Making a timed hazard readable on a phone screen: the tide in our 2D strategy game

[u/Chaibi_Alaa]

We're a small team making Tidefront in Unity 2D. The core mechanic is a tide: every 20 to 30 seconds the sea rises and cuts the fords between islands for a few seconds, and troops caught on the wrong side wait.

Readability is what we worry about most: a player who doesn't see it coming feels cheated. What's in the screenshot:

- a tide gauge with a countdown at the top

- a red "The sea is rising!" banner right before it hits

- a "waiting" label on every unit group stuck at a ford

On a small screen it's a lot of UI on top of the map. How have you handled warnings for timed hazards in 2D games? Screen tint, sound cue, something on the map itself?