Progress happens while you are away. That is useful game design, but it also trains you to check whether something finished. A builder timer is basically a reason to reopen the app later.
Clan obligations make it feel urgent. War attacks, Clan War Leagues, donations, raid weekends, and clan chat are social pressure layered on top of progression. It is not just "I want to play"; it is "my clan might need me."
Season and event rewards add deadlines. Supercell says some Events include an Event Pass with extra rewards for milestones, and Clash of Clans has ongoing Season Pass changes, tasks, and rewards. Deadlines make checking feel productive.
The game gives you many small jobs. Collect resources, start an upgrade, train troops, claim rewards, check the shop, donate, attack, request troops, scout a base. None of these looks like a long session alone. Together, they become the habit.