In times of social distancing and increased time spent in our homes, it’s easy to get bored. As such, we turn to games to pass our time. Gaming sales in the US increased by 37% by the end of last quarter compared to 2019’s numbers.
This testifies to how much more people are gaming today. One of the lesser talked about categories, however, are browser games.
This is the preferred medium by people who don’t want to download an app or software to enjoy a game. They’re also more accessible compared to other platforms. You just need a device and a stable internet connection.
Here are some of the best browser games you can play on any computer or mobile device.
Real-time multiplayer games
Whether you’re itching for a game with your friends or looking to meet new ones on the web, there are plenty of browser-hosted multiplayer games for you to choose from. For example, Skibbl.io is a browser game of Pictionary with harder words, autoscoring, and rooms for up to 12 players.
You can customize timers as well for the added or decreased challenge. Meanwhile, if you’ve ever played a game of Feeding Frenzy, then there are competitive browser versions of that too, like Agar.io and Slither.io. Except, everyone is a cell or snake. There are plenty more out there and most of them end with a “.io” domain, so they’re easy to find.
Strategy games
Of course, if you’re in the mood to sit, think, and challenge yourself, there are also a lot of strategy browser games that you can play. The selection of RPG and civilization games released by InnoGames is a good place to start.
You may have heard about Forge of Empires, one of the most downloaded mobile games on the market today. What you may not have heard, however, is how it started as a browser game (and it still is).
Its main goal is to develop a city starting from the Stone Age all the way to space exploration. Elvenar, also from InnoGames, is a similar city-building strategy game, except it’s an MMO set in a fantastic realm. There are also non-city building strategy games online like Card Hunter and Gridland you can play.
Online Scratchcards and board games
Since the mechanics and gameplay of scratchcards and board games are quite simple, there’s a wealth of them available online.
They’re also not very resource-intensive, so you won’t have to worry about lag or your browser crashing. Many gaming companies have also altered both pastimes to suit online audiences and their browser capabilities.
The collection of Slingo and scratchcards on Foxy Games are all accessible on a web browser and can be played using any device. These games also show how online providers have even combined scratchcards and board games to appeal to both types of gamers.
Thereare scratchcards based on popular board games like Monopoly, as well popular game shows (many of which are board games too) such as Deal or No Deal and Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.
For a purer version of traditional board games Lexulous is a Scrabble-inspired online game that can be done through email. You can also enjoy a classic game of Monopoly or Risk hosted on gaming website Pogo.
FPS games
You don’t need to download a game or own a console to play a first-person shooter (FPS). If you want real-time action, there are several free browser FPS games you can go to.
Rush Team is one of them. Your browser just needs to enable cookie support for one of three engines: WebGL, GameLoader, and Unity Version. After that, you can immerse yourself in the world of a skilled infantryman whose objective is to eliminate all enemies.
There are also unique titles out there like Superhot, where the enemies only move when you do. FPS browser games are a bit taxing on your hardware’s components, so while they can be loaded on mobile, it’s best to play them on a computer instead.
If you’re looking for new games to try, either solo or in the company of your friends, there are heaps of them available online with no download needed. Who knows, the right browser game could prove to be your next favorite.
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Credit: BagoGames under Creative Common License
