How we test whether a game really works offline

People ask how we can be sure a game is truly offline. The answer is boring but reliable: we put the phone in airplane mode and try to break it.

First we install the game with a connection, since almost everything needs the network for the initial download. Then, before touching gameplay, we cut the signal entirely and see whether the game even launches.

After that it's about the edges. We save mid-level and reopen. We leave it running overnight. We try every menu to see if something quietly needs the internet — cloud saves, leaderboards, ad-gated features. Those all count against a game's offline score.

We also test on an older, slower phone. A game can be technically offline but so heavy it stutters on anything but a flagship, and that's worth flagging too.

Only after a few days of this do we write the review. It's not glamorous, but it's the reason our offline label means something.