Airplane mode approved
Games for when
there is no signal
Flights, tunnels, roaming abroad, a data plan that ran out on the 20th. These games still open, still save and still play when the bars disappear.
Top 10 offline mobile games
See the full list →Our test: install, open once, switch on airplane mode and play. If a game nags for a connection, it does not make the list.
- 01
Stardew Valley
A farming and life sim where you restore an old farm, fish, mine and befriend a small town. The mobile version is a one-time purchase with no ads, and single-player farms save and run without a connection, so it's the easiest recommendation for a game you can sink hours into anywhere.
- 02
Minecraft
The block-building sandbox needs no introduction: survive, mine and build in endless generated worlds. Single-player worlds are stored on the device and play fine offline; only Realms, servers and the Marketplace need the internet.
- 03
GRID DEFENSE: GRID WAR
100 free sci-fi tower defense scenarios, six heroes and a nuke button — fully playable offline.
- 04
Balatro
A roguelike built on poker hands, where you collect Jokers that bend the scoring rules into absurd combos. It's a paid, ad-free game with no online requirement, and a single run fits neatly into a commute or a layover.
- 05
Dead Cells
A fast 2D action roguelite with a shifting castle and permanent unlocks between deaths. The mobile port by Playdigious is a single purchase with custom touch controls and controller support, and the base game plays offline once installed.
Best offline games for a long flight
See the full list →- 01
Slay the Spire
The card-battling roguelike that started a genre: climb a tower, build a deck and fight through three acts. It's a premium mobile release with no ads or in-app purchases, and its endless replayability easily covers a long-haul flight.
- 02
Chrono Trigger
The classic time-travel RPG, sold on mobile as a one-time purchase that includes the extra content from the DS version. A full playthrough runs well over 20 hours, which is exactly what you want when there's no Wi-Fi for half a day.
- 03
Sid Meier's Civilization VI
The full turn-based empire builder on a phone or tablet, with the first 60 turns free and the full game as an in-app unlock. Unlock and download it before you fly; a single game can stretch across an entire trip.
New offline games of 2026
See the full list →- 01
BALL x PIT
The 2025 PC and console hit arrived on mobile with the same content as other platforms: bounce balls, fuse them into stronger ones and build up a base between runs. It's free to try with no ads, and one in-app purchase unlocks the full game.
- 02
ToyPang Defense
Cute toy tower defense with 20 maps and 20 bosses. Great for kids in the back seat.
- 03
Tomb Raider I-III Remastered
The first three Lara Croft adventures, remastered and brought to phones with modern or classic visuals. That's three full campaigns in one download, which makes it a strong pick for long trips.
20 more offline games
See the full list →- 01
The Room
A tactile 3D puzzle box game where you twist, slide and peer through a lens to open ever-stranger contraptions. It's a self-contained story you can finish on a single flight with no connection needed.
- 02
LIMBO
A black-and-white puzzle platformer about a boy searching a deadly, silent forest. The mobile release is a one-time purchase that runs completely offline, and its short, haunting run suits a commute or a long layover.
- 03
INSIDE
Playdead's follow-up to LIMBO: a moody side-scroller where a boy slips into a sinister facility. On iPhone you can try the opening for free and unlock the rest with one purchase, after which it plays fully offline.
- 04
Shattered Pixel Dungeon
An open-source, turn-based dungeon crawler where every run reshuffles the floors, loot and enemies. It has no ads in the core game and no need for a connection, and its quick turns make it ideal for short, interrupted sessions.
- 05
Reigns
You rule a medieval kingdom by swiping left or right on advisors' requests, trying to keep the church, people, army and treasury in balance. Each reign takes only minutes, so it's perfect for one-handed offline play.
- 06
The Battle of Polytopia
A bite-sized 4X strategy game where you expand a tribe across a small, randomly generated map in a set number of turns. Single-player games against the AI work offline, and a full match fits into a coffee break.
FAQ
How do I check if a game works offline?
Open it once online so it finishes setup, then enable airplane mode and relaunch it.
Do offline games still show ads?
Usually not while offline, since ads need a connection. Paid games typically have no ads at all.
Can I play Steam games offline?
Yes, if the game has no always-online requirement. Sign in to Steam once while online, then choose Steam > Go Offline before you lose the connection.
Do Apple Arcade games work offline?
Many do, but not all. Download the game fully, open it once online, then test it in airplane mode before your trip.