Flying or driving doesn’t have to be boring. Whether you’re stuck in a middle seat, driving in Europe, or just enjoying a window view without internet, offline mobile games can make long trips more enjoyable. The key is to download games that work without Wi-Fi and don’t require multiplayer, so you can stay entertained at cruising altitude.
Here’s a list of the top offline games for Android and iPhone, featuring both free and premium titles across various genres.
1. Monument Valley 1 & 2
Navigate a princess through stunning, impossible architecture in this elegant puzzle game. Twist staircases, move platforms, and reshape structures to create new paths:
- Why it’s great for flights: Relaxing pacing, beautiful visuals, and gentle puzzles make it perfect for unwinding. The short chapters fit well even with interruptions like announcements or snack service.
- Price: $3.99 each, or $6.99 for the bundle.
2. Alto’s Odyssey
This endless runner swaps chaos for calm as you sandboard across desert landscapes, leaping over rocks, performing flips, and discovering biomes like temples and canyons:
- Why it’s great for flights: Simple mechanics and serene visuals make it a meditative escape. Ideal for zoning out during long flights.
- Price: Free on Android, $4.99 on iOS.
3. Stardew Valley
Start with an overgrown farm and build your dream life. Plant crops, raise animals, mine for resources, fish, or make friends with quirky villagers in this beloved farming simulator:
- Why it’s great for flights: Deep gameplay that’s easy to pick up. Play for 15 minutes or hours, and always feel like you’re progressing.
- Price: $4.99.
4. Mini Metro
Design a subway system to meet growing demand in this minimalist strategy game. Draw routes, assign trains, and manage transfers to keep passengers moving smoothly:
- Why it’s great for flights: Satisfying and engaging without being stressful. Quick rounds make it ideal for short breaks between boarding calls.
- Price: $3.99.
5. Reigns / Reigns: Her Majesty
Rule a kingdom by swiping left or right to make decisions, balancing the needs of the church, army, people, and treasury. Fail, and your reign ends (often hilariously):
- Why it’s great for flights: Funny, sharp, and surprisingly deep for a swipe-based game. Plenty of endings to discover keep it engaging.
- Price: $2.99 each.
6. Limbo
This iconic indie puzzle-platformer features a shadowy, eerie world where a boy navigates traps and puzzles in search of answers:
- Why it’s great for flights: Fully offline and highly immersive. The minimalist design is captivating even without sound.
- Price: $3.99.
7. Plague Inc.
Take on the role of a villain by creating a virus to wipe out humanity. Upgrade traits, counter scientists, and outsmart efforts to stop you:
- Why it’s great for flights: Strategic and low-pressure. You can pause anytime to eat or nap and pick up where you left off.
- Price: $0.99.
8. Very Little Nightmares
Escape a sinister dollhouse filled with traps and monsters in this mobile adaptation of the console horror-puzzle game. Creepy but not graphic or gory:
- Why it’s great for flights: Intuitive puzzles and a dialogue-free story make it ideal for airplane mode. Short enough to complete on a long flight.
- Price: $6.99.
9. Hitman GO / Lara Croft GO / Deus Ex GO
These turn-based strategy games reimagine classic franchises as puzzle boards. Plan each move carefully to avoid enemies, collect items, and complete objectives:
- Why it’s great for flights: Each level is like a mini logic puzzle, perfect for mental stimulation without time pressure.
- Price: $4.99 each.
10. Oxenfree
Explore a mysterious island with friends in this supernatural narrative game. Make real-time choices that shape the story, with dialogue that feels natural and immersive:
- Why it’s great for flights: Plays like an interactive Netflix show. The story can be completed in one long flight, with multiple branching paths for replay value.
- Price: $4.99.
Whether you’re looking for relaxation, strategy, or adventure, these offline games will make your time in the air fly by.
