Web-based games are popular for a number of reasons. Firstly, they tend to go back to gaming basics without focusing on showy graphics or over-the-top voice acting. Secondly, they are very accessible. You might want to play a game you remember from your childhood or perhaps take part in some free casino games?
Flash
This is the technology that propelled web-based games to the forefront of the internet and drew in younger users.
Using Adobe Flash Player (which famously doesn’t work on Apple products) a user can play all sorts of games. The application will detect mouse and keyboard inputs allowing you to play the game.
70% of all web games are made in Flash but it’s actually quite old technology as version 1 was released in 1997. With newer technologies popping up all the time, it’s likely that we will start to see a decline in Flash games.
HTML5
For those of us that use up-to-date browsers, playing a HTML 5 game is no problem. However, the big problem with this is that a lot of the HTML5 specifications don’t work on older browsers such as Internet Explorer 8.
The fact that a lot of HTML5 tools allow you to import Flash games is a good indicator that this is the future.
HTML5 is the progression from the basic HTML most of us will already know. It allows for better usage of Javascript in order to get the functionality needed to play a game in your web browser.
There are plenty of game creators out there that allow you to create your own games with little to no knowledge of HTML5 or Javascript.
Java Applets
This isn’t one of the most popular tools for creating a game but that doesn’t mean that Java games are unworthy.
Java deploys an application (the game) as an applet within a web browser. It’s an appealing way of creating games because it works seamlessly with most browsers (providing the user has Java installed on their computer).
Most users do have Java but even if they don’t, it’s easy enough to install. This means that if you do come across a Java game and don’t have the software needed, it only takes a few minutes so you can be playing before you know it.
This and HTML5 are the most cross-compatible when it comes to gaming, as most web browsers will support them (providing you’re using the most up-to-date version of your chosen browser.) Google Chrome is the best for this.
Microsoft Silverlight
There are sites such as Mashoo that are dedicated to games made using Silverlight. In order to play these games you’ll have to have the plug-in installed but, like Java, it doesn’t take very long at all and it’s likely you already have it.
Ella Mason, an experienced freelance writer, wrote this article. Ella specializes in providing useful and engaging technology advice to others.