How we actually test offline games

People ask how we decide if a game is truly offline. The short answer: airplane mode and a stopwatch. The longer answer involves a few old phones and a lot of patience.

First we install with a connection, then cut the network completely and relaunch. If the game refuses to start, that's an instant note. Then we play deep enough to hit menus, saves and later levels, because some games only reach for the internet after the first chapter.

We also watch battery and storage. A game that eats 3GB or drains your battery in twenty minutes isn't great for the exact situations offline games are meant for, like long trips.

None of this is glamorous, but it's why our offline tag means something. If we say it works without a signal, we've checked it on more than one device.