Some games in the hub are available as sideloaded Android APKs. This lets you play them offline from your home screen without going through the Play Store.
Currently available as APK: Linked (Connections).
What Sideloading Means
A sideloaded APK is an app installed directly on your device, outside the Play Store. It doesn’t receive automatic Play Store updates — you install new versions manually when they’re available.
Requirements
- Android 8.0 (Oreo) or later
- “Install unknown apps” permission enabled for your browser or file manager
Installation Steps
- Download the
.apkfile to your Android device. - Open your file manager and navigate to the downloaded file.
- Tap the file. Android will ask for permission to install from unknown sources.
- Grant the permission for your file manager, then tap Install.
- Once installed, the app appears on your home screen like any other app.
Enabling Unknown Sources
On Android 8+, the permission is per-app rather than a global toggle:
- Go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps
- Find your file manager or browser
- Enable “Allow from this source”
You can disable this permission again after installing.
Updating
When a new version is available, download the new APK and repeat the installation steps. The new version will replace the existing one and preserve your saved data.