Top 11 Best (Free) Browser Games for Chromebooks - 2023 | Platypus Platypus (2024)

So you’re looking for some of the best browser games for your Chromebook.

Look no further.

I’ve scoured the Chrome Web Store for the best of the best and compiled it all into a list. My goal is to show you a list of browser games in a variety of genres so you find at least a few new games to try out.

Keep in mind I’m a strategy and MMORPG buff, so these games hold the majority of positions on this list.

Also, all of them are free to play and run right in your browser (some of them don’t even require an account!) so you can try them out right away and either keep it or move onto the next one in just seconds.

Okay, so let’s get on with the list of the best browser games in 2021!

Last updated: 2/24/23. This list has been updated to include games into 2023. If you have any other awesome games to suggest, leave a comment and I’ll add it to the list!

1. Global Strike

Global Strike is an awesome fast-paced FPS with a variety of game modes to choose from.

But let’s be real, everyone plays online FPS games for the multiplayer TDM. The game plays similar to Counter-Strike but with a faster “get in and play” style. Published and developed by NGames Interactive, it’s a fun little browser FPS that’s completely to play an requires no download. And it works with Chrome and Chromebooks (Chrome OS) with no issues at all. You can dive right into an existing match within seconds.

You can easily jump into any match and get right into the game. Firewalls, plugins, and accounts are all not required and you can literally just launch the game and start playing.

The game features a few different modes including your standard TDM setup and infected zombie mode which is pretty much a staple of all FPS games these days- whether you like it or not.

The graphics are basic and simple and will remind you of the older classics like DOOM and Quake. It’s a true FPS with no way to get into the third-person mode. And the game has a basic minimap, score counter, ammo reserve, HP bar, and your character’s UI on screen. It’s a very basic, but fun, shooter game.

Global Strike is a very fast-paced game which is built for any system or potato to run smoothly. The game uses a self-optimizing engine to render the game’s graphics. It can run on nearly any system and plays right in the browser without the need for any plugin downloads. Because of this, the graphics are a little on the older side, but if you’re just looking for some nonstop FPS action, this is an excellent game and will get you your shooter fix.

If you like FPS games, you should check out this list of the best FPS games for Chromebooks.

Try out Global Strike here.

2. Arcane Legends

I’ve written a review about Arcane Legends before, and I’m definitely going to include it on this list. It’s probably the best and MMORPG I’ve played in terms of a browser game. Well, maybe not the best because there are other contenders, but it’s one of the best that I’ve been playing for over 2 years now and still play weekly.

Arcane Legends plays similarly to other paid RPGs like World of Warcraft. It features dungeons, quests, lore, auction houses, player housing, skills, abilities, passive skills, active skills, pets, and party quests. The game is in full 3D and has plenty of color with its fantasy palette with a zoomable camera.

The majority of the game is questing for items or kills with you entering shared dungeons with other players. The game encourages you to party up with others to take on mobs and the dungeon boss by partying. You can add people across the map and it tells you whenever someone enters the map for easy questing. For a browser-based RPG, this game plays almost like a downloadable standalone game. The quality of it is superb.

You can form parties, alliances, guidelines, and friends with other players. The game also has a title system complete with guild names also. It features both PvP and PvE complete with player stats. The pet system is also fully-flashed with a feeding system and a special attack that charges up. They can be leveled up and offer special buffs if you keep them happy.

The environments are very detailed with plenty of mobs to fight and a pretty decent boss. There’s a huge player base so you always have someone to party with no matter where you are. It’s a slight bias towards the end game, but that’s okay because when you hit max level cap you’ll have plenty to do.

It has daily quests, seasonal quests, and other special events. There are a ton of things to do. The devs are constantly pushing out new content and updates. You’ll never run out of stuff to do no matter what level you hit.

I don’t want to write too much about this game because, again, I’ve written plenty enough about it. All I can say is that if you’re looking for a free-to-play MMORPG that’s browser-based and runs on your Chromebook, you should definitely give Arcane Legends a try.

Update: Even now in 2020, I’m still playing this game. I’ve already maxed 2 characters and starting my third. I want to get one of each class maxed. If you’re playing Arcane Legends for the first time, try the Hunter- you won’t be disappointed late game when you’re raining arrows from afar =].

Update: In 2021, I STILL play this, but not as much. With the release of Shadowlands on WoW, that’s been my addiction as of late. But I still fire up this game when I’m away from my primary rig at work. I’m honestly surprised that the devs are still releasing so much content and events based around holidays.

If you’re looking to jump into a free MMORPG for Chromebooks that has a huge playerbase, this game ticks all the boxes.

Play Arcane Legends here.

3. Agar.io

If you’ve ever been on the Internet, you’ve probably heard of Agar.io.

It’s was a craze back a few years ago when it came out and there are still a ton of players addicted to it. It’s an online MMO where you play as a bacteria. You start out small and then you eat agar floating around and eventually other smaller cells.

You grow bigger as you eat other players. Eventually, you can control multiple entities as you eat. It’s like fish. Small fish eat smaller fish. Big fish eat small fish. Become the biggest fish to dominate the game.

The game is very simple, yet it’s very competitive at the same time. It became one of the most successful online browser games in the first year of its launch. It’s even on mobile. The game includes FFA, Battle Royale, Teams, Experimental, and Party.

You can choose your appearance, words, phrases, and skins. You can use a ranged attack, or simply swallow other players by touching them. If you decide to split yourself into two, you can launch yourself at other players or escape to move around the map quickly.

Players can also feed other players by releasing a portion of themselves to others.

Agar.io is simple, fun, and only requires a browser to play. It’s completely free to play and is available for Chromebooks.

This game has lost a lot of steam over time, but it’s still up and running. I guess it was a viral thing that lasted for a short while. It still has plenty of people playing though and you won’t be waiting for queue to pop. Worth it if you’re bored.

Try it out here.

4. Vikings: War of Clans

Vikings: War of Clans is an awesome MMO strategy game developed and published by Plarium. It’s a game where users have to team up with each other in order to create a clan. Each clan has a hierarchy with rankings and all must work together in order to capture a beacon of power at the center of every map.

Players create clans and train troops. You’ll need to get hero characters also in order to aid your troops in wars. You harvest raw materials like lumber, iron, food, stone, silver, and gold in order to build up your town and upgrade older buildings. The game is pretty much like a city-builder with a focus on clans.

After you get a hefty number of troops, you can march out and attack other towns. You can also form groups of teams that each contain up to 100 players united by a single clan name with a management structure. This can help you wage war on larger nations in order to capture the Place of Power. When you start out, the game will separate you into a kingdom. Each kingdom has around 40,000 players.

Vikings: War of Clans is a mix of strategy, city-building, and RTS. It’s a game that takes some time to get used to because of the complexity. If you like games like Civilization, you should try this out. You’ll probably like it. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so it’s good to start out watching some beginner tutorials like this one:

After you get the hang of it, it’s so addicting and you’ll be logged in to check on your town every hour- whether or not you consider that a good thing.

You can try out Vikings: War of Clans here.

5. Treasure Arena

Treasure Arena is an awesome battle arena game for up to 4 players at once!

You start off looting various cheats for weapons likes bows, rockets, bombs, and a lot more. The map is littered with enemies which you can dodge or jump to evade. The game features colorful artwork like old-school dungeon crawlers and you have a basic UI with your HP, hotkeys, and various information text. It’s very easy to pick up and play, but difficult to master- the best kind!

It has a catchy fast-paced soundtrack and tons of animation sprites to capture the action. It has older retro pixel art that’s set up for a short blast of pixelated chaotic mayhem in an action-packed multiplayer arena. I’m not sure how many matches of this I played when I was into it, but it did take up a good chunk of my day (which is kind of why this list took a while to write. Heh.).

It’s powered by HTML5, so all you need is a modern browser to play it. It works with Chrome OS and is probably one of the best browser games for Chromebooks you can get because it’s fast, fun, and awesome. You don’t need to download any annoying plugins or software. Just launch it and play! It pretty well-made that you’d be able to trick someone into thinking it’s a standalone game made by some AAA developer.

If you’re just looking for a fast and fun browser game for your Chromebook, try out Treasure Arena now!

6. Cartoon Strike: Lite

Cartoon Strike is another browser-based FPS game that’s completely free to play.

If you’ve played old-school shooters like Counter-Strike, you’ll feel kinda right at home. You can play with strangers or friends and easily jump into any match in progress. There’s no waiting or anything.

The game plays just like a basic FPS game. You can choose from a variety of weapons- including semis, snipers, and pistols. You have a primary and secondary weapon, and a throwable also. The game has a variety of levels to play on, such as a shipping yard and a detailed city. The artwork is blocky and kind of looks like Roblox or Unturned, and they actually do quite well for the game.

The game always has people playing it so you’ll always find someone to play with. Cartoon Strike makes it easy to get your FPS fix when you don’t want to create an account, register, or download anything. Simply jump in and fire away!

It includes basic TDM and a basic UI. You can chat with others and talk to your team if you want. It’s especially entertaining when you get a group of friends together and start your own server. Hook it up on Discord and just have a nice evening of blasting away the enemy. Get a sniper, gunner, and runner and you’re in for a fun night.

If you’re looking for a free-to-play browser FPS, Cartoon Strike makes it easy and is one of the best. Recommended if you got a Chromebook and you’re bored.

Play Cartoon Strike: Lite here.

7. Web Quake

If you’ve played Quake before, you already know what this is.

It’s just Quake remade for browsers. It plays very similarly to the original with some slight differences in the framerate. Other than that, it’s true to the original game.

If you’ve never played Quake, it’s worth playing. It’s probably one of the best classic FPS games right up there with Doom. Now you can play it right in your browser- for free. It works on Chromebooks since it’s purely based on JavaScript. Chromebook or not- all you need is a modern browser and you’re good to go.

I can’t say much about Quake other than it holds a special place in my childhood. It’s nonstop, zombie-blasting, puzzle-solving, platform-hopping, FPS action. If you haven’t played it yet, now you have no excuse. It’s freakin’ QUAKE.

If you’re bored and have nothing else to do, this will keep you busy for a few hours. This game is still legendary and free to play in 2022.

For those Gen-Z gamers who’ve never had the chance to play this classic FPS, don’t miss out!

Play it here.

8. Tank Riders

Tank Riders is a 3D tank battle game which sports plenty of colorful and appealing graphics. The game is very fast-paced and is like those old-school arcade tank games you see but with a modern graphics engine. It’s very easy to pick up and play, but very difficult to master!

You choose a tank and attack hordes of oncoming enemy tanks with a variety of cannons, missiles, and even mortars. You can time your shots, bounce them off walls, and even snipe them from across the map- if you’re good enough! It’s like a zombie defense or tower defense game but with tanks and lots of weaponry.

The current build of the game only lets you play against computer AI. It plays in waves and you have you eliminate all enemy tanks without getting killed. Enemies come in waves like zombie survival games. Steer clear of enemy projectiles and sentry guns!

It’s pretty easy to get into and you’ll find yourself wasting a few hours of your life to this game here and there. I only added this game to the list because it’s one of the first browser games I’ve played on my Chromebook and I still play to this day. It’s also scheduled for multiplayer online combat, but that’s never happened.

I think the game’s been abandoned since then. But that’s why I went ahead and found a backup game- Tanki Online. It’s pretty much the same concept but it has a multiplayer mode. Give that a try if you want to play some browser tank wars.

But if you like arcade-style tank games, give Tank Riders a try.

9. Dark Orbit

Dark Orbit is an online exploration game where you pilot a spaceship and travel around to distant galaxies. If you’ve played games like EVE Online, it’s similar to that.

The game has millions of players online which you’ll constantly be fighting against as everyone seems to want to prove how decked out their ship is. That’s one problem with the same. The community is kind of toxic. So if you’re looking for an online browser game with a good community, you’re better off playing something else or trying to look foursome mature players.

Other than that, the game is awesome. In Darkorbit, you explore galaxies for raw materials used to build weapons, upgrade your ship, and more. There are three factions in the game fighting for control of the universe.

You choose one and then you’re on your own. You can explore different galaxies, complete complex quest lines, and configure and customize your spaceships. There are just under a dozen ships you can fully configure to your liking, and I’ve wasted hours of time just trying to make it super efficient. There are also tons of ammo, weapons, and equipment you can loot by exploring or completing quests.

What’s awesome about Dark Orbit is that they have monthly cash prizes of $10,000, so players will actually try their best to compete with others- this is why the community is toxic. If you’re new to the game and make a mistake, you’ll get criticized to no end for it.

The other thing is that your faction will want you to perform your best, so they expect everyone to be a pro. If you’re new, I strongly suggest watching some tutorial videos to get the hang of it first!

Dark Orbit is an awesome browser MMORPG for space game fans. It’s like a space sim and RPG hybrid, but it’s a pretty complicated game that’ll take some time to master. If you like strategy and space games, try this out.

Play Dark Orbit.

10. Spelunky

Spelunky is an awesome endless cave explorer game that has you playing as some miner dude going through caves, blasting rocks, and rescuing people. And collecting loot. Lots and lots of loot.

Spelunky puts you in randomly-generated dungeons that has you finding the way out with classic roguelike and plastic forming elements. You need to grab as much treasure as possible and escape without getting killed. You can use bombs to blow up walls, a grappling hook to reach far platformers, and treasure for cash.

It’s an addictive little puzzler that has a constant stream of content and renders beautifully on the browser. If you like exploration games, Spelunky is worth playing. It’s good for some creative roguelike dungeon-crawler, platform-jumping, people-saving, snake-slapping, bat-hopping, wall-blasting, treasure-collecting action!

Update: In 2020, this game is still filled with an active community that just can’t get enough of the treasure-hunting action.

Did I mention that it also works offline so you can play without any WiFi? Perfect for when you’re bored at work, school, or long road trips.

Update: In 2021, Spelunky 2 has been released. I haven’t tried it yet, but it looks VERY PROMISING. Have you played it? Is it worth it over the first one? Leave a comment. Even though it’s on Steam, you can still play it on your Chromebook using the Linux trick.

Try out Spelunky 1.

Note that Spelunky 1 is free to play. Perfect when you got nothing to do.

11. Free Rider HD

This is probably the most fun you’ll have with friends in a browser game you’ll ever have. Seriously.

If you’re at work, in school, or just bored somewhere, Free Rider HD is a game you’ll want to tell your friends to sign in to and play just to mindlessly waste time. It’s a game where you race bikes against your friends on tracks drawn by you or other players. Think Happy Wheels except you get to draw the track, race against others, and has a ton of tracks to download if you’re way too lazy to create your own- or short on time! It’s freakin’ awesome.

For starters, the game has over 80 campaign tracks to race on each which has gold, silver, and plain bronze medals. When you get bored of that, you can download over 300,000 player-created tracks from the community, just like Happy Wheels. The game lets you race in nearly any situation imaginable. I’ve seen tracks that resemble real-life locations and tracks drawn just to troll. Hard.

Then when you’re bored of that, get your friends together and race in multiplayer online racing. It all runs straight in the browser and doesn’t require any fancy plugins or downloads. You can compete against them and see who’s the best with friend leaderboards and even world leaderboards if you have no friends!

There are also daily achievements and total achievements to unlock. You can also customize your bike and rider in the game’s shop. It’s completely free to play with regular content updates. And if you really like it, you can play on desktop, tablet, and even your phone for portable gaming. It’s pretty clunky though. But if you’re on the go, it works.

The game also saves your best times and allows you to challenge your friend with it. And of course, it features ragdoll physics which are hilarious and funny. Choose your BMX or MTB bike, customize your rider and ride, and then race your friends through over 300,000 tracks.

Free Rider HD is one of the best browser games for Chrome ever made. Try it out.

Did you find your new favorite browser game?

Well, that’s about it.

I hope you found at least one or two new awesome browser games from this list to try out. And if you have any other games to suggest, just let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll check it out.

If you’ve found this list to be helpful, let me know as well. Consider telling a friend and playing together =]! It’s always more fun with friends.

Thanks for reading!