While most of browser games before ran through Adobe Flash and its browser plugin, HTML offers the best option today. Most of the browser game types are processed through the latest HTML5 version, which adequately addresses the poor performance and lagging issues of Adobe Flash.
Thanks to the WebGL API for 3D graphics and the Unity Web Player, HTML5 games surpassed Flash since you no longer need a plugin, and there are no sudden updates that would lead to lagging. Our team prepared this in-depth guide through which we’ll address how to find and play browser games, their main benefits, and compatibility for various devices.
Introduction to HTML5 for Browser Games
Before diving deep into the best browser games, we have to ensure you understand what HTML5 is and how it works. The HTML5 technology is a part of the HTML descriptive language used to display certain web page elements and presentations.
We know it sounds a bit complex, but think of it this way – HTML is the structural programming language, and the HTML5 version is specialized for displaying multimedia elements.
That also means it’s used for developing audio and video elements and almost all the top browser games you can access today. Since it directly helps develop web page elements, including games, you won’t need to download any sort of app or even a plugin like Adobe Flash requires you to. All you have to do is visit the site with a device that’s compatible with displaying HTML5 elements, and you can play directly on-page via mobile view.
Process of Launching a Game Using HTML5
Unlike Flash or Unity, HTML5 releases can be played directly within the web page without apps or add-ons required. Another great benefit is the abundance of free browser games you can play, and the following steps will tell you how:
- Built-in browser support – Modern mobile browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge already include HTML5 support. This means they can correctly interpret and display content created using HTML5 without the need for additional extensions or plugins. You can even play web browser games on Opera or Internet Explorer and both Android and iOS devices.
- Launching the game in the browser – When a player opens a browser-based HTML5 game, the browser processes the HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS code that makes up free online HTML5 games and displays them according to the instructions of those programming languages. All this happens automatically, and the user simply sees the finished HTML5 game on the screen of his device. The HTML5 online games can all be launched just as easily, regardless of the graphic requirements, as the API optimizes the display on your device.
- No download required – Because HTML5 installments run directly in the browser, they do not require downloading or installing separate applications. All you need is internet access and a browser that supports HTML5. You can also play free HTML5 games in an “app view” by expanding the screen into a portrait mode, giving off the impression of a game HTML experience similar to that of playing in-app without needing to download.
Advantages of HTML5 for Creating Browser Games
The two main benefits of online browser games created via HTML5 are accessibility and support, but the list doesn’t end there. They are made more accessible for the disabled as well, and here’s a list with detailed descriptions of each benefit:
- Versatility and Compatibility – HTML5 games can run on any device with a modern browser, including smartphones, tablets, and computers. This provides a wide audience coverage because it does not require additional software installation, unlike Adobe Flash. All the game browser updates and software updates happen within the software framework, eliminating the chance of updating lags.
- Interactivity and Graphics – The HTML5 technology allows developers to create more dynamic and engaging worlds due to supported multimedia features. This directly reflects the level of graphics and visual games browser experience, and all the supported browser devices can process the advanced graphics thanks to HTML optimization.
- Performance – HTML5 games can be optimized for high performance, even on mobile devices. This means products load faster and run more smoothly, improving the overall gaming experience. All the online web games created this way are significantly ahead of those previously deployed via Flash.
- Open Standards – HTML5 is an open standard, making it easier for developers to access resources and information to create and optimize games. This also encourages greater adoption and innovation in the gaming industry.
- Multiplatform support – One of the key features of HTML5 is the ability to create gaming options that easily adapt to different platforms without having to rewrite each system’s code. Especially when it comes to mobile games in the browser, this reflects the accessibility for Android and iOS players.
- Safety – Because HTML5 games run directly in the browser, they are generally considered more secure than Flash releases, which require external plugins that often contain vulnerabilities. You can play browser games for free and still worry less about malicious cyberattacks when compared with Flash, thanks to integrated server solutions.
Examples of Popular Browser Games for Android and iOS
Now that you know it’s possible to play games on a browser directly, we’ll give you brief overviews of the most common options and types. One of the main advantages of browser games online is the chance to play demo versions of the games, and this especially goes for casino releases.
Eye of Horus Slot
The Eye of Horus slot is one of the most popular HTML5 slots thanks to its ancient Egyptian theme and expanding pharaoh wild symbols. It can also be played as a free browser game in case you load the slot Eye of Horus demo version, and you can adjust the bet-per-line ratio and overall bet size in both demo and real money versions.
The main goal is to hit three scatter symbols that lead to a bonus round with 12 initial free spins, but each new pharaoh symbol adds an extra spin. Also, it upgrades the symbols until only the premium ones are left on the grid, precisely the “eye of Horus” golden symbol, which pays x500 of your line bet.
Thanks to the online games browser optimization with HTML5, you can play Eye of Horus online on Android casino sites, while you can play Eye of Horus for free on demo or slot review sites. Thanks to the advancement of HTML technology, you can also play other Eye of Horus games like the “Golden Tablet” or “Megaways” versions.
Slither.io
Unlike the previously mentioned casino release, Slither.io is one of the arcade web browser games based on the popular “Snake” mobile game. This time, players can enjoy flashy graphics with an accent on simple snake control movements and colorful dots that extend the snake.
You can move up, down, left, and right, and the round is finished once the snake “bites” its tail. With the introduction of HTML5, it became widely available for mobile devices and PCs supporting this technology.
2048
As for the representative of puzzle-style browser-based games, the 2048 game browser game combines old-school puzzle gameplay with the modernized number-adding concept. It’s more difficult than it seems since it requires some quick thinking and math skills, so you’d be in for longer sessions with it.
You can either swipe the tiles on touch-screen mobile devices or use your keyboard’s arrow keys for PC versions. The goal is to place two tiles or puzzle pieces with the same number adjacent to one another to make them merge into one.
Agar.io
Agar.io is one of the best browser-based games in the multiplier category, and you start as a small cell in a large pond-like arena. You can absorb smaller cells (other players’ avatars) and grow, therefore proceeding on the leaderboard and becoming the most-developed cell in the imaginary world.
You can play with different skins and grow as you absorb the other cells with a live leaderboard feed.
Cookie Clicker
As you browse the best web browser games, Cookie Clicker will surely catch your attention with a unique objective – collect the most cookies and unlock achievements. You also have extra options like the Grandma and Cursor features and a chance to obtain cookies without clicking.
You can create your cookie-producing world with farms and factories that ultimately lead to a full economy, so it’s a release you can enjoy for an extended period.
Forge of Empires
Playing strategy web-based games was unimaginable in the days of options like Stronghold or Age of Empires. So, the mobile take, Forge of Empires, was created as an HTML5 game with an urban civilization-building factor and the chance to play online with other players.
You can build your civilization from scratch, and this one stands out from just good browser games thanks to an army factor that lets you conquer other civilizations and grow your nation.
Additional parameters worth paying attention to before playing
The usage of HTML5 technology minimizes the game’s online browser limits that you might have encountered before with Flash, such as lagging or incompatibility. However, there are some factors to consider here:
Technical optimization of the device
Even though you can play an online game in a browser more easily thanks to HTML5, you still need some computing power to process the program. If you have an older Android or iOS device, you’ll need to consider the memory and storage of your phone.
You can free up the device’s storage space or transfer the data to a cloud, so your device gets more computing power. Also, you can put unused apps to sleep and keep an eye on your device’s temperature and performance.
Another possibility is optimizing the battery life and letting your device keep its processing power at max level through a built-in app. Finally, it’s recommended to clear your cache every so often to additionally boost the performance of an online game on the browser.
Data and Connection Management
If you are going to play on some of the best browser game sites, you’ll need to also maximize data usage by switching to a Wi-Fi network. Also, it’s recommended to cut the data usage of other apps that may tamper with the processing speed of your HTML5 release.
You can also do it by using a data saver app that will keep optimizing your device’s performance while playing the best web browser games. It’s all up to the connection regarding these gaming options, so it’s essential to ensure you have a stable network connection and the fastest data processing time possible.
Conclusion
Browser apps on Android devices are not only beneficial for their storage-saving capacity as you don’t need to download an app, but also for their safety and processing speed. It’s the next step of online gaming that surpassed that of the Flash Player by far, and the future also seems bright for both casino and arcade HTML5 releases.
Their accessibility makes these options suitable for all players and their devices, while a chance to play demo versions of some products has immense value.