- What does offline mean for a game?
- Which kinds of offline games are there?
- Offline game types compared
- What parts of an offline game still use the internet?
- How can you tell if a game will work offline?
- Where can you find good offline games?
- Are offline games a good choice for children?
- Frequently asked questions
Offline games are games that run fully on your own phone, tablet, computer or console once they're installed, so you can play them with no internet connection. You still need the internet to download them, and extras such as updates, ads, sign-in, cloud saves and leaderboards may only work when you're connected.
Last checked: October 2026.
People search for offline games for all sorts of reasons. The wifi on the train keeps dropping, the kids need something for a long car journey, your mobile data is running low, or you simply want a game that doesn't nag you to connect every five minutes. The trouble is that the word offline gets stretched a lot on app listings, so it helps to know what it should mean before you download anything.
This guide explains what offline games are, the main types you'll come across, what still tends to need a connection, and a quick way to test any game yourself. Every platform detail here comes from the official help pages of Apple, Google, Sony and Nintendo, or from the game's own store listing.
What does offline mean for a game?
An offline game is one that runs entirely on your own device. Once it's installed, the game logic, the levels and your progress all live on your phone, tablet, computer or console, so you can start it and play it with wifi and mobile data switched off.
That's different from an online game, where the action happens on a server somewhere else. Multiplayer shooters, live quiz games and most battle royale titles need that server for every match, so they stop the moment your connection drops.
There's also a middle group, and it's the one that causes most of the confusion. These games let you play the main part offline, but some extras still reach out to the internet. You'll often see that described on a listing as playable offline, and it's usually true for the core game.
Which kinds of offline games are there?
Offline games come in a few broad types. Knowing which type you've got tells you a lot about what will and won't work without a signal.
Single-player mobile apps
These are the games most people mean. Racing, puzzle, strategy and card games often run on the device with no server involved. Hill Climb Racing is a good example: its listings on Google Play and the App Store both say it's playable completely offline. The Battle of Polytopia's listings say it can be played offline too.
Games built into your browser
Some browsers hide a small game for when you lose your connection. Google's own blog explains that the Chrome dinosaur game appears on the new tab page when Chrome is offline, and you press the spacebar to start running. Microsoft says Edge has a surfing game you can play when you're offline or by typing edge://surf in the address bar. If you'd like the full how-to for the dinosaur, I've written up how to play the Chrome dino game offline.
Console games with downloaded content
Disc games and downloaded games on consoles can often be played without a connection, but the console usually needs to know the game is yours. Sony's support page says that when Console Sharing and Offline Play is turned on, anyone using that PS5 can play your games and media even when the console is offline. Nintendo says that once a virtual game card is loaded on a Switch, all users on that console can play the software without an internet connection.
Board, card and logic puzzle apps
Chess, solitaire, sudoku and logic puzzle collections are often the most reliable offline choices because they don't need anyone else to play. Simon Tatham's Puzzles on Google Play describes itself as a set of single-player logic puzzles that's free, has no ads and is playable offline.
Offline game types compared
Here's a quick reference for the main types, with an example of each and the parts that tend to need a connection.
| Type | Example | What usually still needs internet |
|---|---|---|
| Single-player mobile app | Hill Climb Racing | The first download, updates, ads, any cloud save |
| Strategy app | The Battle of Polytopia | The first download, updates, any multiplayer games |
| Logic puzzle app | Simon Tatham's Puzzles | The first download and updates |
| Browser game | Chrome dinosaur game | Nothing, it appears when you're offline |
| Console game (PS5) | Any downloaded game you own | Turning on Console Sharing and Offline Play first, online modes |
| Console game (Switch) | Any downloaded game you own | Loading the virtual game card, Nintendo Switch Online classic titles |
What parts of an offline game still use the internet?
Even a game that's happy offline will usually want a connection at certain moments. It helps to know them so you're not caught out on a plane or in a campsite with no signal.
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- The first download. You'll always need a connection to install the game. Some games also fetch extra files the first time you open them, so open it once while you're still on wifi.
- Updates. New versions come down over the internet. If a game insists on an update before it starts, you'll need to connect.
- Ads. Free games often show ads, and those come from the internet. Many games simply skip the ad when there's no connection.
- Signing in. Accounts, profiles and some console checks need a connection, at least the first time.
- Cloud saves. Your progress may sync to an online account. Offline, it'll usually save on the device and sync later.
- Leaderboards, daily challenges and events. Anything that compares you with other players or changes every day comes from a server.
- Multiplayer. Playing against other people over the internet won't work, though some games have a two-player mode on the same device.
If you want the longer version of this, with what you can do about each one, I've covered it in a separate guide.
How can you tell if a game will work offline?
Store listings are a decent starting point. On Google Play, some game listings show an Offline tag alongside the genre tags under the description. Read the description too, and look for phrases like playable offline or no internet required. Then test it yourself before you rely on it:
- Install the game while you're on wifi.
- Open it once while you're still connected and let it finish any extra downloads.
- Close the game fully.
- Turn on Airplane Mode. On iPhone, Apple's support page says to open Control Center and tap the Airplane Mode button. On Android, Google's help says to swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Airplane mode.
- Check that wifi is off too, because both phones let you switch it back on while Airplane Mode is on.
- Open the game and play a full level or round, then close it and reopen it to check your progress saved.
If it passes those steps, you're good to go. If it shows a message asking you to connect, that mode needs the internet and you'll want to look for a different mode or a different game.
Where can you find good offline games?
Once you know what you're looking for, finding them gets much easier. I keep a list of good offline mobile games that work without wifi for phones and tablets, and a guide to finding offline games that don't need wifi if you'd rather search for your own. Whichever route you take, stick to Google Play, the App Store and official game sites. Files from unknown download sites can carry malware, and they're not worth the risk for a free game.
Are offline games a good choice for children?
For a lot of families, yes. A game that runs with no connection can't open web pages, can't show internet ads and can't connect your child to strangers through chat. A simple habit helps: choose the game, open it once on wifi, then switch the device into Airplane Mode before you hand it over.
It's still worth checking the age rating on the store listing and having a look at the game yourself first. Offline doesn't automatically mean suitable, it just means fewer surprises.
For the rest of the series, see the Free Games to Play Offline and Online: Every Guide in One Place (2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is an example of an offline game?
Hill Climb Racing is a well-known one. Its listings on Google Play and the App Store both say it's playable completely offline. The Chrome dinosaur game is another, because it appears in the browser when you have no connection.
Do offline games use mobile data?
The game itself shouldn't, but downloads, updates, ads and cloud saves can. If you want to be sure, turn on Airplane Mode or switch off mobile data for that game in your phone's settings.
Are offline games free?
Many are free to download, and plenty of free ones work offline. Some include in-app purchases or a premium upgrade, so read the listing before you install.
Can you play console games offline?
Often, yes. Sony says Console Sharing and Offline Play lets people play your games on that PS5 when it's offline. Nintendo says a loaded virtual game card lets everyone on that Switch play without an internet connection. Online modes still need a connection.
Why does an offline game ask me to connect?
Usually it wants an update, a sign-in, an ad, a cloud save or a daily event. Opening the game once on wifi after installing it fixes the most common case.
