The games to play with bad internet are the ones that don't need the connection to move forward: the levels or matches run on the phone, and anything online catches up later. A game that checks the server before every move will stall the moment the signal gets weak. This guide explains what holds up on a bad connection, how to spot it before you install, and how Zertyzzle, our crystal-merge puzzle game behaves.
Bad internet is not the same as no internet
A weak connection is often worse for a game than no connection at all:
- No connection: the game knows it is offline and can switch to its offline mode right away.
- A weak or unstable connection: the game keeps trying. Screens hang on a spinner, a level won't load, a reward doesn't arrive. The player waits.
So a game built for offline play handles both, while a game that only half supports it handles the first and fails the second.
Which games hold up
Three habits separate them:
- The core game never waits for the network. Each level or match runs from data already on the phone.
- Online features are separate. Leaderboards, duels, shop and cloud save are their own screens. They need a connection, but they don't block the rest.
- Scores and rewards are queued. If something can't be sent now, it is sent later, without you having to repeat it.
Our guide to offline mobile games explains the airplane-mode test that reveals which kind of game you have.
How to spot a game that will struggle
- It asks you to sign in before the first level.
- It shows an ad or a loading screen between every level and waits for the network to continue.
- It needs to re-download content each time you open it.
- Reviews mention it with phrases such as "won't load without Wi-Fi" or "stuck on loading".
Search the reviews for "offline" and "loading", then test it yourself on a weak connection or in airplane mode.
A quick test on a poor connection
- Open the game with the network on, move somewhere the signal is weak, or turn off Wi-Fi and keep only a poor mobile signal.
- Start a level and play it to the end.
- Open the online screens such as leaderboards. They may say they can't load, which is fine, as long as the rest keeps working.
- Close and reopen the game and check that your progress is intact.
If the game stalls at step 2, it is not a game for places with a bad signal.
How Zertyzzle behaves
In Zertyzzle, the levels and Zen mode play from the phone, so a weak signal doesn't stop you: the 120 levels in 12 nebulae need no connection. The online parts, friend duels, teams, the weekly Rift with its leagues and leaderboards, the shop and online saving, need internet. When a score can't be sent right away, it goes out when the connection returns. Your progress is kept on the phone, and you can start without an account.
The game is free and funded by advertising, and no ad interrupts a level. For the full list of what works without a network, see our page on the offline puzzle game, and for how to keep data use down on a limited plan, our page on games that don't use data.
Frequently asked questions
Can I play games with a very slow connection?
Yes, if the game's core doesn't depend on the network. Pick a game that plays offline and let the online parts catch up later.
Is a game that needs Wi-Fi to start really offline?
No. A game that asks for a connection to start or to continue is online in practice, even if it has an offline mode on paper.
What happens to my score if the signal drops?
In Zertyzzle, a score that can't be sent right away goes out when the connection returns. That is how it works for the weekly Rift and duels.
Do I need an account to play without a connection?
In Zertyzzle, no: you can start without one, and your progress is kept on the phone. An account is only needed to restore it on another device.
Is Zertyzzle available on Android?
Yes, on Google Play, from the Zertyzzle page. The iPhone version is coming soon.