Top 10 best offline mobile games

The amount of mobile games on offer across Apple and Android devices is overwhelming, but you can trim down those numbers if you primarily focus on offline titles.   

It’s become a distinctly 21st century problem when your game cuts out while roaming due to a poor internet connection, despite online connectivity not even being fundamental to the title.   

Mobile developers are becoming more savvy to the issue, however, making many titles playable offline for use during flights or to save battery.   

So what are the best titles available for offline play? Here’s an essential rundown.   

What the Golf

Developed by Danish studio Triband, What the Golf is a golf game designed for people who hate golf; blending hilarious and absurd courses involving horses and putting houses.   

The whole premise steers closer to WarioWare than an actual golf title, with each course a constantly surprising escalation of physics-based giggles.   

What the Golf is available on Apple Arcade.   

Football Manager 2020 Mobile

Football Manager feels built for a mobile platform (Picture: EA) 

Football Manager feels like it was born to be played on portable devices; requiring very little technical flash and as a slow-paced strategy experience.   

The mobile version lacks some features from its console and PC counterparts, but it’s still an excellent transition to a small-screen device.   

Football Manager 2020 Mobile is available on Android and iOS.   

Minecraft

Take Minecraft on the move (Picture: Microsoft) 

After numerous updates through the years, Minecraft on mobile (formerly known as Pocket Edition) is now equivalent to the Windows 10 version – providing the entire experience at your fingertips.  

While you won’t have access to the vast range of mods out there, this portable version is still an excellent way to experience Minecraft in its addictive, creative glory.   

Minecraft: Pocket Edition is available on Android and iOS.   

Alto’s Odyssey

Alto's Odyssey is a sequel to Alto's Adventure (Picture: Team Alto) 

The follow-up to mobile classic Alto’s Adventure, Alto’s Odyssey largely sticks to the same formula as before but makes it more expansive in every way.   

If you’re unfamiliar, the game is an endless runner snowboarding game where you navigate across procedurally-generated landscapes, tapping the screen to perform jumps and tricks for high scores.   

Alto’s Odyssey is available on iOS and Android.   

Lara Croft Go

Lara Croft Go is spiritual sequel to Hitman Go (Picture: Square Enix) 

Released in 2015, Lara Croft Go is a turn-based puzzle game based in the Tomb Raider franchise – where players are tasked with navigating past obstacles by manipulating the environment.   

The game is a spiritual successor to Hitman Go, which was similarly critically praised.   

Lara Croft Go is available on Android, iOS and Windows.   

Grindstone

Grindstone is one of the best puzzle games of recent years (Picture: Apple) 

Apple launched its Apple Arcade games service to last year with an abundance of titles, but Grindstone was arguably the best of the bunch.  

A sword-slashing puzzle title from the creators of Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP and Might & Magic: Clash Of Heroes, this is an addictive title with 150 levels to soldier through.  

Grindstone is available on iOS.  

Limbo

Limbo helped start the indie gaming boom (Picture: Playdead) 

One of the titles which spawned the indie gaming boom on consoles, Limbo is a chilling, atmospheric side-scrolling platformer boasting stark black and white visuals. 

It’s a relatively short experience at 2-3 hours, but it’s an experience which will stay with you long after the credits have rolled.  

Limbo is available on iOS and Android.  

Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is a farm simulator in the style of Harvest Moon (Picture: Sickhead Games) 

Fancy a meditative RPG where you look after a farm plot? Stardew Valley allows you to grow crops, raise livestock, craft goods and socialise with townsfolk in an addictive farm simulator.  

The game itself has become a huge success for players who enjoy a more meditative gameplay style, or for those who crave the glory days of the Harvest Moon franchise.  

Stardew Valley is available on iOS and Android. 

Crashlands

Released in 2016, Crashlands is an action-adventure RPG where players are tasked with collecting items to craft tools like weapons and armour.  

It’s been heavily compared to Don’t Starve, but it’s the fantastic writing which lifts this mobile experience.  

Crashlands is available on iOS and Android.  

Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is on mobile (Picture: Square Enix) 

If you’re anticipating the remake on PlayStation 4, you can try out the original RPG classic on the move in this surprisingly great mobile port.  

It’s not the optimum experience of course, but it’s a worthwhile option if you missed (or want to revisit) the 1997 PlayStation One original.  

Final Fantasy VII is available on iOS and Android.