Offline iPhone games with no wifi needed
Many iPhone games work without wifi, but only some say so clearly. Frutelia plays fully offline (only its leaderboard and shop need a connection), and Bloons TD 6, The Battle of Polytopia, Chess Premium and several Apple Arcade games state in their App Store listings that they can be played offline.
Coming soon on iPhone
How we picked
Each game below says in its own App Store listing that it can be played offline. We checked the listings on the US App Store on . "Offline" usually means the main single-player game; online extras like multiplayer or leaderboards still need a connection.
1. Frutelia (our game)
Frutelia is made by us, so we put it first and say so. It is a fruit-merge puzzle in a glass jar, from cherry to watermelon, with short games that suit a metro ride. Once installed, the whole game runs on your iPhone: playing, combos, score, coins and power-ups all work in airplane mode. Only the world leaderboard and buying coins need internet. It has no ads, and sells optional coin packs.
| Frutelia feature | Without internet |
|---|---|
| Playing, combos, score | Yes |
| Best score and coins | Yes, saved on the iPhone |
| Upgrade and Delete power-ups | Yes |
| World leaderboard | Needs internet |
| Buying coins | Needs internet |
Other iPhone games that play offline
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Bloons TD 6 by Ninja Kiwi Paid app
Tower defense with monkeys and balloons. Its listing says single-player works offline. Paid, with in-app purchases.
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The Battle of Polytopia by Midjiwan AB Free
Turn-based strategy: grow a small tribe into an empire. Its listing says it can be played offline. Free, with in-app purchases.
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Chess Premium by Optime Software Paid app
Chess against the computer, with offline play, no Wi-Fi and no account according to its listing. No ads.
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Chess for Kids by Chess.com Free
Chess.com's app for children, playable online or offline according to its listing, in an ad-free environment.
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Subway Surfers+ by Sybo Games Apple Arcade
The endless runner in its Apple Arcade edition, listed as playable offline, with no ads or purchases.
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Zen Koi Pro+ by LandShark Games Apple Arcade
A calm game about raising koi fish, on Apple Arcade. Its listing says ad-free and playable offline.
Before you go: make offline games really work offline
- Open each game once with a connection. Some games download extra content or check your purchase on first launch.
- Install pending updates before you leave. Updating is the one thing you cannot do in the air.
- Test in airplane mode at home. Turn it on, start the game, play one round. It takes a minute and saves a disappointing flight.
- Charge up. Games with lots of physics or 3D use more battery; a short-session puzzle is gentler.
Good places to play offline
- On a plane: airplane mode, sometimes for hours. Strategy games and puzzles with short rounds work best.
- In the subway: signal comes and goes. A game that does not depend on it will not freeze between stations.
- Abroad: no roaming, no surprise data bill.
- On a child's device without a SIM: an offline game with no ads means no ad to tap by mistake.
Why offline and no ads often go together
Ads have to be downloaded, so a game built around ads needs a connection; without one, it may play with an empty banner or not start at all. Games paid for another way (a one-time price, Apple Arcade, or optional purchases) do not depend on the network to make money, which makes them better travel companions. See our list of iPhone games without ads, or read about Frutelia offline in detail.
