Offline PC Games You Can Play Without Internet

PC games you can play offline are rare-ish these days, because most games have an online component that often won’t let you go DND (do not disturb). But if you’re like me and you like to shut off the world while enjoying some much needed me-time in a new, fun world, then this list is for you.

“Offline” can mean different things, though. Some games you can just install and play and never worry about that annoying “Please connect to network” popup. Some games will give an impression of this, but then will bother you constantly to connect. Chasing achievements almost always requires you to be connected to WiFi.

I’m in the camp where I don’t mind either, but prefer the former. I’m not much of an achievement hunter either, so I don’t really care about that aspect at all. But I’ve tested a lot of games, and in this list I’ll tell you all about what you lose when you play offline (if anything), and which offline games are worth your time.

And if you want to disconnect while playing games on your phone, I have a list of recs here.

Note: All of the games on this list have been personally tested and played by me. This list is updated periodically to add new games or remove some that are no longer playable (or good) offline. The most recent updated added Vampire Survivors and Megabonk, which I loved. Because we’re a two-man team, we can’t test all the games in the world, but we do our best. If you have recommendations, drop them in the comments below!

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a no-brainer. You get 150+ hours of content (and more, if you want to take your time and maybe play it multiple times in different ways, like we perfectly sane people do), most of which you can play entirely offline. Each choice brings a different element to it, so it’s not like you’ll run out of stuff to do. But keep in mind that it’s a big game, so it’ll take a while to download (duh), and it’ll take more time to load at first. To play it entirely offline, remember to disable cloud saves. And if you get the Steam version, make sure that you’re connected at first, just to download any patches and updates.

Grand Theft Auto V

An oldie, but a goldie, Grand Theft Auto V is probably one of the best offline games for PC out there. Just like BG3, there’s tons of stuff you can do, all without a lick of WiFi. Keep in mind that some features won’t work like the in-game radio updates or the achievements, but it’s not really that big of a deal. And you’ll need a one-time connection when launching (there’s no DRM-free version to my knowledge, so you’ll have to launch it through Steam or Rockstar). But yeah, go offline with GTA V and you’ll never be bored again. Played it already but want something similar? Try these games.

Detroit: Become Human

Detroit: Become Human is a fantastic game, and a great option if you don’t feel like doing a lot, but still want to play. It’s more like an interactive movie where you make the choices and watch what happens and I loved it. I’d argue that playing it offline is even better than playing it online, because you can see other people’s choices if you connect and that might influence your own. But if you just do whatever you feel is best, you’ll get a unique experience, and that, in my opinion, is the best way to experience it. Even if some of your choices may lead to tragic outcomes. Make sure that you’re connected for an initial patch download, and you’re good to go.

Hollow Knight & Silksong

Hollow Knight and Silksong are excellent games to play offline because a) they don’t ask for any WiFi, like ever, and b) they’re so challenging, you won’t finish them quickly, but they’re really tiny in size, so you can download them both in like less then an hour, even on crappy WiFi. You can run them on practically any PC/laptop/handheld and you won’t have any issues. So, if you’re looking for offline games because you need to travel or you have bad internet speeds, these are your best bet.

Subnautica

Subnautica starts out like a nice little underwater adventure, but it quickly devolves into alien horror. If that’s your speed, then I highly recommend. You can easily find a DRM-free version, which means you can play it without WiFi fully, and it’s a great choice for travelling or spotty internet areas. You get a ton of gameplay (exploration of underwater ecosystems) and you can play it (just like Hollow Knight and Silksong) on practically anything.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

If you want a classic, long, engaging RPG adventure The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is your best bet. And there’s no better game to play than this if you’re excited for The Witcher 4. You can play it fully offline, including the expansions, without needing to be connected ever (just disable cloud saves). There’s a 100+ hours of content waiting for you, so dive in!

Hogwarts Legacy

Playing Hogwarts Legacy will give you the warm, fuzzy feeling of playing Chamber of Secrets or Order of The Phoenix after school (ahem, am I revealing my advanced age here?) but in a completely new way. I loved sinking into this world again, and especially getting to be a Hogwarts student in my own right this time. Just install it and patch it and you’ll be good to go sans WiFi (and sans achievements, but who cares).

Hades

Ooh, Hades is such a good game. It’s so clicky and satisfying, I have no better way to explain it. Plus, it’s undeniably charming and funny. So, top marks from me. You play the game as Zagreus, son of Hades, who wants to get out of the Underworld with the dubious help of other gods. You meet a ton of fun characters and get to die repeatedly in randomly generated dungeons, but I never got too angry or stressed about it (like I often did in Hollow Knight). Just install it, and enjoy (no WiFi needed).

Black Myth Wukong

I know what you’re thinking — yet another single-player RPG. But hear me out, Black Myth: Wukong is a different breed. It took me, I kid you not, around 50 attempts to kill a single boss. So, if you’re up for some frustration (but also immense satisfaction once you finally figure it out), this game is it. Just like with many of these other titles, just make sure you’re connected at launch and then die via tiger-man to your heart’s content.

Celeste

Celeste is another one of those games that looks adorable… until you start playing. But putting aside how hard it is to beat at times, it carries a beautiful, powerful story of leading a girl through stages of grief, complete with matching aesthetics for each. And it’s fully offline once you install it, plus it can work on practically anything, even old crappy laptops.

Stardew Valley

I was so stubborn about playing Stardew Valley for so long, it’s actually embarrassing now. But it’s genuinely one of the best values for your money, and one of the best offline games on this list. There’s so much to do, so much to try, so many different ways to play it. You can mine and fight monsters, build a nice little farm, fish and forage, suck up to villagers, and spend your time basically however you like. And none of it requires any WiFi, unless you do mods or there’s an update.

Frostpunk

Frostpunk gave me so much anxiety but it was so worth it. Your job is to keep a colony of humans survive in a frozen wasteland. Seems easy when you say it, but there are iffy laws you have to proclaim, and so many choices, none of them easy. I won’t lie, I failed quickly on my first playthrough. But I did much better on the second. But see what I mean — you can play it so many times in so many different ways. Give it a go! It’s fully offline, and there’s even a DRM-free version.

V Rising

V Rising is my dream vampire game. I loved sucking people dry of their blood, I won’t lie. And I disliked that I couldn’t walk in sunlight, I won’t lie either. Aside from fighting though bosses (and bears), you get to do a bunch of stuff like crafting, creating your ultimate Dracula castle, murdering villagers, etc. I feel like it was imagined as a multiplayer experience but I played it fully solo, on a private game server, and it didn’t require any WiFi. I feel like this game is so underrated, it’s criminal.

Balatro

Balatro is a roguelike deck-building game that’s perfect if you love card games. There’s some poker in there, but then there’s also roguelike progression and fun cards, and all sorts of things. You can play it on PC via Steam (mind the initial launch WiFi requirement), and even on mobile. Plus, it’s great if you need a game you can play in short bursts sometimes, and sometimes sink in hours.

Vampire Survivors

Vampire Survivors is as chaotic as it looks (image above) and about twice as fun. I genuinely loved it so much that I played it constantly in between tasks at work for a while. It’s cheap, it’s amazing, and addictive — plus, it needs no WiFi at all. It’s quick to download as well, so if you need something immediately, this one is a no-brainer.

Megabonk

Megabonk is my most recent obsession, and everyone should play it if you ask me. It’s addictive, it’s fun, and you can just play it for hours (or even a few minutes), depending on what you have time for. It kind of scratches that same itch that Vampire Survivors does, but in a more fun way. I’m serious, the devs are really funny. Just look at the system requirements:

Offline PC Games Compared: Gameplay Hours & Replayability

Game	Approx. Gameplay Hours	Replayability
Baldur’s Gate 3	80–150+	Very high — multiple endings, branching storylines, character builds
Grand Theft Auto V	50–100+ (story mode)	Medium — open-world exploration and side activities offer replay value
Detroit: Become Human	15–25 per playthrough	High — different choices lead to multiple endings and story variations
Hollow Knight & Silksong	Hollow Knight: 40–60+ / Silksong: TBD	Very high — multiple paths, secrets, and challenge modes
Subnautica	30–50+	Medium — exploration and base-building allow different experiences each playthrough
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	100–200+	Very high — multiple endings, side quests, and expansions
Hogwarts Legacy	50–100+	Medium — open-world exploration and character choices offer some replay value
Hades	30–60+	Very high — roguelike progression encourages repeated runs with different builds
Black Myth: Wukong	40–60+	Medium — combat mastery and exploration encourage replay, but story is linear
Celeste	10–25	High — optional B-side/C-side levels add challenge and replayability
Stardew Valley	50–200+	Very high — farming choices, relationships, and mods create endless variation
Frostpunk	25–50 per scenario	Medium — scenarios and different moral choices encourage multiple runs
V Rising	50–100+	High — solo runs or LAN play allow experimentation with base-building and combat
Balatro	10–20 per run	Very high — roguelike mechanics make each run feel different

How to Play PC Games Offline (Beginner’s Guide)

To play games offline on PC, you usually don’t need much except the right game. But, if you want a fully free (as in, once you install it, you don’t need WiFi to launch), then you need to get a DRM-free version, or get a physical copy, but even those sometimes require WiFi.

Where do you find DRM-free versions? Well, mostly on GOG. Not all of the games on this list are available there, but some of them are and some might appear over time. You won’t get automatic updates, or achievements, but everything else will work perfectly.

If you get a game on Steam, you’ll usually need WiFi to launch, that’s just how it is. After that, you can disconnect, but beware that that initial launch requires good connection.

Before You Go Offline: Quick Checklist

1. Update your games while you still have internet. Some titles require a one-time patch or launcher update before they’ll run smoothly offline. Launch each game once after updating, especially anything on Steam, Epic, or Ubisoft Connect.

2. Switch to local saves (or disable cloud syncing). Cloud save systems can cause pop-ups or slowdowns when the launcher tries to sync offline. Turn on local saves or manually disable cloud sync for any game you plan to play.

3. Double-check DRM and launcher requirements. A few games need a first-time login or activation before going fully offline. Once that’s done, they usually stay playable indefinitely — just don’t reinstall them while away from Wi-Fi.

4. Pre-download any DLC or texture packs. If you’re planning a long session, make sure all expansions, add-ons, mods, or high-res packs are fully installed. Nothing kills the vibe like a “Download Required” message in airplane mode.

5. Test-launch each game once without internet. Just flip Wi-Fi off and open the game. If anything is going to complain (a launcher, an anticheat module, a mod loader) it will show up here, not when you’re already away from internet.

6. Bring your controller drivers and accessories up to date. Controllers (especially Xbox and PlayStation ones) sometimes need firmware updates. Do this beforehand so they don’t break when you disconnect.

7. For laptops or Steam Deck: optimize for battery life. Lower shadows, turn off motion blur, cap FPS, and consider enabling battery-saving modes. Offline gaming sessions can drain a battery faster than expected.

8. Back up your key saves. If you’re traveling, copy your most important saves somewhere safe, crashes or mod conflicts hit harder when you can’t redownload anything.

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