

Using a controller like Backbone allows the annoying onscreen control overlays to disappear, and your thumbs aren’t always in front of the screen either. I’ve talked about it before, but it was a multi-hour JRPG designed and developed by a stellar team and is iPhone-only. In particular, it was Fantasian that sold me. Since then, with services like Apple Arcade, Microsoft’s Cloud Gaming, and Google Stadia, I thought it might be time to buy myself a Backbone and try it out. Particularly a Nintendo Switch, if I wanted to bring it out of the house with me. But for anything more substantial, well, I had all of the consoles. Sure, mobile was perfect for the random, casual game I could play on the subway on my way to work. The idea of playing games on mobile has always been something that I felt wasn’t particularly suited to me. Backbone, on the other hand, was much slimmer and more nicely designed.

Including the Razer Kishi, all of the mobile controllers I had seen before looked bulky and quite frankly bad compared to Backbone. The main thing that stood out to me at first was the design. But as I’ll explain, once I had it in my hands, my thoughts completely changed. It just wasn’t something I found interesting. When a friend first sent me a link to the Backbone One, I brushed it off. Thanks! Playing Apple Arcade games on an iPhone 12 with a Backbone One controller If used to make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
