Flying can get boring, especially if the airline doesn’t have any form of entertainment. Thankfully, you can take things into your own hands. Bring along a gaming device (mobile, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck etc) and you can take to the skies in style.
We know how tough it can be to find in-flight games to play, since many modern games with internet connectivity are out. However, we reckon we’ve got a decent list of games for you.
Stardew Valley – most formats
There are a lot of farming games out there. Some are good, others not so much. Stardew Valley is the best of them, and that’s because it is not quite a farming game. It sits in a genre of its own, offering everything from farming to town building, mining, fishing, relationship management etc. There are thousands of hours of gameplay here, and since each ‘segment’ of the game happens over a 30-minute to one-hour time frame (depending on how you manage your resources), it is just as suitable for short-haul flights as it is for long-haul flights. You’ll probably wish the flight was a little longer because of the addictive gameplay.
Animal Crossing – Nintendo Switch
Honestly, most Nintendo Switch games are fine for a plane. The console has been designed to be portable, and there are very few games that require multiplayer connectivity. So, anything from Mario Kart to Zelda will be awesome (plus all those cool JRPGs the console has). However, we’re choosing Animal Crossing for the Nintendo Switch.
Animal Crossing is a laid-back game suitable for both short and long-haul flights. You can easily spend an hour or two in the game, or dozens of hours building up your awesome town. That being said, you probably won’t want to be playing it on those 10 to 12-hour epic flights, as you’ll likely get bored.
Slay the Spire – multiple formats
We love roguelike games for flights since almost all of them can be played in short, few-minute bursts, for example, Rogue Legacy, The Binding of Isaac etc. However, we’re going to choose the deckbuilding game, Slay the Spire, as our choice. It boasts addictive gameplay and it isn’t a massive drain on system resources, either, which means that your battery will last longer on those lengthier flights.
Dave the Diver – Steam Deck and other similar formats
Dave the Diver is one of the newer games on this list. This game blends adventure and management to create a rather unique, addictive experience. It is a simple game but the gameplay loop has been praised by everybody. Essentially, you’re diving for sushi ingredients to use in a restaurant. You’ll then help to run the restaurant. Huge amounts of fun, and it can be played in short bursts on those flights!
Diablo III – Switch and Steam Deck
While Diablo IV exists, it is a much bigger drain on system resources than Diablo III, plus Diablo III (and II), is available on Nintendo Switch too.
Diablo III is a classic ARPG. You just go around killing mobs for loot, gradually getting more powerful as you do. As you can always gather more power points, and improve the loot that you do have, Diablo III is one of those never-ending games. It is a ton of fun and one that we think you’ll enjoy playing a lot on both short and long-haul flights, as well as in the airport lounge if you experience any unexpected delays.
Civilization VI – Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck
Civilization games gave birth to the term ‘just one more turn’, and you’ll see why when you play the game. This turn-based strategy game is all about building up a civilization and taking over the world. You’ll fight your way to victory…if you want. You can also win in a more relaxed way through science, culture and economy.
If you want to get the most out of Civilization VI, you’ll need to buy the expansions too – although, trust us, once you’ve played for more than five minutes, you’ll want them!
Casino games – mobile
Alright. So, you won’t be playing any games where you can win some cash, due to the lack of online connectivity (although some airlines do have it). This doesn’t mean that you can’t play some of your favorite casino games that you’ve seen featured at www.askgamblers.com/sports-betting/popular-features, though. Some casino game developers have downloadable versions of their games to play on your device, just to test them out.
Alternatively, you can browse your favorite app store, and we’re sure you’ll find hundreds of potential games to play.
Your choice
These are just a few of our suggestions, and we’re sure you can come up with your own. Go through your game library and have a look at games that:
– Require no internet connectivity.
– Can be played in short bursts.
– Can be saved regularly (the power might die on the plane, after all).
We prefer story-focused games, particularly those where it feels like we’re playing through a movie, but anything should be good for you. All that matters is that you have fun and the plane journey just flies right on by.