Why we care so much about offline play

Every game on this site has to pass one test: does it work with the internet switched off? It sounds simple, but it filters out an astonishing number of titles that pretend to be single-player while quietly phoning home.

Offline play isn't just about planes and tunnels. It's about a game that doesn't interrupt you, doesn't sync a leaderboard mid-thought, and doesn't stop working when a server somewhere gets retired. Games you own, not games you borrow.

There's also a focus argument. A game that can't reach the internet can't nudge you with notifications or dangle timed events. That quiet is a feature. Some of the most relaxing sessions I've had came from games that simply left me alone.

So when we recommend something here, know that we've flipped that airplane switch and confirmed it holds up. That's the promise, and we don't break it.