Despite not having perfectly rendered graphics or flashy visual effects, browser games can be excellent choices for killing time between meetings and classes, or even as a form of distraction in these times of social distancing. They are easy to run and don’t require lengthy downloads or installation processes, and most of them are entirely free. But above all, they are downright fun, and some are so immersive that you’ll completely lose track of time.

There are a myriad of browser games available today, and it doesn’t matter which types of games you like, it’s almost certain you’ll find something you enjoy. From text-based role-playing games to puzzles and card games, there is an option for everyone. So these are the games you should play when looking for a time-killing activity, or even to procrastinate a little bit.

Hearts

The classic card game has become extremely popular online since it was introduced.

The objective of Hearts has remained virtually the same, players aim to score as few points as possible by avoiding taking cards that carry penalty points, such as all the hearts and the Queen of Spades, or alternatively, to “shoot the moon” by collecting all of these penalty cards to saddle your opponents with the points. The online version can be played in single player mode, or with players from around the world at Hearts.Land.

War Brokers

War Brokers is a popular multiplayer first-person shooter featuring voxel graphics, which means it resembles games like Minecraft and Roblox. It has different game modes including classics like team deathmatch and search-and-destroy, and even a battle royale mode that was recently introduced.

The game has several weapons and equipment for players to unlock, and vehicles like choppers and battle tanks can be found around the map. War Brokers is entirely free, and if you create an account, you get access to special missions and rewards.

Treasure Arena

If you miss the old times of dungeon crawlers on 16-bit consoles like Super NES and Sega Genesis, this is the game for you. Treasure Arena is a 16-bit adventure game in which players battle against each other over valuable treasure in different dungeons. The game is played in timed challenges, and players lose gold every time their character dies. The main goal is to have the most gold when the time is up.

There are also NPCs that guard the treasures and attack on sight, and players can find weapons and items to help them progress through the game. Treasure Arena was even launched as a full release called Super Treasure Arena.

Tetris

Tetris is undoubtedly one of the most beloved video games in the world, and one of the best-selling as well, with over 200 million copies sold over the course of more than thirty years. The game was developed by Russian software designer Alexey Pajitnov and released in more than 65 platforms, setting the Guinness world record for the most ported video game in history. At the Tetris official website, you can play the original game directly on your web-browser just as if you were playing it on an Electronika 60 or an arcade in 1984.

City Guesser

City Guesser is a browser game in which players must watch first-person videos of people walking around cities anywhere in the world, and then try to guess where that place is. You must search for clues like languages, signs, landmarks, license plates, or even skylines to make a solid guess.

The closer you get to the right place, the more points you’ll score, and if your guess is within one mile of the correct spot, you‘ll get a perfect score. But beware, after playing this game, you’ll be left craving for a vacation to visit other countries and travel around the world.

Table games

For quite some time, table games like roulette and blackjack have been some of the most beloved pastimes in the world, and that couldn’t be different in the online world. The selection of iGaming operators is almost endless, with most of them offering a wide array of popular games and casino classics to be played directly on your web browser or mobile device.

The games available include classics like baccarat and craps, and novelty games like sic bo and Let it Ride poker. There are also live dealer games, one of the hottest trends in iGaming in recent times, which are operated by professional dealers and streamed to players who can follow the whole gaming process.

A Dark Room

A Dark Room is a role-playing game developed and published by Double Speak Games. What starts off as a simple clicker game, soon develops into a deep, immersive text-based adventure in a post-apocalyptic world, featuring real-time battles and a whole map to explore.

Players must build a village and maintain a community in this scenario, manage supplies, and venture off in expeditions to find new resources to improve the village, such as abandoned mines and old towns. The plot is also very exciting, and will certainly grab your attention for a few hours.

Freeciv

If you like the world famous Civilization franchise created by Sid Meier in the 1990s, you must try this online turn-based strategy game heavily inspired by the classic game. And just like any incarnation of Sid Meier’s Civilization, Freeciv is extremely engaging, and will keep you playing for hours and hours.

As in the original game, players start out with an explorer and a few workers, and must work on their way to world domination while dealing with rivaling nations, barbaric clans, and citizens’ demands.

I-Spy

If you were a fan of the “Where’s Wally?” series of puzzle books, then you’ll certainly enjoy I-Spy. In this game, which aims to make you relax instead of diving into some fast-paced arcade frenzy, players are tasked with finding specific characters within beautifully-designed illustrations.

There are different game modes, including a timed challenge and a free mode, and the difficulty increases with every new scenery. From hidden characters to tiny elusive fishes, I-Spy presents great challenges for the fans of the world’s most famous puzzle books.

World’s Biggest Pac-Man

Created by Soap Creative in partnership with Microsoft and Namco-Bandai to promote and celebrate the 30th anniversary of the original release, World’s Biggest Pac-Man is the browser-based version of one the most popular video-games in the world.

This version features different mazes from the original game, allows players to create and submit their own mazes, and play them in a multiplayer mode that interlocks user-created mazes. Within a week from its release date, there were more than 10,000 user creations.

Online poker

Since the poker boom in the mid-2000s, online poker has become a cultural phenomenon, with millions of players all around the world, and an important market within the iGaming industry. Today, the list of online poker rooms is almost endless, with options ranging from the game’s many variants to different bet limits and prizes.

PokerStars is currently the world’s largest online poker room, with millions of active players every month. However, there are other important operators, such as GGPoker, which holds online events within the World Series of Poker, the most prestigious professional poker competition in the world.

Final thoughts

 

Browser games are free to play, easy on your CPU and graphics card, and can provide hours and hours of fun and entertainment. With great gameplays, mechanics, and even enticing storylines, these games are definitely worth your time and should be on your “games to play” list.