The games that don't drain your battery are usually simple to look at, calm to play and light on background work. A phone's screen is its biggest consumer, so what matters most is how bright it is and for how long. This guide explains what makes a game heavy, which settings save the most power, and how to read your phone's battery screen for any game, with Zertyzzle, our crystal-merge puzzle game as a concrete example.
What makes a game heavy on battery
- Rich 3D graphics and effects: they keep the processor and the graphics chip busy.
- A bright screen: the screen is usually the biggest single consumer, whatever the game.
- A high refresh rate: a smoother display uses more power on phones that offer it.
- Constant network use: keeping a connection alive for online features, ads and syncing wakes the radio again and again.
- Heat: a hot phone, in the sun or in a case, throttles and uses more power for the same job.
What usually uses less
Games that stay still while you think: puzzle, cards, word and logic games, with simple 2D scenes and gestures. They only redraw when you act. They are also the games that best suit offline play.
That is a tendency, not a guarantee. A puzzle game full of animations and a video ad on every level can still use a lot, so measure instead of guessing.
How to check any game
- Open Settings, then the Battery section (the name and layout vary by brand and Android version).
- Look for battery usage or app usage, and select the period.
- Find the game in the list and read how much it used, along with screen time.
- Compare it with another game or app you used for a similar time.
Do the comparison over a few days, since one session isn't representative.
Settings that save the most
- Lower the brightness. It is the most effective single setting, especially outdoors where you may be tempted to push it up.
- Switch on airplane mode when you don't need the network. The phone stops searching for a signal, which helps most where coverage is weak.
- Use battery saver if your phone has one. It trades a little smoothness for longer life.
- Close apps you aren't using in the background.
- Mute the sound or use headphones if the game doesn't need its audio.
- Keep the phone cool. Out of direct sun, out of a thick case while playing.
Plan for the trip
For flights, take a power bank in your hand luggage and check the airline's rules. For car trips, use a car charger. Our pages on offline games for a plane and offline games for road trips include a checklist.
What we can and can't say about Zertyzzle
Zertyzzle is a puzzle game made of short levels with simple gestures, and it plays offline, so the phone doesn't need a connection while you play. The 120 levels in 12 nebulae and Zen mode run without a network, and you can pause at any moment. We don't publish battery figures for the game, because they depend on your phone, your settings and your screen. The check above is the reliable way to know on your own device.
Zertyzzle is free and funded by advertising, and no ad interrupts a level. Zen mode, with no move limit and no objective, is described on our page on relaxing puzzle games.
Frequently asked questions
Which kinds of games use the least battery?
Usually simple 2D puzzle, card and word games that only update when you act. Heavy 3D games and games that stay connected use more.
Does playing offline save battery?
Often a little, because the phone isn't using the network, and airplane mode stops it searching for signal. The screen still matters most.
How can I see how much battery a game used?
In your phone's settings, under Battery and battery or app usage. The names vary by brand and Android version.
Does a high refresh rate use more battery?
On phones that offer it, a smoother display generally uses more power. Check your display settings if you want to trade smoothness for battery.
Is Zertyzzle available on Android?
Yes, on Google Play, from the Zertyzzle page. The iPhone version is coming soon.