Gaming has become increasingly dependent on constant connectivity. Every launcher wants to verify your files, every game wants to sync your saves, and even single-player campaigns often demand an online handshake before letting you play. That's just plain annoying.
Going back, all you had to do was put in the disc, sometimes install the game, and that's it. No day-one patches, no server authentication, and no "connection lost" because it's not hooked up to a server. While those days might feel long gone, there's still a thriving world of incredible single-player games that don't need the internet to function.
Why the need for being off-grid, you ask? Well, if you're stuck on a long flight, you're visiting a country or rural state that has poor internet, or if you're just tired of games treating single-player like an always-online service, you're always going to need some games to pass the time until you get back to normalcy.
Hades and Hades 2
Both Hades games work brilliantly offline, and to this day, hold up as one of the best roguelikes ever made. Hades 1 makes clever work of using "death" as a narrative device, rather than merely a failure and respawn mechanic. Every run gets you a bit further, and there's a feeling of growing alongside your character.
Meanwhile, Hades 2 introduces a brand-new character with completely different combat mechanics and strategy, with a new cast of gods to befriend. The way these games weave story into the repetitive structure of roguelikes is genius. You'd actually, at times, want your character to die just to see what sort of new interactions your character will have in the game.
Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 deserves a mention for being perhaps the epitome of what an RPG should be. It's a masterclass in its own right that proves that player choice can mean everything. Literally. You can plow through an entire goblin camp by fighting everyone, or you can poison their beer, maybe turn them against each other, or become their leader if you're convincing enough.
It's a game that isn't cut and dry, and what normally restricts you in other linear narratives doesn't apply here. The game respects your decisions enough to pretty much do everything on your own, create complex character builds, and mix and match personnel in your party. Plus, if you're looking to play with a friend, local co-op's available too.
Hogwarts Legacy
At some point in our lives, we've all taken that quiz just to see which house we'd go to if ever we attended the prestigious Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry (Ravenclaw here by the way). In Hogwarts Legacy, we all get to live that childhood dream in a completely standalone story that predates Harry, Ron, and Hermione by about 100 years.
The combat is where this game surprised me when it launched, because while you start with basic spells like Stupefy and Protego, it doesn't take long until you're chaining combos, and if you have the stomach for it, unlock the most powerful of the Unforgivable Curses, Avada Kedavra, and become the very image of Voldemort himself if you want to use mods and get into a killing spree. Whichever way your morals lie, this is the best licensed Harry Potter game, and you can play it offline.
Stardew Valley
Sometimes you don't want to save the world or face cosmic horror. Sometimes you just want to chill out and maybe experience the life of a farmer. Stardew Valley is one of the best couch games for when you want to disconnect from everything. Build your farm, romance the locals, explore the mines, fish until sunrise, it's all there, and the only warning I could give you is that this game is super addictive because it's so good. It's a game that killed Harvest Moon because it's got everything we've all wanted and expected in a farm sim. It's comfort food in game form.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
If there's any game that's worth its salt a decade later since it launched, that's got to be The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This is the best Witcher game and arguably, the best single-player game of all time. This game is so successful that it has birthed a Netflix series, plus a couple of animated movies. You continue the adventures of Geralt of Rivia, as he searches for Ciri across a war-torn continent that's filled with intrigue and where kingdoms constantly drag him into their tangled web of politics, power struggles, and hidden agendas.
The Witcher comes with all the goods and all the perils of the profession. You accept requests and contracts that plague local villages, whether it's examining corpses, following trails that lead up to a monster, or beating up local thugs just to earn a few coins. It's a very immersive journey that proves why, even a decade later, The Witcher 3 remains one of the gold standards for storytelling in games.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
One of the best horror games is a single-player experience that you can play completely offline. Silent Hill 2 Remake understands that being scared comes from feeling vulnerable, and it exploits that feeling all too well. There's a specific kind of panic when you miss a swing with a pipe as a monster closes in. It's a feeling you remember and can't shake.
If you're going to compare it to the original game, what was originally muddy textures and sparsely detailed areas now actually feel like real lonely places with little stories and little windows into demonic insanity. Where the "remake" comes in is the feel of a larger town, and sure, the game is longer as with any remake of any kind, but not always because the streets are bigger. There are new puzzles and new complications to the classic that will lead you to spend a lot more time in places like the Brookhaven Hospital or Woodside Apartments.
For me, it's this attention to detail that hooked me in the remake. Seeing iconic areas flushed out in new and fun ways was worth the ride, but ultimately, it remains faithful to the source and frighteningly entertaining.
And there you have it! A list of great games that will never disappoint you and don't need an internet connection to be enjoyed. Next time your internet goes down, or if you're travelling somewhere without a good connection, these are some of the best games that can satisfy your urge to play.
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