7 Best Free Offline Games for iPhone and iPad

Some of the best mobile games are the ones that work when your connection does not. On a flight, in a tunnel, on a long commute or in a dead zone, an offline game is the difference between a boring hour and a good one. The seven games below are all free to download on the App Store, all work offline, and all were checked on their official App Store listings before we wrote this.

One honest note on the word offline: the App Store does not label games as offline, so we checked each listing ourselves. All seven are single-player games whose main mode does not need an internet connection. Hill Climb Racing's own description says it is playable offline, and a Crossy Road player review on its listing calls it an awesome offline, no-WiFi game. Optional features such as leaderboards and seasonal events need a connection, and so do the ads in some games, so download them on Wi-Fi before you travel.

Young man playing mobile games on a sofa

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels. This is a stock illustration, not a screenshot of any game.

1. Crossy Road — Hipster Whale, 4.7 stars

Crossy Road is the endless arcade hopper from Hipster Whale, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 741,000 ratings on the App Store, where it is an Editors' Choice and an Apple Design Award winner. The idea is simple: hop your character across roads, rivers and railways without getting hit, and see how far you can get. There are hundreds of characters to collect, from a chicken to a pigeon to a unihorse, and the one-tap controls make it perfect for playing with one hand on a bus or a train. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, and it works on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the purest pick-up-and-play game on this list, and it never asks you to be online to enjoy it.

2. Subway Surfers — SYBO Games, 4.6 stars

Subway Surfers from SYBO Games is one of the most downloaded games ever, with 3.9 million ratings and a 4.6-star average on the App Store, where it is also an Editors' Choice and currently number six in the Action chart. You dash along the tracks, dodge trains, collect coins and outrun the inspector and his dog, with new cities and characters arriving in regular updates: the current event is the Shenzhen Showdown. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, for ages 9 and up.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the endless runner that defined the genre, and it is still at the top of the charts more than a decade after launch.

3. Temple Run 2 — Imangi Studios, 4.5 stars

Temple Run 2 from Imangi Studios is the sequel to the original endless runner, rated 4.5 out of 5 from 496,000 ratings and an Editors' Choice on the App Store, where it sits at number 21 in the Adventure chart. You run, jump and escape danger through beautiful maps, collecting coins and power-ups as you go, with 150 runners to collect. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, for ages 9 and up.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the most polished endless runner on the list, with gorgeous scenery and a real sense of speed.

4. Jetpack Joyride Classic — Halfbrick Studios, 4.5 stars

Jetpack Joyride Classic from Halfbrick Studios is the original Jetpack Joyride, rated 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store. You play as Barry Steakfries, strapping on a bullet-powered jetpack and flying through a lab, dodging missiles, riding crazy vehicles and facing giant mechanical dragons and birds that shoot money. It is free to download, with in-app purchases listed on the store page, for ages 9 and up, and it works on iPhone and iPad.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the classic endless runner, and the jetpack controls are still some of the most satisfying on mobile.

5. Hill Climb Racing — Fingersoft, 4.6 stars

Hill Climb Racing from Fingersoft is the original physics-based driving game, rated 4.6 out of 5 from 139,000 ratings and currently number six in the Racing chart. You play as Bill, a young aspiring uphill racer, driving through Climb Canyon and beyond, collecting coins and upgrading your vehicle as you conquer ever steeper hills. The official description says the game is playable offline, which makes it a natural fit for this list. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, for ages 13 and up, and it works on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Why it is worth downloading: the physics are gloriously silly, the upgrades are addictive, and it is one of the few games here that states plainly on its own listing that it works offline.

6. Fruit Ninja Classic — Halfbrick Studios, 4.7 stars

Fruit Ninja Classic from Halfbrick Studios is the original fruit-slicing game, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 28,000 ratings on the App Store. The rule is simple: slice fruit, don't slice bombs. It is the quickest game on this list to pick up, with sessions that last seconds, which makes it ideal for waiting rooms and queues. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, for ages 4 and up, and it works on iPhone and iPad.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the most relaxing game here, and it is perfect for players of any age.

7. 2048 — Ketchapp, 4.4 stars

2048 from Ketchapp is the number puzzle that took the world by storm, rated 4.4 out of 5 from 38,000 ratings. Swipe to move all the tiles, and when two tiles with the same number touch, they merge into one. Your goal is to reach the 2048 tile, and the game is over when the board fills up. It is free to download, with in-app purchases, for ages 13 and up, and it works on iPhone, iPad and Apple TV.

Why it is worth downloading: it is the best brain teaser on the list, it takes seconds to learn, and it is endlessly replayable.

Safe downloading tips

Download games only from the official App Store, and check the developer name before you tap Get. Popular games attract clones, and 2048 is a good example: the version in this list is by Ketchapp, so make sure the developer matches before you download. Check the age rating and the file size, and download on Wi-Fi before you travel so the game is ready when you need it. Finally, remember that free games usually include optional in-app purchases, so check your settings if you share your device with children.

Sources:

App Store - Crossy Road - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/crossy-road/id924373886

App Store - Subway Surfers - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/subway-surfers/id512939461

App Store - Temple Run 2 - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/temple-run-2/id572395608

App Store - Jetpack Joyride Classic - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/jetpack-joyride-classic/id6464260080

App Store - Hill Climb Racing - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/hill-climb-racing/id564540143

App Store - Fruit Ninja Classic - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fruit-ninja-classic/id362949845

App Store - 2048 - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/2048/id840919914

Games Indigo