenshots. Watch a bit of footage with the sound on. The mood tells you more than the pixels ever will.