The 10 Best Games to Play Offline in 2024

It can feel like everything’s online these days. While massive multiplayer games and live events are great, sometimes you want to game without needing a speedy internet connection. Thankfully, there are still plenty of games to play offline in 2024.

You don’t need an internet connection to play some excellent games. Here are our top 10 picks.

1. Stardew Valley

Stardew Valley is the cozy game to end all cozy games. While the farming simulator came out way back in 2016, a slew of free updates have kept it as fun and engaging as ever. Better yet, it costs just $15, and its creator has vowed never to charge for DLC.

You can sink hours upon hours into Stardew Valley and keep discovering new things. It can be deceptively challenging at times, too, despite the base mechanics being simple enough for anyone to feel comfortable with. If all that’s not enough to convince you, it’s also available on every platform — even mobile.

2. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

For a more recent title, you could give The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom a try. TOTK’s predecessor, Breath of the Wild, rewrote the classic Zelda formula and fostered a new generation of diehard fans. Tears of the Kingdom takes the same open-world excellence and turns everything up to 11.

You won’t find another game that offers anywhere near as much freedom as TOTK. It truly is a title anyone can complete in any order, taking any approach they want. It’s hard to think of a better game for hours of offline play. 

So why isn’t it number one? Unfortunately, it’s a Switch exclusive, so Xbox, PlayStation and PC fans are out of luck.

3. Elden Ring

Elden Ring is another frontrunner for the best games to play offline. Like most FromSoftware titles, it defaults to online play, but you can play it without an active connection. That means you won’t get hints or summons, but you won’t risk any pesky PvP invasions.

You can get Elden Ring on Xbox, PlayStation and PC, and the game is absolutely massive. The added challenge you’d expect from any FromSoftware title means you’ll likely be spending hours on it, regardless of the map’s size.

4. Baldur’s Gate 3

Want to play an RPG but aren’t a fan of Soulslike games? Baldur’s Gate 3 may be the way to go. BG3 is Dungeons and Dragons in video game form, and while you can play it online with friends, an offline solo experience is just as rewarding.

Many games have featured dynamic character relationships and choice-driven gameplay before, but BG3 takes it to a new level. With so much variety at your fingertips, you’ll have no trouble finding enough to occupy your time alone.

5. Civilization VI

Real-time strategy titles make some of the best games to play offline, too. While it may not be the most recent entry, Sid Meier’s Civilization VI is your best bet in this category.

You’ll know just how addicting Civ games can be if you’ve ever met anyone who’s played them. Prepare to stay up all night trying to conquer the world or negotiate your way to peace. Sure, you can play this one online, too, but the game’s AI is more than challenging enough for an exciting playthrough.

As great as Civ VI is, you should be aware that a seventh Civilization title is coming out in 2025. Consequently, you may want to wait for that one to release before diving into the series.

6. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Speaking of widely acclaimed game series, The Witcher also deserves your attention as an offline experience. More specifically, the Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — with its 92 out of 100 Metacritic rating — has a lot to offer.

The Witcher 3 came out back in 2015 and was wildly popular at launch, so you may have already played it. That said, the game has impressive replay value, especially if you take advantage of its DLC. You can get The Witcher 3 on all consoles and PC, too, making it a title anyone can enjoy.

7. Red Dead Redemption 2

The second Red Dead Redemption is another older RPG deserving a replay. Like The Witcher, RDR2 offers a huge open world for hours of exploration. You have a fair bit of freedom in how you play, too. You could dive into the story for a moving narrative full of unforgettable characters or stick to side quests for some classic cowboy action.

Despite coming out in 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2’s graphics still look stunning. However, some people may want something a little newer to play. Plenty of similar RPGs have come out since then you could boot up instead.

8. Hades 2

You don’t need to stick to RPGs for the best games to play offline, either. Roguelike fans and indie game enthusiasts will enjoy Hades 2. The first Hades blew the world away with its stylized visuals and thrilling hack-and-slash gameplay, and the second has somehow filled its predecessor’s giant shoes.

One thing to note — Hades 2 is currently in early access. As such, you may experience some bugs, and you won’t get the full experience until the full release date. The early access version will get new story content with each update, but some people will prefer to wait.

9. Subnautica

For something a little different, try Subnautica. This indie survival title is a masterclass in single-player experiences, making it an ideal offline game.

Subnautica’s diving and exploration gameplay seems relaxing at first, but it quickly becomes eerie and challenging. The more time you spend in the depths, the more unsettling sights and sounds you encounter. That may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but if you like a bit of horror in your games, it’s an excellent choice.

10. Minecraft

Capping off this list of the best games to play offline is one you’re undoubtedly familiar with — Minecraft. You may have already spent extensive time in-game — it came out in 2009, after all — so it’s not our first choice, but few titles offer as much to do and explore.

Minecraft is cheap, has a massive open world, has tons of DLC to mix it up and is all too easy to spend hours on. It even supports offline multiplayer, so you don’t need to stick to single-player experiences to avoid connecting to the internet.

Find the Best Games to Play Offline on Any Platform

You can find fun games to play offline, no matter what system you use. Start with this list to find a title that suits your interests and dive into another world — no internet necessary. Even today, you don’t need a constant connection to have fun.