What are the best offline games? As much as we love a good online session, there’s no denying that online gaming brings with it a number of problems that classic offline games never have to deal with. The fact that you have to specifically search for offline games while you’re on the subway or on a flight is absurd. Fortunately, there are plenty of great offline games, whether you play on iOS or Android.
So we’ve gathered our favorite games, from quick arcade fixes to powerful console-quality titles. Many of them are among the best mobile games, and funnily enough, a few of them are also some of the best Apple Arcade games. Either way, from life simulators to roguelikes, there’s something for everyone.
Here are some of the best offline games for mobile devices:
Balatro
A game that qualifies as both one of the best mobile card games and one of the best roguelikes, Balatro is an indie game that perfectly blends the two genres and delivers a wonderfully unique experience. It’s poker inspired, but basically if you lose you can jump right back in and try again, buying recent cards to make your deck bigger and bigger to enhance your chances of playing better next time.
Perhaps the most invigorating element is the addition of joker cards. Every time you apply them, they will either multiply or add significantly to your final score. It’s a game that suffers from not sounding all that invigorating in writing, but trust me when I say it’s a lot more invigorating than it sounds. You get it once you play it – and hey, you can even play it for free with an Apple Arcade trial.
Stardew Valley
Stardew Valley is one of the most uplifting success stories in the indie space. It takes you to a tiny town, gives you a tiny farm, and slowly develops into a immense and deep simulation that is as much about parsnips as it is about human connection.
There are people to romance, dungeons to traverse, and, of course, fishing. What more could you ask for? Moreover, the Android version is an absolute ace, especially if you choose one of the best Android controllers. Turn your cell phone into a portable electric device and start farming, kid.
Check out our Stardew Valley Sebastian, Stardew Valley Fish, Stardew Valley Abigail for more.
Dead cells
When it arrived, Dead Cells sent a wave through roguelike space. With silky pixel graphics, slick and fierce combat, and endless, addictive and enticing hours of gameplay, this is an indie classic through and through.
We wouldn’t say playing on mobile is the best way to go, but it’s more than good enough. The pixel art appears on the tiny screen and is worth taking a closer look at. What’s more, it’s part of Apple Arcade if you’re a subscriber.
For more information, check out our Dead Cells: Return to Castlevania DLC review.
Bloons Tower Defense 6
Bloons Tower Defense occupied most of my childhood. Endless hours spent on some flash gaming website after a dull physics lesson were a joy, and now you can relive that same magic with the latest entry in the series.
BTD6 has the same setup as all previous games. You must stop the balloons from reaching the end of the winding path by positioning monkeys with different types of weapons to destroy them. It’s nice, maybe a little too much. Oh, and it’s on Apple Arcade!
Alt Adventure
Alto’s Adventure offers hours of snowboarding adventure with an easy-to-use, arcade-style hook that will keep you interested. As Alto, you have to slide down the mountain, perform tricks and collect little gadgets, all while catching escaped llamas.
It offers a very relaxing time, so maybe it’s not the kind of game you want to spend hours on a long-haul flight. But a quick subway ride with Alto by your side is a great way to take a break from your commute. Oh, and the sequel, Alto’s Odyssey, is also an ace – more than enough to keep you busy.
Read our review of Alto’s Adventure: The Spirit of the Mountain to learn more.
Minimetro
If you like Civilization VI, you probably also like maps and miniatures. Nothing is more map-obsessed than Mini Metro, a minimalist subway simulator puzzle game. You build subways for various cities around the world – and deal with the problems that arise there – all to a beautifully composed soundtrack.
Every inch of the Mini Metro has been exquisitely designed, maintaining minimalism while being legible, melodious and restrained; straightforward, handsome and useful. In my opinion, this is the most critical part of mobile gaming and a must-have for every mobile gaming fan.
Civilization VI
Ah, Civilization VI, the love of my life and the bane of my existence. This grand strategy game is all about colonization and conquest. Spending too much time on Twitter may be morally challenging to reconcile, but in reality it’s just an excellent game of strategy. From the first signs of life in 4000 BC to the first inhabitants of Mars, this game gives you a wide range of history that fits in the palm of your hand.
If it weren’t for the portable versions of this game, I wouldn’t have logged thousands of hours (I’m closer to ten thousand than zero…). It may not sound like a positive thing in your life, but it’s also pretty damn nice. The mobile version is more than good enough compared to its desktop counterpart.
Read our Civilization VI tier list to choose your best leader.
Dragon’s Quest
You can play a whole host of Dragon Quest games on your mobile device, and as one of the most revered JRPG series in history, it’s a great history lesson. Sure, the original DQ is very old-fashioned, but if you take your time, traveling through them all will be a pleasure.
This isn’t the ideal way to play them, but it is one of the few ways to play so many games on one mobile device. It’s worth the price, especially considering the hundreds of hours of gameplay it offers.
Check out our Dragon Quest Treasures review to learn more about the latest game in the series.
The ultimate fantasy
Much like DQ, there are plenty of Final Fantasy games on mobile that you can dive into. Perhaps the most legendary series in the history of RPG games. The mobile ports of Final Fantasy are somewhat controversial – but they’re good enough if you’re not a purist.
Diving into FFVI on a mobile device, for example, is a real treat. There is so much to see, so many people to meet, so much math to do. When I was a kid, I never would have thought that I would have hundreds of hours of great JRPGs in my pocket. What a delight.
For more information, check out our Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters Switch review.
Online motorsport
This may sound a little too absolutistic, but Grid Autosport is the only racing simulator that’s actually worth your time on handheld consoles. Both the mobile and Nintendo Switch versions are the only racing games with real depth available on mobile devices. At least if you care about realism.
With a wide range of cars and game modes, there is more than enough to do. But more than that, the driving experience in this game is unmatched, at least in the portable space. It requires a higher price, but it’s worth it.
Danganronpa
Danganronpa games are weird. They take you into the world of school kids trying to win murder on a reality TV show, all orchestrated by a spooky bear. Strange, right? Well, through many hours of murder and mystery, things get weirder and weirder.
However, the creators behind it, as we discussed in the Danganronpa interview, have no plans to stop the series. So if you want to keep up to date with this cult hit, download it to your mobile and experience the crazy horror in it.
Check out our Danganronpa games and Danganronpa character guides for a good dose of knowledge.
For more recommendations, check out our lists of the best fishing games, best volleyball games, and best FPS games. Each of them also has several offline games.
