How were mobile games controlled before the advent of touchscreens and nbsp?

Before touchscreens became prevalent, mobile games were primarily controlled using physical buttons and directional pads. Devices like early mobile phones and handheld gaming consoles featured keypads, dials, or joystick-like controls that players used to navigate menus and interact with games. Some devices also included styluses for touchscreen-like interactions on resistive screens, but these were less common. The limitations of these controls often shaped the design and complexity of mobile games during that era.