For planes, cars and waiting rooms
Offline Games for Kids
Wi-Fi drops on the motorway, the plane has none, and the doctor's waiting room is somehow still thirty minutes behind. This page is about the games that keep working when the signal doesn't.
An honest note first
The games on this website run in your browser, so they need a connection to open. That is how the web works, and plenty of "offline games" lists skip over it. If you want games that play with no signal, you need an app that stores them on the device. We built one for exactly that, and it is covered below.
What to look for in an offline game for kids
It really works offline. Some apps are "offline" until the first ad request or a sign-in screen. Try airplane mode before the trip, not on the plane.
No ads between rounds. A child who is happily stuck on a puzzle should not be handed a thirty-second video halfway through. Ads in a game for young children are also where the odd, unsuitable one tends to slip in.
Short sessions that save themselves. Car rides get interrupted. Good travel games let a child stop mid-level and come back.
No chat and no data collection. For a game a child plays alone on a long journey, there is no reason for either.
A way for a grown-up to set limits. A screen time cap you control is worth more than a promise that the game is "educational".
Games that travel well
For the youngest (ages 3 to 5). Alphabet Catch and Letter Tracing cover letters and numbers without any pressure, Counting Fun keeps small hands busy, and Coloring Book never gets old.
For early readers (ages 6 to 8). Memory Match, I Spy and Spot the Difference are quiet and easy to dip in and out of. Maze Runner and Tangram Rocket give a bit more to chew on.
For older kids (ages 9 to 12). Sudoku, Sokoban, Word Search and Code the Critter reward patience, which is handy when the journey is long.
For two players. Connect Four, Checkers, Pong and Air Hockey work well when siblings share one screen. When they are fighting over it, Block Smash is a good peace offering.
You can try any of them here first. See the full list on the all games page, or look at what is new.
The GameForKidz app: all 97 games, no signal needed
The app for iPhone and iPad keeps every game on the device. There are no ads, no tracking and no sign-up. A parent sets a daily time limit, and children get a profile each, so scores and favourites stay separate. 28 games are free forever, and one optional payment of $9.99 unlocks the other 69, with no subscription. Purchases sit behind a grown-up check.
Frequently asked questions
Can my child play these games without Wi-Fi?
Not in a browser, which needs a connection to load a page. In the GameForKidz app for iPhone and iPad, yes: all 97 games are stored on the device and play with no internet at all.
Are there ads in the offline games?
No. The app has no ads, no ad breaks between rounds and no tracking. The website is free to use and shows only gentle, child-directed ads.
Which games are best for a long car ride or flight?
Short, calm games that a child can pick up and put down: Memory Match, Sudoku, Word Search, Tangram, Sliding Puzzle and Coloring Book work well for most ages. For the youngest, try Alphabet Catch or Letter Tracing.
Does the app cost anything?
28 of the 97 games are free for good. One optional payment of $9.99 unlocks the rest, with no subscription. Purchases sit behind a grown-up check.