How we actually test whether a game works offline

People ask how we decide a game is truly offline, so here's the honest process. It's not complicated, but it's consistent, and that consistency is what keeps our catalog trustworthy.

First install happens on a normal connection. We play through the opening, hit the first save point, and get a feel for the core loop. Then the phone goes into airplane mode and we keep playing. If a menu freezes, an ad wall appears, or progress won't save, we note the exact spot.

We also relaunch the app cold while offline. A surprising number of games work fine mid-session but refuse to open again without a signal. That's a dealbreaker for anyone actually stuck on a plane, so we check it every time.

Battery matters too, at least loosely. If a game drains the phone fast, we mention it, because 'offline' is useless if your device dies an hour in. We're not running lab benchmarks, just noticing the obvious.

Only after all that do we write. If something in this routine breaks, it goes into the review in plain language, near the top. You shouldn't have to read to the end to learn a game needs the internet.