Best Mobile Games to Play on a Plane Without Wi-Fi
Flying doesn’t have to mean boredom. Whether you’re stuck in a middle seat or enjoying a window view with no internet, offline mobile games can turn long flights into something to look forward to. The key is downloading the right games in advance, those that work without Wi-Fi, don’t rely on real-time multiplayer, and can hold your attention even at cruising altitude.
This list includes premium and free titles across multiple genres, all playable offline on both Android and iPhone.
1. Monument Valley 1 & 2
Elegant, atmospheric, and stunningly crafted, Monument Valley is a puzzle game where you navigate a princess through impossible architecture. You twist staircases, slide platforms, and realign structures to form new paths.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: The calm pacing, mesmerizing visuals, and gentle puzzles make it ideal when you’re looking to relax, not react. The game’s chapters are short, so it works well even if you’re interrupted by announcements or snacks.
- Price: $3.99 each, or $6.99 as a bundle
2. Alto’s Odyssey
This endless runner trades chaos for serenity. You ride a sandboard across vast desert landscapes, jumping over rocks, flipping off cliffs, and uncovering hidden biomes like temples and canyons.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s one of the most meditative games you’ll ever play. The mechanics are simple, but the flow of the game and the visual design create a strangely relaxing experience. Ideal for long flights when you just want to zone out.
- Price: Free on Android, $4.99 on iOS
3. Stardew Valley
A farming sim that starts with you inheriting a rundown plot of land. What follows is hours of self-paced gameplay: grow crops, raise chickens, mine for ore, fish in the lake, or befriend the quirky villagers.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s deep but never overwhelming. You can play for 15 minutes or 5 hours and always feel like you’ve made progress. Even short flights can be enough for a satisfying day or two in your pixelated farming life.
- Price: $4.99
4. Mini Metro
This minimalist strategy game tasks you with designing a subway system that can handle ever-growing demand. Draw lines, assign trains, and manage transfers to keep passengers moving.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: There’s a satisfying rhythm to the game as you try to anticipate station patterns and optimize your layout. It’s brainy without being stressful, and rounds are quick enough to play between boarding calls.
- Price: $3.99
5. Reigns / Reigns: Her Majesty
Rule a kingdom by making binary choices. Swipe left or right to approve or deny proposals, and try to keep the church, army, people, and treasury in balance. Fail and your reign ends, often hilariously.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s sharp, darkly funny, and surprisingly deep for a card-swipe game. Every decision ripples through your kingdom, and there are dozens of endings to discover.
- Price: $2.99 each
6. Limbo
An iconic indie puzzle-platformer with shadowy visuals and eerie, wordless storytelling. You guide a boy through a dangerous world filled with traps, puzzles, and occasional terrifying creatures.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s fully offline and completely absorbing. The visual tone makes headphones optional. The environment alone pulls you in. It’s quiet in the best way.
- Price: $3.99
7. Plague Inc.
Play the villain by creating a virus to infect and wipe out humanity. Evolve traits, counteract efforts to stop you, and outwit global scientists trying to develop a cure.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: This isn’t a button-masher, it’s about strategy, timing, and smart upgrades. You can leave it running while you eat or take a nap and pick up right where you left off.
- Price: $0.99
8. Very Little Nightmares
A mobile adaptation of the console horror-puzzle game, it follows a young girl trying to escape from a sinister dollhouse filled with monsters and traps. It’s creepy, but not violent or gory.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: The puzzles are intuitive and the story unravels without dialogue, making it perfect for airplane mode. It’s short enough to finish on a long-haul flight.
- Price: $6.99
9. Hitman GO / Lara Croft GO / Deus Ex GO
These turn-based strategy games reimagine iconic franchises as elegant puzzle boards. Move step-by-step to avoid enemies, collect items, and complete objectives.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: Each level feels like a small logic test, and there’s no rush. It’s a great mental workout when your body’s stuck in one place.
- Price: $4.99 each
10. Oxenfree
A supernatural narrative game where you and your friends explore an island with strange radio signals and mysterious events. The dialogue is natural and reacts to your choices in real time.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It plays like a Netflix show you can control. You can complete the story in a single long flight, and the replay value is excellent thanks to branching paths.
- Price: $4.99
11. My Friend Pedro: Ripe for Revenge
This over-the-top action game lets you flip, kick, and shoot your way through enemies with acrobatic slow-motion flair, all while taking orders from a banana named Pedro.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: The action is short-burst, so you can squeeze in a level or two between announcements or turbulence. Plus, it’s genuinely fun to replay.
- Price: Free with optional premium unlock
12. Subway Surfers
An endless runner where you dodge trains and collect coins through a vibrant urban landscape. The longer you run, the faster things get.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: No setup needed. No learning curve. Just tap to play and dodge. Great for all ages, and runs perfectly offline.
- Price: Free
13. Jetpack Joyride
Blast through a secret lab wearing a machine-gun jetpack, dodging missiles, lasers, and electric traps. Collect coins to upgrade vehicles and outfits.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: Short rounds, fast action, and tons of charm. You can get really into it or just pass a few minutes.
- Price: Free
14. Crossy Road
Cross streets, rivers, and railways while avoiding cars and other hazards. It’s an endless “hopper” with a quirky cast of characters and tons of unlockables.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s perfect for casual play. One-handed controls and short rounds make it easy to pick up and put down.
- Price: Free
15. 2048
Swipe to combine tiles and double them until you reach the elusive 2048 square. Or higher, if you’re really good.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: Lightweight and doesn’t demand sound, timing, or fast reactions. Great to zone out with.
- Price: Free
16. Mekorama
Guide a tiny robot through 3D puzzle levels made of movable blocks and spinning platforms. You can even build your own levels.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s calm and thoughtful, with tactile controls that work great on a small screen.
- Price: Free (with optional donation)
17. Soul Knight
A chaotic, pixel-art rogue-lite shooter where you explore dungeons, collect loot, and blast everything in sight.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: It’s fast-paced and easy to pick up again if you pause. Great for action fans who want a Diablo-style fix offline.
- Price: Free
18. Tank Hero
Pilot a tank in a top-down battle arena. Dodge shots, angle your weapons, and defeat waves of enemy tanks.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: Fast, fun, and works even on older phones. Doesn’t need sound or a tutorial.
- Price: Free
19. Knife Hit
Throw knives at spinning logs without hitting existing blades. The further you go, the faster it gets.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: Simple but satisfying, with short play loops that make it great for quick entertainment.
- Price: Free
20. Into the Dead 2
Run through zombie-infested fields with only a shotgun and your reflexes to rely on. The deeper you go, the more story you unlock.
- Why it’s perfect for flights: High-quality graphics and deep gameplay make this feel like a console game on mobile. Great for long flights.
- Price: Free (with optional in-app purchases)
Download or Update Before Flight
Even offline games may need:
- A one-time setup over Mobile Data or Wi-Fi
- Content packs downloaded fully
- A quick test launch before takeoff
Also, keep your phone in airplane mode during the flight. Not just to follow airline rules, but to prevent battery drain and unnecessary network pings. It also ensures games behave as intended without trying to load ads or online components.
Switch on Low Power Mode and reduce screen brightness to stretch battery life over multi-hour flights.
Stay Online After You Land, Without Paying Roaming Fees
These mobile games are great for the plane but once you land, you’ll probably want to use maps, check WhatsApp or FaceTime, or upload photos. Instead of fumbling with airport kiosks or dealing with roaming surprises, use Eskimo eSIM.
- Start with 500MB of global data free
- Plans last 2 years, with unlimited rollover
- Hotspot ready, share with your laptop or tablet
- Instant connection in 80+ countries
- Stackable data, no reinstallation required