How we actually test whether a game is offline

Every game on this site earns its spot by passing one boring but important test: we play it with the internet off. It sounds obvious, but you'd be amazed how many 'offline' games quietly need a connection to do anything useful.

First we install over Wi-Fi and let everything download. Then we switch on airplane mode and just try to play. We open every menu, start a new game, load a save, and see what breaks. If a reconnect prompt appears, we note exactly when.

Some games are offline for the main mode but lock extras behind a connection. That's fine, as long as we tell you. The frustrating ones are those that pretend to be offline and then freeze the moment you lose signal.

We also check saves. A proper offline game keeps your progress on the device, so a dead connection never costs you an hour of play. That single detail separates the good from the merely marketed.