How we actually test whether a game works offline

The single most important claim we make about any game here is whether it truly runs without internet. So we test it properly instead of trusting the store page. The method is unglamorous but it works.

First, we install and open the game once on wifi to let it pull down whatever assets it needs. Then we flip on airplane mode and try to actually play — start a level, save, quit, reopen, keep going. A surprising number of games fall apart at that last step.

We also run everything on a deliberately old test phone. If a game only feels smooth on a flagship, that's worth knowing, because plenty of people are playing on hardware that's a few years behind. Loading times and battery drain get noted too.

Finally, we play long enough to hit the point where offline games often trip up — usually a few hours in, when some hidden feature quietly wants a connection. If it never nags us, it earns the offline label. If it does, we say exactly where and how.