If you’ve ever been stuck on a long trip with no Wi-Fi, or had your internet cut out right when you were ready to grind a few football matches, you know how frustrating it is to lose access to your favorite game. Many players don’t realize you don’t need a constant online connection to enjoy one of the most beloved football sims of the last decade. Learning how to play eFootball PES 2020 offline mode unlocks hours of fun even when you’re completely disconnected from the web, no updates or server checks required. I’ve been playing PES offline for years when I’m traveling for work, so I’ve put together all the tips and tricks you need to get set up and start playing without hassle.
Step-by-Step Setup for eFootball PES 2020 Offline Mode
The setup process for offline play is far simpler than most people think, and it works the same across console, PC, and even mobile versions of the game. It’s worth noting that none of the core features of how to play eFootball PES 2020 offline mode are locked behind online paywalls, so you get full access to all offline content as soon as you buy the base game.
First, make sure you’ve completed all initial game updates before you go offline. If you have partial updates pending, the game might force you to connect to the internet to finish installing them before it will launch. This is the most common mistake new players make when trying to play offline for the first time.
For console users on PlayStation or Xbox, just set your console to offline mode in your system settings first, then launch the game directly from your home screen. You won’t get prompted to log into PES servers at all if you do this step first. For PC users, disable your Wi-Fi or ethernet connection before launching the game from Steam or your local game library. If you get a pop-up asking you to connect to online services, just select “cancel” and the game will redirect you to the offline main menu automatically. All your existing saves, custom squads, and control settings will carry over from online play, so you don’t have to start from scratch.
Top Offline Game Modes to Try Once You’re Set Up
One of the best parts of PES 2020’s offline offering is that you don’t lose access to 90% of the game’s content when you’re not connected. I’ve spent hundreds of hours in these modes, and they’re just as fun (if not more) than the online competitive modes that get all the marketing attention. Here are the modes I recommend trying first:
- Master League: This is the most popular offline mode by far, letting you take control of any club in the game, sign players, manage finances, and lead your team to league and cup glory over multiple seasons. You can customize everything from your training schedule to transfer budgets, so no two playthroughs feel the same.
- Become a Legend: If you prefer to play as a single player instead of managing an entire team, this mode is for you. You create a custom player, start your career in a lower league, and work your way up to international stardom, earning transfers to top clubs and caps for your national team as you improve your stats.
- Exhibition Matches: Perfect for quick 10-minute games when you don’t have time for a full career mode session. You can pick any club or national team, adjust difficulty levels, play with friends on the same couch via local co-op, or even simulate matches if you just want to see how your favorite team would fare against a rival.
- Tournament Mode: Recreate real-world competitions like the World Cup, Champions League, or your domestic league, with full custom brackets and team rosters. You can play through every match yourself, or simulate rounds to get to the final faster.
A lot of players assume offline modes are just filler content, but PES 2020’s offline offerings have more depth than most modern football sims’ full online packages. I still go back to my 5-season Master League save every few months, even though I’ve played newer PES versions since.
Common Offline Mode Issues and How to Fix Them
Even if you follow the setup steps perfectly, you might run into a few small issues when playing offline. Most of these are super easy to fix, no technical skills required.
The most common issue is the game crashing or freezing when you try to launch it offline. This almost always happens because you have a pending game update that hasn’t finished installing. To fix it, just connect to the internet briefly, let all updates install fully, then go back offline. You won’t have to do this again unless you choose to download new updates later.
Next, some players report that their custom squads or Master League saves disappear when they launch offline. That’s usually because you’re logged into a different user profile on your console or PC than the one you used to create the saves. Just switch back to the correct profile, and all your progress will be there. If you still find the AI too easy, you can adjust sliders in the settings menu to change things like pass accuracy, shooting power, and AI defensive aggression to match your preferred play style. Keep in mind that you won’t get access to online-only content like live roster updates, special player cards, or limited-time events when you’re offline, but that’s an expected tradeoff for disconnected play.
Simple Tips to Improve Your Offline PES 2020 Gameplay
Now that you’re all set up and know which modes to try, here are a few small tips that will make your offline play experience way more fun, regardless of which mode you’re playing.
First, take the time to customize your controls to match your play style. A lot of new players stick to the default controls, but switching to advanced controls lets you pull off more precise passes, skill moves, and shots that will make your matches feel way more dynamic. You don’t have to learn every single skill move to be good at offline play – even mastering 2 or 3 basic ones like the body feint or the stepover will let you beat AI defenders easily.
Second, don’t ignore your team’s stamina in career modes. A lot of new players use their best 11 players for every single match, which leads to tired players making stupid mistakes or getting injured halfway through the season. Rotate your squad for cup matches and less important league games, and you’ll have a fresh, fit team ready for big matches against rival clubs. If you’re playing local co-op with friends, turn off the “assisted passing” and “assisted shooting” settings to level the playing field for everyone, even if one player is way more experienced than the others.
At the end of the day, you don’t need a fast internet connection or a premium subscription to get the most out of one of the best football sims ever made. Knowing how to play eFootball PES 2020 offline mode means you can take your favorite game with you anywhere, whether you’re on a long flight, staying in a rental with no Wi-Fi, or just want to avoid the toxic players that plague online competitive modes. It’s still worth jumping online every few months to download the latest squad updates if you can, but even if you don’t, you’ll have hundreds of hours of fun working your way through Master League runs or beating your friends in local exhibition matches. Give it a try next time you’re without internet – you might be surprised how much you enjoy playing without the pressure of online ranks or server disconnects.