How we test whether a game really works offline

Every game we recommend goes through the same check. We install it, turn on airplane mode before the first launch, and see what happens.

Some games open fine and then quietly ask to reconnect three levels in. Those don't make our list. We note exactly where and why a title breaks without a signal.

We also test on a deliberately old phone. A game that only runs on flagships isn't much use to most readers, so performance on weaker hardware counts.

Finally we play for hours across several days. First impressions lie; a game that dazzles for ten minutes can bore you by day three. We wait to find out.