15 Offline PC Games To Play When the Internet Is Down

We totally understand that connected gaming is a big part of our lives these days. Whether we’re logging in to run gambits on Destiny 2 or wanting to play Grounded with friends, a stable internet connection has become a big part of PC gaming. But what about those times when the internet is down, or you just want to disconnect while gaming? Here are some offline PC games you can play when you need to disconnect or when you’re having internet connectivity issues.

Deathloop

A time-looping first-person shooter? Sign me up! Deathloop was made for tons of replayability. Its intriguing storyline and cool gameplay mechanics have easily made it one of the must-plays of 2021. Sure, part of the fun is exploring the game’s online multiplayer and crashing in on other people’s games, but finishing the story is a whole other achievement that brings on its own share of adrenaline rushes.  You play as Colt, trying desperately to break free of a time loop to return to reality. But in order to do that, you have to assassinate eight Visionaries with a guard trying her best to stop you. There are a lot of weapons and features that make this game feel futuristic and cool, even for an FPS game.

Psychonauts 2

Fans of Psychonauts have waited for this release with bated breath, and if you want to fully understand why, you gotta try it out. The game is a sequel to the first Psychonauts was released back in 2005 and didn’t really sell well, even if it received copious amounts of praise. It’s an action platformer where you play as Raz as he enters the psyche of other Psychonauts (friends and enemies) struggling with various forms of mental illnesses. The story and plot are filled with hearty moments and humor that had won over the hearts of many in its first game. This sequel is no different.  Coupled with solid gameplay and a ton of Psi-Powers to explore in battle, Psychonauts 2 definitely lived up to its expectations and is selling pretty well this time around. 

Subnautica: Below Zero

One of the most foreign and undiscovered parts of the world is the ocean. It is only natural that Subnautica is equal parts interesting and scary. Part of the scares come from not knowing what’s lurking underwater and if it is murderous or not. Plus, you’re on an alien planet for this adventure, so their oceans are extra terrifying. In Below Zero, you get the chance to explore out of the water as you take in the interesting structures of land from above and below. All this will serve as clues to solving the mysteries that lie in the game’s plot.  You’ll be preoccupied with collecting resources, crafting tools, interacting with wildlife, and building vessels as you go along. All this is to piece together the mysterious disappearance of a research team and your sister. If you enjoy a good mix of mysteries, survival, and exploration, this is one game you’re going to spend hours on, hands down.

Devil May Cry 5

After a long break, fans were delighted that Devil May Cry eventually made a comeback. This time there are three players for you to play around with: Nero, Dante, and V. Each character has different abilities and plays differently, so it feels like three separate games. The trio is out to defeat the Demon King Urizen, who is trying to destroy the world. A classic premise to start, but a not-so-classic form of gameplay. Each character grows differently and can be used in different missions.  As you continue on your journey through Red Grave City, you’ll come to uncover who V really is and how he fits into the game. A lot of fun is to be had with hordes of enemies, new weapons, and fighting skills. If you’re looking for a solid fighting game, Devil May Cry 5 could easily satisfy part of the itch.

Outer Wilds

Let’s go to outer space! Outer Wilds is an action-adventure game where you live in a 22-minute time loop as you explore the solar system. Everything ends in a supernova, and you’re back to square one each time. Even if you somehow die along the way, you’ll be back to where you begin. The thing is, you retain your memories. Everything you learn builds up over time, and truthfully, there’s nothing you can do about the whole supernova thing. So, you might as well explore all you can, right? You’ll befriend some interesting characters along the way and learn about different planets and aliens. You’ll dig deeper into the mysteries of the Eye of the Universe that the Nomai species are so interested in and get a glimpse of the past and how the time loop started. It’s a game that you might think is repetitive but changes each time.

Dishonored 2

You can make your dreams of becoming a supernatural stealthy assassin a reality by playing Dishonored 2. The best thing about Dishonored 2 is its non-linear gameplay. This means that you can play it however you like; there is more than one way to complete missions in the game. You can choose to be an assassin who refuses to shed too much blood as a pacifist, or you can choose to take as many lives as you can in a bloodbath. You also have the option to play as Empress Emily or Corvo from the previous Dishonored game. Both have supernatural abilities that you can decide to use or forfeit. All your weapons are upgradeable, and in order to unlock more ways of playing the main story campaign, you’ll have to get through certain side missions first. As usual with these types of games, there are multiple endings for you to unlock depending on how you choose to play it. This also creates more replayability for the future if you’re a completionist.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

You can never play too much of The Witcher 3. And even if you think you play it too much, you probably need to play some more. The Witcher 3’s immersive atmosphere and adventure are not something we can ever tire of, even in offline mode. For those who are unfamiliar (a rare bunch you are), The Witcher 3 is a story-based action RPG set in a high fantasy open world. You take over Geralt, a bounty hunter, as he searches for his adopted daughter, who is currently on the run. The entire story and world are based on Slavonic mythology, which is a rare retelling indeed. Even if you’ve put hundreds of hours into The Witcher 3, there’s always something new to find or a mystery to uncover. Your actions and dialogue affect the outcome of the game, so in a way, it is a personal journey of your own through the adventures of Geralt.

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

When Ubisoft announced that its latest assassin was going to be a Viking, you can only imagine the excitement that ensued. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla allows you to embody Eivor as he/she navigates through Norway and 9th-century England. Oh, and you can play as a female Eivor or male Eivor! This is one of the reasons why Valhalla was an instant hit among many gamers. You get to lead your clan out of Norway and into certain areas of England, and this is where conflict arises. Valhalla incorporates Viking myths and legends, even their games and armor are taken into consideration down to the last detail. The story itself should take you close to 70 hours to complete, and this does not include the released expansions tied to the story. You’ll have a blast learning more about Viking history and myths while trying to keep the delicate balance and peace amongst those in and out of your clan. It gets a little political, but the well-being of your people should always come first.

Half-Life 2

A sequel to the pretty dated Half-Life, Half-Life 2 expands on everything from the first game. Sure, Half-Life 2 itself is a rather dated game, but it still holds up relatively well, especially with offline play. Your task is to liberate Earth from the Combine as Gordon Freeman. For its time, Half-Life 2 broke records with its advanced physics-based gameplay, graphics, and narrative. You get to run around with a Gravity Gun that manipulates gravity to allow you to move things around, bring things closer, or push them away. This gun in itself is a rather iconic one to the franchise and should be enough reason for you to pick up the game again. Diving deeper, there will be more physics-based puzzles for you to solve and enemies to deal with or run from. You even start the game with nothing, so you have to acquire items along the way and build your arsenal while trying to survive. Speaking of iconic weapons, be sure to check out our list of Legendary Video Game weapons.

Valheim

When it first hit virality, a lot of people likened it to a realistic version of Minecraft. While we do see the similarities as the two games are sandboxes, that’s where it ends. Valheim is a Viking-like survival sandbox where you need to hunt, gather, and craft to survive.  You’ll get to a point where you hunt down bosses and stuff like that, but the main point is survival. The game draws you in with its easy-to-grasp concept and builds on the natural survival instinct that you already have. It’s a whole lot of fun, and there are tons of mods available that could make everything more colorful and silly as well. You get to live as a Viking; what’s not to love? Did we mention you’re actually dead? Well, that might’ve slipped our minds since the game has got us carried away. But yes, you are supposedly dead and need to reach Valhalla. Not sure how you can die again when you’re already dead, but that’s the concept, and we’re rolling with it!

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Any FromSoftware title is worth the time and effort to pick up if you’re looking for something to totally blow your boredom away. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of the many titles that will keep you entertained and bloodthirsty for hours. This time, you take up the mantle of a shinobi on a quest for revenge on a clan of samurai that had kidnapped his lord, with a tasty plot twist, of course. As you are playing as a shinobi, stealth elements are key parts of the game and your survival.  For any Souls veteran, Sekiro is a rewarding experience as its battle mechanics are different but similar to previous FromSoftware games. You are playing as a one-armed shinobi, after all; There has to be some difference in fighting skills. In this Sengoku period of Japan, you’ll get to discover a whole new world with Buddhist mythology infused into its details.

Crusader Kings 3

If you’re aching to put your brains to the test, Crusader Kings 3 would be a good option to try out. It’s a grand strategy RPG where you need to use a whole lot of brainpower to strategize and expand your empire set in the Middle Ages. Your characters are 3D rendered rather than the usual 2D look, and you govern over lands, ruling as you like with the goal of expanding your empire. All this while making sure your people stay loyal to you through whatever means possible, too. There are religions, trade, skill trees to dictate the lifestyle of your city and more. All your actions and decisions have consequences, and this game will make you remember that fact.

Grand Theft Auto 5

I mean, with a huge open and interactive world, there’s lots to do in Grand Theft Auto V. With not much news on the release of GTA 6, we might as well just relive GTA 5. It also helps if you miss the outside world and want a little taste of danger to go along with it. An interactive open world with three main protagonists for you to control. You can switch between them as you like during and outside of missions. If you’re familiar with the Grand Theft Auto games, then you should know that it is centered around heists, gunfights, and a whole lot of crimes. There are all sorts of dodgy and illegal missions for you to complete while avoiding getting caught by the police. Since each of your characters has a set of skills that they are good at, make sure to put them all to use! Get acquainted with the grimy world of San Andreas and its seedy people.

Doom Eternal

A sequel to Doom, Doom Eternal is an action FPS where you once again face aliens and demonic monsters from Hell in an attempt to save the Earth from eternal damnation. It never gets old, does it? Doom Eternal is all about aggression, you need to keep pushing forward and meeting your enemies head-on as they come at you. But it’s not all brute force. You need some form of strategy in your head, and a simple one should do. Although, the game does get harder as you progress so you need to keep improvising as you go. A nice touch that you are sure to appreciate is that your character is well-equipped with armor and weapons that are already useful in any scenarios that you would come across.  For example, your Super Shotgun is equipped with a Meat hook for wall grappling. There is also an arm blade known as the Doomblade, and you even have an Equipment Launcher built into your armor. Just thinking about it gets me excited to leave a carnage of bodies in my wake. It’s a game that’s definitely worth getting into, and you don’t need an internet connection to play this game on PC.

Monster Hunter: World

Sure, the Monster Hunter universe might be fun to explore with your friends, as taking down monsters is no easy task after all. But going into the Monster Hunter universe solo brings out a whole different level of challenge and excitement.  You’ll get to experience everything on your own and perhaps even finally conquer a monster without any additional player help. It’s an achievement that deserves praise and applause! And hey, it is an action RPG, after all; There are tons for you to do in the game solo. Since the game’s story mode is completed through a quest system, there’s a lot to uncover before you reach the end. This time, the game will continue towards the high-rank quests directly after the low-rank ones, so you will need to rank up if you want to continue on. In order to complete the game’s story mode, you’ll easily put in 40-50 hours, so get to it!

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