Though they do not dominate the gaming world today, we’re sure you’ve played browser or embeddable HTML 5 games in the past. If you’re an older millennial like us, we’re sure you’ve experienced Flash-based games of yore and even browser grand strategy titles that weren’t blocked on your school admin’s systems.

Nostalgia aside, browser games today take on a lot of forms, though they are all HTML5 games you can play without the need to download anything. Many of these are casual experiences. After all, games that require lots of time and effort to play now mostly require a download or are on mobile as apps.

With that said, we’re all aware that browser games are far from delivering the same experience games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Genshin Impact offer. However, they are still a great option today, and people still play them despite the influx of triple-A games and the dominance of mobile titles in the casual market. The thing is, where do they stand today, and do they have a future?

Yes, browser games are here to stay

The social phenomenon

There’s a reason why browser games continue to thrive. If we look to the past, we can list down games like AdventureQuest, Pet Society, and Farmville as having that not-so-secret formula, which is their social elements. All three games are massive social experiences. For example, FarmVille lets you visit your friends’ farms and vice-versa, and of course, you’d want your land to look as appealing as possible. The same concept applies to Pet Society, where you need to spruce up your home just in case someone visits.

Though both Facebook-hosted games are gone now, they thrived amidst the influx of triple-A games and the start of the rise of mobile gaming.

Accessibility advantages