When the power goes out, the best games to play during a power outage on your phone are offline ones that you can drop and pick up at any moment, played with the screen dimmed and short sessions. But your phone is also your torch, your clock and your link to the outside world, so its battery comes first. This guide explains how to play without wasting it, which kind of game suits a power cut, and what to do when you'd rather keep the screen off, with Zertyzzle, our crystal-merge puzzle game as an example.
First, protect the battery
During an outage the phone may be your only way to call, check news or light a room. Before you play anything:
- Keep the charge for the essentials. Decide how much battery you are willing to spend on games, and stop there.
- Switch on airplane mode if you don't need calls or data. The phone stops searching for a signal, which saves power, especially when the network is disrupted. Switch it off again when you need to reach someone.
- Lower the brightness and use the battery saver if your phone has one.
- Close apps you don't use, and keep the phone out of the heat.
- Use a power bank if you have one charged.
Our page on games that don't drain your battery goes further on measuring what a game uses.
What kind of game suits a power cut
- Offline: the network may be down too, and your Wi-Fi router is off. A game that needs a server won't start. Test it in airplane mode, as explained in our guide to offline mobile games.
- Short sessions: a level of a few minutes lets you stop whenever you decide to save battery.
- Quiet and calm: no need for sound, and a mode without pressure is easier on a stressful evening.
- Nothing to download: you can't update or install anything without a connection, so use what is already on the phone.
The ideas that don't use the phone
Search results for this topic are full of screen-free activities, and they are good ideas: card and board games, charades, storytelling, reading by torchlight, stargazing if the sky is clear. They keep the phone's battery for when you need it. Use the phone for a game only as a complement, not as the whole plan.
How Zertyzzle fits
Zertyzzle plays offline: the 120 levels in 12 nebulae and Zen mode run without Wi-Fi or mobile data, with your progress kept on the phone. Levels are short and can be paused at any moment, so it is easy to stop when the battery needs to be saved. Friend duels, teams, the weekly Rift, leaderboards, the shop and online saving need internet and wait for the connection.
The game 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. Zertyzzle is not recommended for children under 13, so choose a game suited to their age for the little ones.
A short plan for an outage
- Before it happens: install the games you like, open each once, and test in airplane mode. Keep a power bank charged.
- During: keep airplane mode on, dim the screen, and play in short sessions.
- Afterwards: charge the phone first, then go back online to sync scores and updates.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play games on my phone during a power outage?
Yes, if the game plays offline and you have battery. Keep the charge for essentials, dim the screen and play in short sessions.
Do I need Wi-Fi to play?
Not for a game that plays offline. Your router is off during an outage, and mobile data may be down too.
Does airplane mode help during a power cut?
It stops the phone searching for a signal, which usually saves power. Switch it off when you need calls or messages.
Will my progress be lost if the phone dies?
A game that saves locally keeps your progress on the phone. In Zertyzzle, progress is kept on the phone, and an optional online save lets you restore it on another device.
Is Zertyzzle available on Android?
Yes, on Google Play, from the Zertyzzle page. The iPhone version is coming soon.