1. Retro Goal
Available on: iOS / Android Why do mobile football games always insist on 3D graphics that tend to make the games feel insufferably slow-paced while crippling performance (yes, you FIFA). Retro Goal from the developers behind New Star Soccer, takes us back to the 16-bit era, offering a fast and fluid footy experience that just feels right on the phone. It looks and feels great, has tons of teams from across Europe, simple on-field and management mechanics, and a compelling season system that keeps you kicking
2. Spaceteam
Available on: iOS / Android Whether your friends are gamers or not, Spaceteam is a delightful party game to crack out during a drinks evening with friends, or right after dinner. Everyone downloads the game to their phone, then all your phones connect either by Wi-Fi or Bluetooth (not technically online, as you only need to connect locally) to give each of you control of a different part of a spaceship cockpit. You all take it in turns to blurt out ridiculous orders to your team, getting players to pull switches, twiddle knobs, and all shake your phones like madmen when entering an asteroid field. It’s really raucous party-game fun, and can be enjoyed with up to eight people.
3. Eternium
Available on: iOS / Android Mobile ARPGs have had a long time to get to grips with making those hack-and-slash mechanics feel just right on small screens, and it feels like Eternium is the one to have finally done it. There are in-app purchases, but no obnoxious paywalls to stop you enjoying the game for free (and offline) It has a unique spellcasting system, where you draw symbols on your screen to cast certain spells, while also swiping away with your melee weapon to keep the battalions of ghouls, robots, aliens and – of course – dragons from shredding you up. With Diablo Immortal taking its time in coming out, it’ll have a tough time budging this excellent indie ARPG from its perch. And just as well, because everything about this game suggests it’s a labor of love that deserves its success.
4. Google Dinosaur Game
A perennial favorite of the “offline” games crowd, Google’s Dinosaur game is as basic as it gets. Open Chrome on either your Android or iPhone, type in chrome://dino, tap on the dinosaur and begin. As you progress throughout the game, tap on the screen to make your dinosaur jump over the cacti. As your score grows, so too does the speed at which the screen and your reflexes move. You can even set Chrome dino as a widget on your iPhone home screen. Separately, look to ChromeDino.com as a mobile-friendly alternative way to play if Chrome is not installed on your smartphone.
5. Pocket City
Available on: iOS / Android Pocket City is a fantastic offline game for players who enjoy building up a city, taxing residents and giving them beautiful places to visit. It’s everything you know and love about SimCity without a lot of fluff. Unlock new content as the game progresses and find the right balance of taxes so that you can fund new entertainment centers and provide public transportation for all. A one-time cost of $2.99 ensures you can stay away from microtransactions and in-app purchases for good.
6. Dead Cells
Available on: iOS / Android One of the most praised mobile gaming titles, Dead Cells is a frustratingly great game to enjoy. You’ll need catlike reflexes with the controls. It costs $8.99 ahead of any in-app purchases for additional gaming content. Rest assured that your patience will be tested, as there is only so much health in your status bar, and once it runs out, you have to start the game again. The good news is that gameplay is nonlinear, so no two playthroughs are the same.
7. Plague, Inc.
Available on: iOS / Android Sure, a title called Plague, Inc. seems a little sensitive given the current world climate, but rest assured the game was released well before COVID became a household word. In this title, your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to infect the world with a pathogen. If you can set the real-world tone aside, this offline title is tons of fun with strong replay value. There is a good reason the game has consistently been near or at the top of both Google Play and Apple’s App Store since its release.
8. GRID Autosport
Available on: iOS / Android When it comes to racing games on mobile, there is no title that does it better than GRID Autosport. If you want something immersive that makes you feel like you are behind the wheel of an actual race car, this is the title for you. For $9.99, the console-quality graphics put you behind the wheel of 100 different cars and an equal number of different circuits. The graphics are simply outstanding for a game you can play on your phone, and the audio from each car feels realistic. Best of all, there is no Internet required.
9. Alto’s Odyssey
Available on: iOS / Android A perennial “best of” title, thanks to the popularity of its predecessor, Alto’s Odyssey is a great game for offline play. What appears to be a simple game of endless running or snowboarding is actually something far more difficult. Between weather effects like rainbows and fog, you’ll have to master your reflex timing to progress. The minimalist design and pleasing audio is both relaxing and immersive all at once. The entirety of the $4.99 game is offline, and that’s true of all the 180 goals you’ll have to hit in order to become the ultimate snowboarding master.
10. Stardew Valley
Available on: iOS / Android Stardew Valley needs little introduction, thanks to its popularity across nearly every console, PC and mobile format. This farm/town management game is a massive hit. Your character moves to the countryside inheriting fields and land that must grow into a bountiful farm. Play for a few minutes at a time or try all 50 hours of anticipated gameplay all at once. Either way, you’ll grow crops, raise animals, marry a partner and become an integral part of the local community. Stardew Valley is absolutely one of the most immersive games on mobile.
11. Grimvalor
Available on: iOS / Android Beautifully designed and played, Gimvalor requires you to slash your way “through the hordes of darkness,”. The graphics are as gorgeous today as they were back in 2018 when the game was released. External controller support only adds to the value of the title. This game is free to download on Android with a $6.99 in-app purchase. iPhone customers will pay $6.99 upfront with no-in app purchases.
12. Kingdom Rush Vengeance
Available on: iOs / Android Tower defense games are a dime a dozen, but Ironhide has become a staple developer for outstanding titles. Ironhide, developer of Kingdom Rush Vengeance, may just be the pinnacle of Tower Defense mobile gaming. For $4.99, the cartoonish nature of the game is incredibly well done, enabling you to go into battle with heroes, special powers, plenty of upgrades and more enemies than you know what to do with. With no shortage of content and plenty of replayability, this is a must-own offline title.
13. Reigns: Her Majesty
Available on: iOS / Android When it comes to unique mobile gaming titles, Reigns: Her Majesty is definitely one of the more interesting titles. This swipe game sounds really simple at first. You’re required to make critical decisions by just swiping left – but there’s much more to it. Every decision you make impacts your next choice, and if you are not careful, your reign as king will quickly come to an end. Frequent updates over the years has made this title a huge hit and, at $2.99, a great value. Can you outlast those who want you off the throne? There is only one way to find out.
14. Crossy Road
Available on: iOS / Android Crossy Road echoes the same style of gameplay as Frogger along with a similar visual look, and it’s a ton of fun. Your goal is simple: guide your character – or in this case, the chicken – across the road and various obstacles that are before you. There are more than 150 characters available, along with roads, trains, rivers and more to test your reflexes with each playthrough. The game is free to play with additional characters available as an in-app purchase.
15. Monument Valley 2
Available on: iOS / Android Like a few other titles on this list, Monument Valley 2 needs no introduction. This is another game that easily ranks as one of the best-known mobile titles of all time. Priced at $4.99, you get hours and hours of offline play. Released in 2017, it’s definitely an older title, but it’s as if the game hasn’t aged at all.
16. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Available on: iOS / Android One of the best titles in the Grand Theft Auto series, San Andreas is the best of the GTA titles on mobile. Best of all, there is no Internet required whatsoever. You play as Carl Johnson and you are trying to better yourself in a city full of violence and corruption. The graphics are outstanding for mobile gaming, and it has optional controller support as well. There is support for dozens of models on both platforms and more than 70 hours of gameplay available.
17. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
Available on: iOS / Android Arguably one of the best Star Wars games of all time, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is a must-play. The entry price, at $9.99, is an absolute bargain compared to the deep gameplay. It’s 4,000 years before the Galactic Empire, and it’s your job to lead a party of either heroes or villains and save the galaxy. Have you ever wanted to build your own lightsaber? Now you can.
1. How many more offline titles are there in all?
There are tens of thousands. The App Store and Play Store are both full of titles that can be played offline. Some of them are available to play for free, while others require a purchase. They span a huge set of genres and age ranges and include everything from quick games to titles that you dive into for hours.
2. If I pay once, do I need to pay again?
If an app has a one-time purchase initially, you won’t have to pay for the full app again. However, there may be separate in-app purchases that you can take advantage of. A great example is Kingdom Rush’s one-time purchase that gives you the full game. However, if you want to power up or earn heroes faster, you can pay a small in-app purchase and advance quickly.
3. Are there games that are only for Android or iOS?
Absolutely. The games on this list span both platforms because cross-platform availability is important. There are definitely exclusive games to each platform that you can’t play elsewhere, and that, too, is a good thing.
Wrapping Up
While consoles and PC certainly dominate the gaming space, writing off mobile gaming as inferior would absolutely be a mistake. That so many of them can be played offline at any time is even more reason to give the titles above a good look. Don’t forget to look at the best mobile phones for gaming as well, and the neat little games you can play directly through your Android browser.
