It’s all fun and games until someone, well, takes away the fun and games. Yes, even the best browser games can be a time-suck sometimes.
But while putting this list together, a couple of quotes made us think about the benefits of browser games (and games in general). Even ones that seem pointless.
By playing games you can artificially speed up your learning curve to develop the right kind of thought processes —
Nate Silver, American statistician and writer
And this one:
Games give you a chance to excel, and if you’re playing in good company you don’t even mind if you lose because you had the enjoyment of the company during the course of the game —
Gary Gygax, American game designer and author
Pretty compelling quotes. So spending time playing games can’t beallbad, right?
In this list of best browser games you’ll find fun for everyone, from classic reboots to fresh new titles. While not all of these are free browser games, most of them have a free version for gamers to play from their web browser.
What are the best browser games?
Scroll down to find out!
1. Prodigy Math

Prodigy Math is a hyper-engaging, fantasy-inspired MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) with millions of players. It’s dedicated to helping improve children’s math skills and confidence.
As a young wizard, you traverse the worlds of Prodigy competing epic quests and battling bosses! To win, you must answer sets of questions that adapt to your math level. With every battle your wizard moves closer and closer toward unlocking endless magic and mystery.
If you're a parent, here's everything you need to know about Prodigy.
2. Powerline.io

Remember playingSnakeon the indestructible Nokia phone? In this version you’re not just a neon snake — you’re competing with other neon snakes for supremacy. This exciting gameplay makes it a real treat for kids who love some competition!
Beam across the field to eat the cubes that appear when another snake dies and grow longer. But don’t run into other snakes or else you’ll turn into cubes and have to respawn in your original size.
If you want to gain speed, slither alongside other neon snakes. This causes electrical impulses that give you speed which you can use to force other snakes to slither intoyou!
3. RuneScape

In January 2001, developer Jagex released RuneScape, a point-and-click MMORPG set in the vast, medieval fantasy realm of Gielinor. Take part in over 200 quests while you explore a world filled with diverse races and guilds all seeking power.
You can choose the types of skills you want to train in: Combat, Artisan, Gathering, Support and Elite. As you level up, your skills will become more advanced which will ultimately help you complete your quests.

Your child's magical adventure awaits!
Inspire your child to love learning math with Prodigy Math. Watch as they cast spells, catch pets and complete quests – all while building key math skills!
See how it works
4. NoBrakes.io

Simply use your arrow keys to steer and you’re off to the races! NoBrakes.io is a multiplayer racing game where you reach checkpoints to gain a competitive advantage with power-ups that boost your speed or slow others down.
Sounds simple, right? Yes, until you realize this race isn’t a conventional one. If you’re near the front of a line, for example, checkpoints can pop up behind you. So you need to be ready for anything!
You can play this multiplayer browser game on your PC or as a mobile game in the Apple or Android app stores.
5. BrowserQuest

This browser game invites you to explore a digital world from your — you guessed it — browser. Step into the shoes of a young warrior in search of friends, adventure and treasure.
Whether you defeat enemies alone or as a party is up to you. But don’t forget to collect the loot when you do! It will take you far in BrowserQuest.
6. Everybody Edits

Entrepreneur and developer Chris Benjaminsen created this real-time, multiplayer platform game. But the players are the ones who can build levels for others to try and complete.
Although you don’t compete directly with other players, they’re in-game creations can still indirectly affect you.
Since “everybody edits,” this unique browser game gives players two choices: 1) play the game or 2) playwiththe game.
7. AdventureQuest

AdventureQuest is a single-player RPG wherein you create a character, pick a class, and fight against hordes of monsters. Depending on your personality, you can choose to be a ninja, wizard, fighter, rogue, or paladin (to name just a few).
The AdventureQuest world is filled with magical powers, hundreds of items and over 700 monsters. Take part in dozens of quests! The more you win, the stronger your character gets and the more you progress.
8. Pokémon Showdown

Children and grown-ups alike love this online battle simulator. It’s like playing the Pokémon video games without having to put in the work. No waiting to rest or level up — you just jump straight into battle.
You can build a custom team if you have a preference for the Pokémon you want to use, or you can join a random one and battle with whatever you get. Instead of the goal to “catch ‘em all,” now you can beat ‘em all!
9. Neopets

In November 1999, game designers Adam and Donna Powell released arguably one of the best browser games: Neopets. Neopets is a virtual pet website where players can own virtual pets and care for them using neocash.
20 years later, Neopets still exists and is active thanks to its beloved events, dailies, pet customization and community.
10. Gartic.io

Remember playing pictionary or Draw Something? Similar to those games, you can sum up Gartic.io in three words: draw, guess, win. In this online drawing game, up to 10 people can play.
At the start of every round one person will randomly draw a word and draw it, while everyone else has to try and guess the word correctly.
11. Slither.io

Jump into Slither.io, the new and improved Snake game, with millions of players around the world! As you probably know, the goal is to become the longest snake of the day. All you have to do to grow is get other slitherers to run into your body.
If you end up breaking the record for biggest snake that day, you get to leave a message on the screen for everyone who’s playing to see!
12. Isleward

Big Bad Waffle is the game developer behind Isleward, a roguelike MMO that drops you into the city of Strathford. (A “roguelike” is a subgenre of role-playing video game characterized by a dungeon crawl.)
Strathford is where you can form a party of your own, learn how to level up and explore different islands. Together or alone, you’ll find yourself doing dungeon crawls in search of loot.
13. GeoGuessr

Take a trip around the world, visiting faraway places with GeoGuessr. In this geographic browser game, you’re placed in a semi-random location and must discover where you are in the world. But you can only use visible “street view” clues to inform your guesses!
When ready to guess, you place a location marker on a map. Based on the accuracy of your guess, GeoGuessr will give you points on a scale from zero (direct opposite of where you actually are) to 5000 (within 150 meters of your actual location).
14. Frogger Classic

This classic arcade game goes back to 1981. Playing as the frog, your goal is to get from one side of the road and river to another — all while cars, trucks, logs, turtles and other obstructions move horizontally across the screen.
Depending on your settings, a level can start with three, five or seven lives (or, in this case,frogs). Want to progress? Successfully get all the frogs across safely to their homes.
15. Spelunky HTML 5

Legends speak of a Colossal Cave that extends deep underground, so twisted by time that its passages shift like the sand under which it lies… The Cave is said to be filled with fabulous treasures, but also incredible danger!
Spelunky is a roguelike browser game that involves cave exploration and hunting for all the treasure you can find. What’s so amazing about this game is that every time you play, the cave’s layout is different. The longer you survive, the deeper you go and the more treasure you can find.
16. Quick, Draw with Google
This online drawing game challenges players in a different way! In this game, Google gives you just 20 seconds to draw an object they mention. As you draw, Google’s AI is going to guess what the object is.
And did you know it’s also a science project? At the end of each game, Google will then add your drawings to its open-source dataset, which is used to help developers and researchers improve the capabilities of machine learning.
While there’s no pressure to win, it’s a fun, laidback game that encourages you to think on your feet.
17. Apple Worm

If you think Flappy Bird was frustrating, you’ve got to try Apple Worm. The goal is to get your worm to eat the apples and reach the portals without getting stuck in the obstacles or falling off the level.
It sounds simple, but the levels get trickier as you progress. Think you can help the worm eat the apple in all 30 levels?
18. World’s Hardest Game

According to game creator Stephen Critoph, “This is The World’s Hardest Game. I guarantee you it is harder than any game you have ever played, or ever will play.”
In this game, you’re a red square that needs to get from point A to point B while collecting yellow circles along the way. With each level you pass (if you can pass them at all) they get harder and harder.
19. Hexar.io

Drawing inspiration from Snake and Slither.io, Hexar.io is a free-for-all multiplayer game. Your mission is to conquer and keep as much hexagonal territory as possible. But others are trying to do the same, so don’t trail too far from your territory or else you might lose it.
You should also avoid hitting your opponent’s head because that can result in having to start expanding all over again — and there’s only so much map space. Don’t forget to collect green circles to gain speed!
20. Helicopter Game

To close, here’s a classic that can end in triumph or fury. The goal of Helicopter Game is to fly your helicopter as far as possible without crashing into the cavern’s floor, ceiling or obstacles.
No matter how far you’ve flown, if you crash you start again — from the beginning. Do you have the masterful control and patience to fly the farthest?
21. Line Rider

Line Rider is a sandbox game that encourages you to think creatively and have fun with some basic physics. Available on many browsers like Chrome, this game lets you draw lines that the main character, Bosh, will slide down on his sled once you press play. Think creatively about where you want to place lines, if Bosh has enough momentum he can even slide upwards. Be careful though, if he falls off, you'll have to start again.
22. Wordle

This browser-based game took the world by storm in 2022. Released as a pet project, Wordle been played by over millions of players across the world – it’s even inspired similar spin-offs too (see one below).
Wordle is a simple game to pick up, but you’ll want to make sure you’re sharp on your vocabulary. You have six attempts to guess the word of the day. It’s a great choice if you’re looking for a quick brain break online.
Many regular players have come up with their own strategies. Some try to identify all the vowels possible, while others try to eliminate common letter combinations first.
23. Heardle

Just like Wordle, this brings the same daily challenge for players to guess correctly. But it comes with a twist, instead of guessing a word, you’ll be guessing a song.
Instead of eliminating letters in your guesses, you’ll get short snippets of a song to help you guess the answer. Now owned by Spotify, Heardle is perfect for a music fan and there’s a wide variety of songs played every week.
24. QWOP

Qwop is an unusual, challenging game that really tests your keyboarding skills.
In this game, your task is to make the athlete on your screen run a 100-meter race at the Olympics. The twist is that can only use the Q and W keys to control their thighs and the O and P keys to control their calves. It’s hilariously difficult to get right, but some gamers have worked it out!
25. Prodigy English
If you have a kid that loves sandbox games, Prodigy English is perfect for them.
In this new browser-based game, players create their own village by collecting and gathering resources. With these resources, they're able to craft, build and design their perfect space. And as a bonus, kids that play this game will also be practicing their reading and literacy skills – all while having fun.
Prodigy English is continually being updated with new content, like fishing and new pets! Parents can also get involved by making a parent account and following their child's learning progress.
Some of the best browser games that just missed our top 25
While not the best of the best when it comes to online games, we wanted to give a shoutout to some of the near-misses on our list.
- Agario — A strategy game where you move your "blob" around a playground, then find food-like pellets to eat and grow it. As you grow you can consume other “blobs” and compete with others in a battle for size.
- Google Dino Run — You’ve probably seen this Easter Egg hidden on Google Chrome’s “no internet” and error pages. You control a running T-rex and dodge the many obstacles that appear in this side-scroller.
- CATAN Universe — Play this popular board game or card game online via your web browser or the mobile app. Play against friends or as a single-player game against AI opponents.
- TETRIS – This classic puzzle game really makes you think on your feet. Tetris is a great browser game for kids because it encourages them to understand how shapes fit together and is plenty of fun! See if they can make the leaderboard with a high score!
- Worldle – Similar to Geoguessr but with a Wordle-inspired format, this browser game asks players to guess the country based on its shape. While you'll get some help from a compass that tells you how far your guess is from the actual country, this game will really put your world map skills to the test!
“Hidden” benefits of the best browser games

Can playing the best browser games be a time-suck? It depends how much time you spend in front of your computer screen playing PC games.
That said, believe it or not, the list of best browser games you just scrolled through can have some surprising benefits. For example:
- Prodigy Math Game can help students have fun while practicing standards-aligned math
- Slither.io and Hexar.io can encourage strategic and creative thinking
- World’s Hardest Game might make you a more patient person (or not 😂)
- Apple Worm can improve your problem-solving skills, understanding of cause and effect, and spatial reasoning
Playing browser games isn’t necessarily time well wasted. In fact, they can be beneficial in more ways than one — and that applies to kidsandgrown-ups. So what do you say? Let’s play!
Join Prodigy Math for access to free teacher tools that make it easy to engage and motivate students. While students are exploring a world filled with epic quests, exciting pets and new rewards, you can send assignments, collect insights and keep their learning on track.
You might also like: 13 Best Math Apps for Kids Learning from Home (Proven)
FAQs
What is the #1 PC game? ›
Game title | Publisher | |
---|---|---|
1. | ROBLOX | Roblox Corporation |
2. | Minecraft | Mojang Studios |
3. | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II/Warzone 2.0 | Activision Publishing |
4. | Fortnite | Epic Games |
1. PUBG. PUBG is the most popular online game in 2022, with a huge fan following. Inspired by armor and H1Z1, PUBG has swept the internet and now has more than 100 million players.
Do people still play browser games? ›Today many of the browser games have entered into the mobile and PC space but there are still many browser games out there which one can play without any hassle of downloading.
What are the 10 most popular online game? ›- 1) PUBG – No 1 Game Played Worldwide. ...
- 2) Fortnite Battle Royale – Most Played Free Online Game. ...
- 3) Apex Legends – Best Online Game Played In 2022. ...
- 4) Counter Strike Global Offensive (CS-GO) – The Most Popular Online Game Of All Time.
PC Category | Expected Amount to Spend | Expected CPU |
---|---|---|
Budget Build | $600 – $850 | i3 or Ryzen 3 |
Mid-Range Build | $1000 – $2000 | i5 or Ryzen 5 |
High-End Build | $2000 + | i7 & i9 or Ryzen 7 & Ryzen 9 |
Houseparty
Houseparty games include Chips and Guac, a word-association game similar to Cards Against Humanity; Quick Draw, a drawing and guessing game like Pictionary; Trivia: Finish the Song Lyric; and my favorite, Heads Up!, based on Ellen DeGeneres' popular app that's like a game of online charades.
What are the most popular Cool Games? Classic Solitaire. Bob The Robber 2. Solitaire Klondike. Little Big Snake.
What is the most popular game in 2023? ›The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Probably the most hyped game of 2023, Tears of the Kingdom comes six years after Switch's peerless launch game, Breath of the Wild.
- Cyvasse - A Song of Ice and Fire.
- Scrabbleship - The Simpsons. ...
- Crazy Chase - The Whitest Kids U Know. ...
- Pai Sho - Avatar: The Last Airbender. ...
- Don't Whiz on the Electric Fence - Ren and Stimpy. ...
- Tadek - Farscape. ...
- Organ Harvest - Aqua Teen Hunger Force. ...
- Prodigy Math. Prodigy Math is a hyper-engaging, fantasy-inspired MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) with millions of players. ...
- Powerline.io. ...
- RuneScape. ...
- NoBrakes.io. ...
- BrowserQuest. ...
- Everybody Edits. ...
- AdventureQuest. ...
- Pokémon Showdown.
Are browser games safe? ›
Internet gaming can be a safe and enjoyable online activity if your educate yourself and practice the basic principles of good computer security. Many computer security principles are the same as those you may have practiced in other computer applications.
What is the #1 game of the year? ›Year | Game | Genre |
---|---|---|
2015 | Fallout 4 | Action role-playing |
2016 | Overwatch | First-person shooter |
2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Action-adventure |
2018 | God of War | Action-adventure |
Game | Change stream time (hours) | |
---|---|---|
1 | Hogwarts Legacy | 1,451,872 (449.8%) |
2 | Dark and Darker | 102,360 (51.6%) |
3 | Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege | -6,201 (-103.7%) |
4 | VALORANT | -58,718 (-107.1%) |
Rank | Franchise | Revenue |
---|---|---|
1 | Pokemon | $90,000,000,000 |
2 | Mario | $30,250,000,000 |
3 | Call of Duty | $17,000,000,000 |
4 | Wii | $14,808,000,000 |
- flOw. ...
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. ...
- ABZÛ ...
- Jackbox Games. ...
- Stardew Valley. ...
- Hades. ...
- Wattam. ...
- Slime Rancher.
- Castlevania: Symphony of the Night (PS) Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem (GC) MoonBase Commander (PC) ...
- Dragon Warrior III (NES) Dragon Warrior IV (NES) EarthBound (SNES) ...
- 1.Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) Madden NFL 06 (PS2)
- Play an instrument. ...
- Write a short story. ...
- Do a deep dive on a subject that interests you. ...
- Fill out a crossword puzzle. ...
- Try Origami. ...
- Play a board game. ...
- Put together a puzzle. ...
- Watch a rom-com marathon.
If you have right around $1,000 to spend on a new gaming PC build, you have enough to build a really solid system. For $1,000 you can build a gaming computer that can max out anything on a 1080P monitor easily.
Is it cheaper to build a gaming PC? ›Cost: If you're on a budget and looking to save some money, building your own PC can be a huge advantage. By choosing your own parts, you can shop around to find the best prices and avoid the added cost of paying for expensive parts that you don't need.
How much money do you need to buy a good PC? ›A $1000 – $2000 budget will allow you to budget for plenty of extra features, such as WiFi in your build, a built-in IO shield, USB C, plenty of fans and RGB across selected components. On the High-End, we would advise spending upwards of $2000.
What games should I play without downloading? ›
- Mahjongg Dimensions. Mahjongg Dimensions is a 3D take on the popular tile-based game. ...
- Sudoku is a classic logic puzzle that first appeared in Japan in 1986. ...
- Spider Solitaire. ...
- Bubble Shooter.
Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader? is a charmingly humorous quiz game based on the popular TV franchise. Multiple-choice questions, true-or-false challenges, and mini-games will test your proficiency in 24 different subjects. Faced with a tough question, you can always rely on your classmates for help.
What are the top 10 most popular games? ›- Minecraft.
- Fortnite.
- Fall Guys.
- League of Legends.
- PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
- CrossFire.
- Roblox.
- Lost Ark.
- Arkadium Word Wipe Game.
- Arkadium's Bubble Shooter.
- Mahjongg Solitaire. Love mahjong? ...
- Free 8 Ball Pool Game. Everyone loves a game of pool. ...
- Free Online Daily Crossword Puzzle.
- Outspell Spelling Game.
- Mahjongg Dimensions.
- Block Champ. Clear the tiles before the grid fills up!
Out of all the games releasing in 2023, there is one that immediately comes to mind for many gamers. That is, of course, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. It did take the award for the Most Anticipated Game at the 2022 Game Awards, after all, and rightfully so.
Will 2023 be a good year for gaming? ›While there are few guarantees in the gaming industry, 2023 is a guaranteed great year for gamers everywhere. Whether it's meaningful remasters or reboots, ambitious sequels or intriguing indie titles, 2023 possesses a diverse list of releases.
What games are impossible to win? ›- 1 StarTropics.
- 2 Metroid. ...
- 3 Gabriel Knight: Sins Of The Fathers. ...
- 4 Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest. ...
- 5 Broken Sword: The Shadow Of The Templars. ...
- 6 Riven. ...
- 7 Leisure Suit Larry 6: Shape Up Or Slip Out! ...
- 8 The Legend Of Zelda. ...
Mathematically, there are no limits to Tetris, the game goes on endlessly. You'll never be a victor in this game, you can only lose. Sure, after attending K.K. Slider's first concert on your island or after 50 hours of playing, the end credits roll.
What is the oldest game to exist? ›Go, also known as Wei Qi, is an abstract strategy board game for two players in which the aim is to surround more territory than the opponent. The game was invented in China more than 2,500 years ago and is believed to be the oldest board game continuously played to the present day.
What is the #1 browser in the world? ›As of November 2022, Google's Chrome is the leading internet browser in the world with a global market share of 65.84 percent.
Which is the No 1 offline game in the world? ›
Best Offline Games for Android Mobiles [December 2022]: Minecraft, Grid Autosport, Alto's Odyssey, and More.
What is the best offline game now? ›- Action/Shooter: Into the Dead 2. PikPokGames. ...
- Runner: Alto's Odyssey. Alto's Adventure. ...
- Chess: Really Bad Chess. ...
- Puzzle: Mazes & More. ...
- Platform: Once Upon a Tower. ...
- Arcade: Jungle Marble Blast. ...
- Brainy: Quizoid. ...
- Action: Tank Hero: Laser Wars.
A browser hijacker is a malware program that modifies web browser settings without the user's permission and redirects the user to websites the user had not intended to visit. It is often called a browser redirect virus because it redirects the browser to other, usually malicious, websites.
Is rec room safe for 7 year olds? ›Rec Room is a great game! There are fun games and the ability to create games. If you are under 12 you should use a kids account which turns off voice chat.Me and my friends play it all the time. It is most fun in VR, but is just as fun on mobile or computer.
Do hackers use browsers? ›Browsers are of interest to hackers because they're key to how we use the internet – entering and storing information including passwords, cookies, and even credit card details.
What is the 1 2022 game? ›In 2022, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II published by Activision Blizzard was the top-selling video game in the United States based on dollar sales. Elden Ring was in second place, followed by the sports game Madden NFL 23.
What is the best PC game 2022? ›- 8 Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered.
- 7 Total War: Warhammer 3.
- 6 Ghostwire: Tokyo.
- 5 Persona 5 Royal.
- 4 A Plague Tale: Requiem.
- 3 Stray.
- 2 God Of War.
- 1 Elden Ring.
Call of Duty: Warzone (opens in new tab) is the best battle royale on PC right now. Apex Legends is a close second, and a better bet if you want to control ultra-mobile heroes with cool abilities, but Warzone plays like the greatest hits of the genre so far, with a few inventive twists.
What is the biggest game of all time 2022? ›Grand Theft Auto 5 is the best-selling console/PC-only game of all time (the top two entries on this list have mobile versions, too). Sales of Rockstar's most ambitious GTA yet have surpassed 170 million units as of September 30, 2022.