How we test whether a game really works offline

People sometimes ask how we decide a game is 'offline enough' for the site. It's not a vibe — we have an actual routine, and it's a little tedious on purpose.

First we install, open the game once with a connection, then close it. Then we switch the phone to airplane mode and try to do everything: start a level, save, quit, reopen. If anything stalls or demands reconnection, we note it.

We also check what happens over several days offline. Some games quietly expire your progress or lock features behind a check-in. Those get flagged clearly in the review.

Finally, we restart the phone mid-session to see if the save survives. It sounds paranoid, but a lost save on a flight is the worst way to learn a game cheated on its promises.