How browser gaming re-ignited my passion for the oldest and purest gaming platform of all: The Video Game Arcade.
Have video games become too complicated?
When I think of my favourite video games of all time, most of my top 10 would have to be from the Golden Age of the Video Arcade, which, for me, was from 1980 to the late ’80s (long before the advent of browser gaming). And of course, they all had something in common: They were all Arcade games, Throw away quick fixes designed to keep you pumping in the 10p’s. They were no saves, patches, or online functionality, this was all about slapping the audience in the face with the latest in jaw-dropping graphics and sound at a hundred miles an hour. You went in, lost yourself in the game, then moved onto the next one.
With the advent of home computing and what would develop into the death knell of arcade gaming: The home consoles, gaming became less of a pass-time to the point where it’s even become a career for some. We now embark on 100-hour long quests in the world of Skyrim, we spend years levelling up our characters and equipment, online currency became real currency.
Having said that, I’m going to qualify all of the above by stating that, without consoles, two of my favourite games of all time, Final Fantasy VII and Metal Gear Solid would never have seen the light of day.
Mobile Gaming: The Drawbacks.
Even when games made it onto mobiles, they still somehow lacked the purity of a traditional arcade game. You had to download them, keep the data on your phone, make a commitment. With games in the arcade, you always felt you could dip in, completely anonymous, save the universe, then dip out again. I always liked that.
Then. of course, there are the distractions of adverts. the micro-transactions, and all the other phone app business models clamouring for your attention and your money.
What are Browser Games?
Browser games are launched from a web browser (Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, etc) without needing to purchase, download or install any other software. A great example is plays.org, which is a fantastic browser gaming site offering a catalogue of around 100 games across many categories/genres.
Going back to the traditional video game arcade for a moment, the Arcade category immediately grabbed my attention. and within it, two versions of timeless arcade classics. Brick Out and Super Tetris
…. Or Arkanoid by any other name. It’s easy to forget what an addictive, joyful gaming experience this is, homing in on our OCD to clear up every last block. This is the perfect sequel to the seminal Breakout (and before that, Pong), which adds power-ups and other improvements, but crucially maintains the core gameplay that made it great in the first place.
As for Brick Out? Arkanoid has never been better! All the power-ups are there (plus a few surprises) and the levels advance at a challenging pace which keeps you hooked. A perfect difficulty curve.
This has always been a great game, and it’s even better to play it on a format that’s FREE, accessible from a range of devices, and devoid of any annoying ads.
Tetris certainly ranks in my, and many other’s all-time top 10 best games (some say the best) for good reason. It’s one of the most legendary games ever made! The concept is ridiculously simple: You must form a complete horizontal line of blocks. But the genius of Tetris is its addictiveness, that elusive one-more-go quality.
I can get lost in the colourful, hypnotic world of Super Tetris, and this particular version is an absolute joy to play. First of all, the music is brilliant and provides the perfect mood to enjoy one of the most soothing brain puzzles ever devised. As a package, it’s one of the most complete I’ve come across, but the real star of the show is its accessibility, via a browser, through the device of your choice.
Are Browser Games the Future?
Discovering browser gaming has reminded me of something I’d long forgotten: My love affair for arcade games of the purest kind. Browser games are free, accessible and, and as technology advances, the games themselves now live up to their promise, and then some!
If like me, you once frequented the video-game arcades, or you’re a casual gamer looking for a quick fix, or you simply love gaming, I would recommend you give browser gaming a try, who knows what gems you may uncover?