How we test whether a game really works offline

'Works offline' gets thrown around loosely on app stores. A game might load offline but still block half its features behind a connection. So we built a small routine to check for real.

Step one is installing the game with a connection, then immediately switching the phone to airplane mode. If the game refuses to launch or throws you at a login screen, that's an instant fail for our offline tag.

Step two is playing through actual content, not just the menu. We complete a few levels, save, close the app fully, and reopen it still offline. Progress that doesn't survive that cycle is a dealbreaker.

We also watch for ad walls. Some games gate progress behind ads that need data, which quietly breaks the offline promise. If you can only advance by watching a video, we note it clearly in the review.

None of this is complicated, but it takes a bit of patience most rushed reviews skip. It's why our offline recommendations tend to hold up when you're actually far from a signal.