# Can I play all single-player Steam games offline? Epic? Uplay? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 21, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131 "2021-01-21T19:31:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/1 "2021-01-21T19:31:54Z")
I haven’t set Steam to offline since I traveled minus wifi quite a few years ago. However, I have my lunch period at work and because of Covid, we are all kind of isolated(no eating in the lunch room or anything). I thought I could play a game, but I think my wifi there prevents Steam or any other game company from connecting to launch games. I…could try my mobile data, but that is kind of slow and clunky and is only adequate(not great) in my work area. What I’d like to do is install a game, go offline before I leave for work, and launch the game when I’m at work with no issue. Is that pretty much possible with all Steam games? Epic? Uplay? I don’t even know if they have offline mode or not. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/2 "2021-01-21T20:02:36Z")
Technically yes…inasmuch as Steam is concerned. But some games have an online requirement to play which is separate from Steam. For example, Hitman 3 just came out and while you _can_ play without being connected apparently the game is gimped pretty hard (things like progression and achievements and so on simply are not tracked). Other games may stop you outright. Depends on the game. I am not sure about others like Epic and Uplay (I’d be surprised if Uplay allowed it but I really do not know). Although, since Hitman 3 is an Epic exclusive (for now), and IO Interactive has said that you _can_ play offline…just gimped…it suggests Epic may allow it (although I have seen reviews that show if you are in online mode and lose connection the game stops and waits to reconnect). I have not tried but I think GOG games can be played offline (although I’ve never tried). ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/3 "2021-01-21T21:29:29Z")
Epic has an offline mode. I use it for some games on my younger son’s computer so he can play them in his room but doesn’t have internet access (no wireless adapter; I plug one in to install anything new). Like **Whack-A-Mole** said, Epic doesn’t care what you “play” offline but some seemingly single player games may have an “always online” component that is by the developer/publisher and out of Epic’s or Steam’s hands. As far as I know, there’s no offline option for Ubi Connect. Not really surprising given how much they push an online component to most titles. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/4 "2021-01-22T00:07:04Z")
This should be easy to test. Just stop your PC’s internet connection and see if you can still play games. We look forward to your report. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Sponge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dark_sponge/32/121_2.png) [@Dark\_Sponge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dark_Sponge)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/5 "2021-01-22T00:20:54Z")
On Steam at least, yes. This was a major concern for gamers when Steam first came out. In response Valve promised if they ever went under all currently installed games would remain functional. As mentioned you can test this by disabling your machine’s Internet connection. Steam will sputter and complain at first then eventually switch to offline mode. Probably Epic works the same way. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-i-play-all-single-player-steam-games-offline-epic-uplay/931131/6 "2021-01-22T00:43:09Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > This should be easy to test. Just stop your PC’s internet connection and see if you can still play games. Oh, I played Fallout 3 and all its DLC’s offline years ago. I’m aware they have a mode for it. I was just wondering if it is a policy that pretty much all games that are not online games work. I didn’t want to waste my time downloading a game and find out it does not work offline. I believe Steam does not record hours played or achievements for offline games. I know my Fallout 3 listing on Steam shows minimal play and almost no achievements even though I put 60+ hours into it. Anyway, my results so far is: Epic lets me run installed games, though they call it “sign in later” instead of strict offline mode. I don’t know if they all run, but most are supposed to. Steam is the same as I remember. I just don’t know if all games are supposed to run. I considered Borderlands 2 as a choice for games. Is that strictly online only? I own it (free?) on Epic.