Every time the internet goes down, any user can open Chrome and enjoy the famous Google dinosaur, while in the case of Microsoft Edge it's a surfing game inspired by the classic SkiFree. However, the history of offline games doesn't end there. If you have a compatible Android device, you can access the hidden Play Store game, Hot Air Balloon.
Remember the Game & Watch? They were created after their developer saw a man on a train, completely bored, playing with his calculator. A very interesting way to pastime without a doubt, but the concept goes much further. Special levels, hidden games, easter eggs... if you look for a simple distraction, today the Web is full of them.
Google loves those little details. We have previously shared some of its doodle games, but if there's a game that stole everyone's attention, it's the Google dinosaur, available when we run out of internet. The good news is that there's something similar waiting on Android, with the difference that we don't run a T-Rex in the middle of prehistory, but we travel in a balloon... or that's the idea.
Hot Air Balloon, the hidden Play Store game
It's very easy to start: Activate airplane mode on your device, and enter the Play Store. Automatically you'll see the satellite reporting the lack of connection, but further down the "Play while you wait" section will appear, with "Hot Air Balloon / Globo aerostático" as an option. The rest is a matter of ascending, collecting bubbles, collecting magnets to attract bubbles, and of course, avoiding traps of all sizes.
The game is not as well known as the Google dinosaur, and the first reports of its existence date back to March 2020. However, many users had to wait a while to access Hot Air Balloon, as it has a certain relationship with the installed version of the Play Store. The game is not available on some devices, and on others the offer expands to include Solitaire and the classic Snake.
Will Google include more offline games in the future? It's very possible, but until that happens, you're invited to destroy your productivity with Hot Air Balloon. Remember that the best option is airplane mode, to interrupt Wi-Fi and the mobile network at the same time.
