What separates a great mobile adventure from a frustrating one

I've bounced off a lot of adventure games because of one thing: puzzles that only make sense to the person who designed them. The great ones, like Hollow Lantern, always plant their clues somewhere you can find them.

Fairness is everything. If I solve a puzzle and think 'oh, that was clever,' the game did its job. If I solve it and think 'how was I supposed to know that,' it failed, even if I got through.

Atmosphere carries a lot of weight too. A moody lighthouse with rain on the windows makes me want to keep exploring in a way a sterile puzzle grid never will. The mood is part of the reward.

The last piece is a good hint system, tucked away so it never pesters you but ready when you're genuinely stuck. The best adventures let you choose your own level of challenge without breaking the spell.