There’s something hugely nostalgic about playing games in your browser. Maybe it’s just the millennials in us talking, but we remember sitting in class, furtively opening up our browsers and navigating to whatever illicit gaming website our friends had told us about that morning, watching for the teacher. We may no longer need to do that, but browser games still occupy a special place in our heart, and there are still tons of them out there that you can play. Here, without further ado, are the 10 best browser games in 2022.
1. Neopets
That’s right – Neopets is still operational! We bet you didn’t think you’d still be able to go back and tend to your pets in 2022, but if you head over to the website right now, you’ll find it’s still up and running in all its late-90s glory. What’s more, the website is also currently being optimised for mobile, so if you want to access it while you’re out and about, you’ll soon be able to do so with little difficulty. Check out this nostalgic trip if you want to miss the 90s and 2000s.
2. Online casinos
Online casino gaming can be just as enjoyable and involving as any of the other browser games on this list. Whether you’re playing a round of roulette, chancing your arm at poker, or watching the blackjack cards to see if you can hit that elusive 21, you’ll find that online casino gaming can offer a huge adrenaline rush. Platforms like Wunderino casino offer great rates and beginner bonuses, as well as a wide range of games, so make sure to head on over if you’re feeling lucky.
3. Fallen London
If you’ve played Sunless Sea, then you’ve already experienced the gorgeous, detailed world of Fallen London. It’s a browser game based entirely around text, but that text is so well-written that you’ll want to read reams and reams of it. The game takes place in an alternate version of Victorian London and has plenty of gothic horror and Lovecraftian themes, making it ideal for whiling away a few hours on a cold night with a mug of hot chocolate.
4. QWOP
Designed by legendary game developer Bennett Foddy, QWOP’s premise is contained entirely within its title. You play as an athlete, and you must use the Q, W, O, and P keys in order to guide said athlete to the finish line of a 100m race. The only caveat is that each key controls a separate limb, so the first few times you play QWOP, you’re unlikely to do anything except constantly fall over flat on your face. This is a hilarious casual game that hides a surprising amount of depth.
5. Celeste
Created in just four days by developers Matt Thorson and Noel Berry, Celeste eventually made its way to modern gaming hardware in an expanded form, but this original still has a huge amount of charm. It’s a lightweight pixel-based masocore platformer (think Super Meat Boy or I Wanna Be The Guy) that places an emphasis on its difficult gameplay. The expanded version also has a full storyline, but there’s just no beating the simplicity of the original.
6. Catan Universe
Do you like the classic board game Catan, originally called Settlers of Catan? If so, well, this is a full browser-based version of the game, except you won’t need to tidy away any of the pieces afterwards. The visuals are nice and clean, but still impressive, especially for a browser game. Rules-wise, the game makes it over to your browser completely intact, so instead of breaking out the board, why not try this online version of Catan next time your buddies come over?
7. Isleward
Isleward bills itself as “the world’s only open-source, moddable, roguelike MMO”, and that’s a pretty accurate description. It presents a deliberately lo-fi world that you can explore, and if you do, you’ll find monsters, treasure, and other players to interact with. At first, the visuals can seem a little primitive, but it won’t be long before Isleward’s compelling design has sucked you in and you’re making “just one more hour” excuses to yourself.
8. Line Rider
It doesn’t get much more classic than Line Rider. The setup is simplicity itself; you must draw a line for the rider on-screen to follow, and if the line isn’t drawn right, then the rider will likely fail to complete his mission. That’s all there is to it, but you’d be surprised at just how fiendishly addictive that gameplay loop can be. Drawing all manner of crazy lines and seeing what your rider can cope with never gets old. This browser-based version is the best way to play the game, too, for our money.
9. Minecraft Classic
Created by Mojang to celebrate Minecraft’s tenth anniversary, Minecraft Classic is a browser-based version of the world-conquering sandbox game in which you (and potentially a group of your friends) are let loose in a randomly-generated world and asked to do whatever you like. You can build massive structures, explore into the world’s core, or simply kick back and relax in this peaceful land; the choice is entirely yours. Minecraft Classic is truly a hypnotic experience.
10. Pokemon Showdown
This browser-based version of Pokemon is basically the N64’s Pokemon Stadium, but with a much greater degree of choice and freedom. In essence, you pick Pokemon with which to fight, choose their moves, and then go to war against fellow players. If you choose, you can also have a random team assigned to you to keep things interesting. Animation-wise, it can’t quite keep up with more recent Pokemon games, but there’s a purity to it that makes it arguably more exciting than Nintendo’s offerings.
