I want to give you a million internets for the title alone. <3

How so? A mouse requires a (reasonably sized) flat surface to use while a gamepad requires none.

He mentioned being on the move. Where would he carry a gamepad?

It's just me assuming things though.

I carry a gamepad around with me in my laptop bag, though that is by no means a "only fits a laptop in it" kind of bag :)

Duke Nukem Manhattan Project was lots of fun to play on the keyboard.

Earthworm Jim was really frustrating on the keyboard and I quit. A lot of enemies come at you diagonally. You can sometimes get that diagonal shot with two arrow keys, but I found it dificult. I think that game really needs a joystick.

If you like pinball, there are a bunch of games here that only need the keyboard.

Also, if you are willing to consider using your touchpad for turn based combat, there are a bunch of games here. I would probably start with Fallout.

I'm basking in the title-love, should have known if there was anywhere people would get it, it'd be here :D I guess the Quest games would indeed be good to try, didn't know they'd be playable sans-mouse.

I, too, remember Descent on a 486 with keyboard control only - fantastic. I was one of those weird people who took ages to adapt to using a mouse for FPS games too, I still used keyboard only on Quake fer chrissake... Force of habit from being obsessed with Doom and it's up/down autoaim I guess...

In a pocket? If he can carry a laptop, he can carry a gamepad.