Setlifestyle Setlifestyle

Offline Games Without Wi-Fi

By the Setlifestyle editorial team · Last updated 2 November 2026

Long journeys, patchy signal, limited data plans and power cuts all make offline games valuable. The difficulty is that the word offline is used loosely. A game may work without a connection for some levels but still need the internet for its first launch, for updates or for events. This guide explains what offline can mean, how to test a game before you rely on it and which popular games mention offline play on their store listings. The details come from those listings at the time we added each game and can change, so check the current page before a trip.

What offline can mean

  • Fully offline. The core game works without any connection.
  • Offline with online extras. Levels or modes work offline, while events, leaderboards and cloud saves need a connection. Homescapes and Gardenscapes, for instance, say a connection is not required to play but is needed for competitions and additional features.
  • Needs a first download. Some games must fetch extra files the first time you run them. The listing for Angry Birds 2 mentions a one-time download of additional content that cannot be completed offline.
  • Online only. Multiplayer and live-service games need a connection throughout.

How to test a game before you travel

  1. Install the game on Wi-Fi and open it, then finish any first-run download or tutorial.
  2. Switch on airplane mode and play for several minutes, including one level or match.
  3. Close the game fully and open it again, still offline, to check that it starts and keeps your progress.
  4. Sign in to any account you need before you leave, because login screens often fail offline.
  5. Update the game and your phone beforehand, and free enough storage.

Remember that ads usually need a connection too. Offline, you may simply see none, and rewarded options such as watching a video for a hint may be unavailable.

Puzzle, word and card games

Puzzle games are the most reliable offline choices. The store listings for Woodoku, Tetris and Sudoku.com mention offline play. Spider Solitaire, FreeCell Solitaire and Solitaire by MobilityWare describe working without Wi-Fi, and Jigsaw Puzzles lets you keep puzzles available offline. Physics puzzles such as Cut the Rope and Cut the Rope 2 are also described as playable offline, and many levels of Candy Crush Saga, Candy Crush Soda Saga and Farm Heroes Saga support offline play, though events and rewards need a connection.

Arcade and racing games

Endless runners suit short offline sessions. The listings for Temple Run, Temple Run 2 and Crossy Road mention offline play, and Hungry Shark Evolution describes an offline open-world experience. Hill Climb Racing is described as playable completely offline, while its sequel Hill Climb Racing 2 is built around online races, so choose the original when you will be without signal.

Board, sports and strategy games

Ludo King has an offline mode against the computer and a pass-and-play mode for several people sharing one phone. Carrom Pool supports offline play, Chess.com mentions offline games against the computer, and Soccer Stars lets you play offline against a friend on the same device. For strategy, Kingdom Rush is described as an offline tower defence game, Bloons TD 6 mentions single-player offline play and Township says a connection is not required to play. Idle Miner Tycoon offers an offline mode, although its earnings are smaller when you are away.

Games that need a connection

Some popular games are built around the internet. The store listing for Cooking Fever says it requires access to the internet, and Dream League Soccer and EA SPORTS FC Mobile state that an internet connection is required. Microsoft Solitaire Collection mentions a persistent connection, Basketball Stars needs one, and the Supercell titles Clash of Clans, Clash Royale and Hay Day state that a network connection is required. None of these is a problem at home, but they are poor choices for a flight.

A short travel checklist

  • Pick two or three games from the offline lists and test them in airplane mode.
  • Download updates and finish first-run downloads on Wi-Fi.
  • Charge your phone, carry a power bank and consider battery saver mode.
  • Check your free storage, because large games may need extra data.
  • Bring headphones for shared spaces.

Logins, saves and storage

Offline play also depends on your account and your phone. If a game uses a login or cloud save, sign in while you are online so that your progress is stored on the device, and avoid reinstalling just before a trip, because a fresh install may need to download files again. Large games can ask for several hundred megabytes of extra data, so check free storage and your mobile-data settings. Finally, remember that offline progress usually syncs the next time you connect, so do not be alarmed if scores, rewards or purchases appear only after you are back online.

Store listings change, so treat this guide as a starting point. A five-minute airplane-mode test is the only way to be sure a game will work when you need it.