Plenty of puzzle games work without Wi-Fi, but not all of them. Apple Arcade games can be played offline, according to Apple, and many single-player games that save progress on your phone, like Merge Panda, run fine in airplane mode. Games that sync your progress to a server or depend on live events often refuse to start without a connection. LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum, for example, needs a constant internet connection. The only sure test is to switch on airplane mode and open the game before you leave home.
How to check if a game works offline #
Store listings rarely say clearly whether a game needs the internet. The airplane-mode test takes a minute:
- Download and open the game once with a connection. Many games download extra content or finish setup on first launch.
- Play past the tutorial. Some games only save progress locally after the first session.
- Force-close the game. Swipe it away from your app switcher.
- Turn on airplane mode. Make sure Wi-Fi is off too, since phones can keep Wi-Fi on in airplane mode.
- Open the game and play a full round. If it starts, plays and saves, you’re set. If it shows a “no connection” message or gets stuck loading, it needs the internet.
Do this at home, not at the gate. Updates can change how a game behaves, so re-test after a big update.
Why do some puzzle games need the internet? #
A game might need a connection for several reasons:
- Cloud saves and accounts. Games that store your progress on a server may check in before letting you play.
- Live events and daily rotations. Limited-time levels and events are often delivered from a server.
- Multiplayer and leaderboards. Anything involving other players needs a connection.
- Ads. Free games that rely on ads can’t load them offline. Well-built games simply skip the ad and let you keep playing; others block features that depend on them.
None of this is a problem at home, but it matters on flights, subways, road trips and in areas with patchy coverage.
Puzzle games you can play offline #
Merge Panda (free, iPhone and Android) #
Merge Panda is a drop-and-merge puzzle: you drop snacks into a bamboo crate, and two matching snacks merge into the next tier, up to the Emperor Panda. It works offline. There’s no account, and your progress, coins and missions are saved on your device. Daily missions are picked by date on your phone, so they work without a connection too.
Offline, the game is fully playable, but the ad-based offers won’t appear: no Panda Rescue at game over and no Double Coins on the results screen, because those need an ad to load. Everything else works as normal. For a quick rundown of how to play well, see our Merge Panda tips.
Apple Arcade games (subscription, Apple devices) #
Apple’s Arcade page says you can “play online or offline across your Apple devices,” and Arcade games have no ads and no in-app purchases. Arcade costs $6.99 a month and can be shared with up to five family members. Puzzle games in the Arcade lineup include:
- Suika Game+, the Arcade edition of the Suika watermelon game
- Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, Sega’s chain-reaction puzzler (an Arcade exclusive since April 2024)
- Cut the Rope Remastered (2021) and Cut the Rope 3 (2023), physics puzzles about feeding candy to Om Nom
Features like leaderboards still need a connection. Open each game once online after downloading so it’s fully set up.
Suika Game on Nintendo Switch #
The Switch version of Suika Game is a download that lives on your console. Its online features, like online versus, need a Nintendo Switch Online membership and a connection, so plan on single-player runs when you’re offline. For the rules, see how to play Suika Game.
Puzzle games that usually need a connection #
Big free-to-play puzzle games with live events and social features often need the internet. LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum, the long-running Disney matching game, requires a constant connection. If you’re not sure about a game, run the airplane-mode test.
Before a flight or road trip #
- Update everything at home. An update that starts downloading mid-trip can lock you out of a game until it finishes.
- Open each game once with a connection and clear any first-launch downloads.
- Check your storage. Games that can’t save because your phone is full may lose progress.
- Charge up or pack a battery. Games with physics and animation use more power than you’d expect.
- Pick at least two games. If one needs a connection after all, you have a backup.
For kids travelling with a tablet, offline play has a bonus: no connection means fewer ads and no accidental store visits. Our guide on whether merge games are good for kids covers what else parents should check.
Frequently asked questions #
Can you play Merge Panda without Wi-Fi? #
Yes. Merge Panda works offline, with progress saved on your device and no account needed. Offline, you won’t see the optional ad offers, the Panda Rescue and Double Coins, because those need an ad to load.
Do Apple Arcade games work offline? #
Apple says Arcade games can be played online or offline across your Apple devices. Open a game once with a connection after downloading it, and expect online-only features like leaderboards to wait until you’re back online.
Do free games work in airplane mode? #
Some do and some don’t. Games that save locally and only use the internet for ads usually work. Games built around accounts, live events or multiplayer often don’t. Test each game in airplane mode before you travel.
Does airplane mode stop ads in games? #
Usually, yes, because ads have to be downloaded. The game may still work, but ad-based rewards like extra lives or bonus coins won’t be available until you reconnect.
Why does my puzzle game say “no connection” when I’m offline? #
The game needs a server for something: logging in, syncing your save, loading events or checking a purchase. If it won’t start offline, it isn’t built for offline play, and you’ll need a connection to use it.