Why MateStorm works offline (and most sites don’t)
On the big chess sites, the computer opponent lives on a remote server — no connection, no game. MateStorm takes the opposite approach: it’s a Progressive Web App that downloads a full chess engine once and then runs it locally in your browser. Every move your opponent makes is calculated on your own phone or laptop, so after the first load you don’t need the internet for solo play. Under the hood that engine is built on Stockfish 16 (NNUE), tuned by MateStorm into ten playable levels — but the important part for you is simply that it’s on your device.
How to play chess offline
- Open MateStorm Solo once while you’re online, so the engine downloads.
- Pick your colour and a difficulty level, then start a game.
- Go offline whenever you like — the game keeps working, and you can start new ones.
No account, no sign-in, no ads — solo play is free and instant. You even get a live evaluation bar and an honest verdict on every move (brilliancy to blunder) while completely offline, because the analysis runs on-device too.
Install it for the best offline experience
You don’t have to install anything, but adding MateStorm to your home screen makes it open full-screen like a normal app and keeps it a tap away for your next offline game:
- Android (Chrome): menu → Install app / Add to Home screen.
- iPhone / iPad (Safari): Share → Add to Home Screen.
- Desktop (Chrome / Edge): the install icon in the address bar.
Full step-by-step in the Help guide.
Great for
- Flights and long commutes with no wifi
- Practising against the computer without data usage
- Anywhere the signal is patchy — the game never stalls waiting on a server
Questions
Can I play chess offline for free? Yes — solo play against the engine is free, needs no account, and works offline once loaded.
Does online play work offline? No — playing other people needs a connection. Only solo (vs the engine) runs offline, since that’s what lives on your device.