The focus of this guide is on online games, which are video games designed to be played on the Internet or on another computer network.
Although online games span many game genres, for the purpose of categorization within Aviva Directory, we have opted to list them here, rather than by genre, for the convenience of our visitors, who may be looking for games that they can play online, and the genres categories include games that have to be downloaded to a computer.
Common game genres that are played online include first-person shooters, strategy games, and massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG). When the number of sites warrants subdividing this category by genre, subcategories will be created.
Online games can run the gamut of complexity, from simple text-based gameplay to the incorporation of graphics and complex virtual worlds.
Some online games have created their own online communities, while others are designed to be played alone or against one other opponent.
Early online games were known as MUDs, which originally stood for Multi-User Dungeons, but which have alternatively been referred to as Multi-User Dimensions or Multi-User Domains. A MUD is a multiplayer, real-time virtual world, generally text-based, and includes features from text-based adventure games, role-playing games, player-versus-player games, hack-and-slash games, interactive fiction, and online chat. Still popular among a cult following, traditional MUDs were set in a fantasy world populated by fictional beings and monsters, the objectives being to explore the fantasy world while completing quests and slaying monsters.
The evolution of MUDs led to the modern MMORPGs, such as EverQuest and Ultima Online, and virtual world genres like Second Life. In fact, MMORPGs were originally known as graphical MUDs, and early MMORPG designers began as MUD developers and players.
One of the earliest first-person shooter games was Doom, which was developed for MS-DOS in 1993, then played as a BBS game before it came to the Internet.
The first real-time strategy games played online allowed multiple players to compete over a modem or local network. By the late 1990s, most RTS games had native Internet support, which permitted players in one part of the world to play against those in another. Popular RTS games, such as Age of Empires, have developed online communities.
Developed in the 2010s, multiplayer online battle arena games (MOBAs) are a type of strategy game in which a player controls a single character in a team who compete against another team of players. This genre includes Defense of the Ancients, League of Legends, and Heroes of the Storm.
As Mentioned earlier, massively multiplayer online games came about with the availability of broadband Internet access, allowing hundreds of thousands of players to play the same game together. MMORPG refers to role-playing games within this genre. Others include real-time strategy games and first-person shooter games involving large numbers of players.
Browser games use a web browser as a client, using HTML and HTML scriptings, such as JavaScript, ASP, PHP, and MySQL, as well as web-based graphics using Flash and Java. Other browser games use Ajax or WebGL to allow for multiplayer interactions.
Although console games have developed to use the Internet to allow for gameplay against real, versus computer-generated, opponents, because they require the use of a proprietary console, such as Xbox, Playstation, or Nintendo, they will be listed in a separate category as a console game.
The focus of this category is on games that can be played online, keeping in mind the exceptions stated here. Single-player online games are listed in this category, while online multiplayer games have been separated into a subcategory. Further subcategorization will be created as necessary.
Categories
@Social Gaming NetworksMultiplayer Games | Single-Player Games |
Recommended Resources
Offering hundreds of free games that children can play online for free, with no video ads and no pop-up ads, games from dozens of children’s game genres can be found here, including action games, board games, cars, motorcycles, and other driving games, as well as fighting games, puzzles, sports games, dress-up games, and others designed particularly for girls. There are games for single-players, w-player games, and both 2D and 3D games. Membership is not required.
http://www.alfy.com/
America’s Army is a game technology platform that is used to develop first-person shooter video games. Published in 2002 by the US Army, the game is branded as a strategic communication device to allow people to explore the Army virtually, and at their own pace. The official game of the US Army can be played online, as a single-player or multiplayer game. Other resources include several screenshots, a comic section, press information, news, and a discussion and support forum.
https://www.americasarmy.com/
As a distributor and publisher of casual games, iWin aggregates HTML5 and PC downloadable games from developers worldwide, distributing the content across its network of sites, including this one. Approximately a dozen games are available to play for free; however, they are available only for PCs running the Windows operating system. When played for free, games are interrupted with advertising, but unlimited access to hundreds of games is available for a monthly fee.
https://www.arcadetown.com/
Originally known as Games of Gondor, the site first went online in 2004, assuming its current name in 2005. The game portal hosts Flash-based browser games that span a wide variety of game genres, including massively multiplayer online games, some of which it sponsors. New games, promoted games, and popular games are highlighted on the site’s index page, while other games are sorted by genre. A developer portal and discussion forums are included.
https://www.armorgames.com/
Based in Australia, this personal guide to entertaining and profitable online gambling provides casino reviews, information about legal issues surrounding online and offline gambling in various countries, and reports on casino or online gambling software providers, payment methods and the casinos that accept them, casino bonuses, and related topics. An informational blog is provided, its team of reviewers is introduced, and an overview of the site is included.
https://casinority.com/au/
Featuring more than six thousand retro DOS, Windows, and console games, including abandonware games and abandoned OS interfaces allowing DOS games to be played online. Available games, which include such classics as the Oregon Trail, the Oregon Trail Deluxe, Sid Meier’s Civilization, Prince of Persia, Wolfenstein 3D, and Doom II, are sorted by top games, name, year of release, genre, platform, developer, and publisher, New games are highlighted.
https://classicreload.com/
Although games may be played without registration or a login, there are daily limits. There is no charge for registration, and registered players can play games with no daily limit, keep track of the total games played, add favorite games to their profile, and earn points for played games to become a top player. Members may also send and receive private messages from other members and leave comments on games that they play. Online games from several genres are represented.
http://www.cool-games.us/
CMG carries a wide selection of online games that can be played for free, including only games that the author has given permission for them to use, offering cash sponsorships to game designers in order to encourage them to contribute more games to the site. Top-rated games are featured above the fold on the site’s index page, and its newest games are also listed on the index page. Others are sorted by game genre, including action, puzzle, arcade, fighting, RPG, and sports.
https://www.crazymonkeygames.com/
Claiming more than 300,000 registered users, FICS is one of the oldest and largest online chess servers. There is no charge for registration, although contributions are welcomed. Several FICS chess interfaces are compared side-by-side, with links. The FICS Teaching Ladder helps users to improve their skill levels by having their games reviewed by stronger players, and by reviewing other players’ games. Sponsorships and a schedule of events are included.
https://www.freechess.org/
FOG publishes a large selection of games that can be played for free online, or embedded in other websites. Included are single-player and multiplayer games in an array of game genres, including 3D, action, adventure, arcade, classic, defense, driving, flying, girl, matching, platform, point-and-click, puzzle, role-playing, shooting, simulation, sports, stickman, stunt, survival, unity, war, and zombie games. Games are played on-site, and players have an option to rate each game.
https://www.freeonlinegames.com/
Featuring a variety of free online games, using HTML 5, Flash, and WebGL, from several genres, including brain teasers, escape, hidden objects, idle, math, physics, platform, racing, shooting, sports, stickman, war, and zombie games. The choices include multiplayer games, as well as board games, card games, and several quick and easy games. Other categories of games are HTML 5 games, walkthroughs, girl games, and seasonal games. Advertising opportunities are included.
http://www.freeworldgroup.com/
Affiliated with Mystic Media, Game Capacity features a selection of free Flash games that are sorted into basic game genres, including action, arcade, puzzle, sports, strategy, shooting, arcade, and adventure games, as well as other games that span genres or which don't fit into any particular genre. Games may be accessed on the site as long as Adobe Flash is installed and enabled, and may be played in the page window or in a full game window. Adverting opportunities may be available.
http://www.gamecapacity.com/
Available in several languages, the games portal is affiliated with Spil Games, and features a large collection of free online games from across the span of game genres, including single-player and multiplayer games, and apps that can be downloaded from Google Play or the Apple App Store. The focus of the site is on online games, however. Recommended games, editor's picks, and popular games are highlighted, and new games are listed on the site's index page.
http://www.gamesgames.com/
Owned by Mindspark Interactive Network, the game portal hosts online games covering several genres, including puzzles, arcade, card, board, sports, action, and dress-up games, as well as retro games and multiplayer games, and some games that must be downloaded to a computer. Its games may be found by genre or through a keyword search. A few games from each genre are featured on the index page. Game developers are invited to submit games for inclusion.
https://www.gamingwonderland.com/
The Internet Chess Club (ICC) is a service that helps people come together and enjoy the game of chess. The website also has chess lectures to help you learn more about this classic game. You can also get a free trial to play chess games through the ICC. Founded in 1999, the ICC is a commercial Internet chess server devoted to the play and discussion of chess and its variants. Users can play chess online, watch real-time live games, or solve puzzles online.
http://www.chessclub.com/
The online games include reviews and links to game sites, including several that can be played from the site. Categories for games deemed to be the best games, and another for new games are included, along with several other game categories, including action, adventure, strategy, arcade, fighting, puzzle, racing, run, card, board, escape, and Mahjong, as well as 2-player games, multiplayer games, simulation games, retro games, and shooting games.
https://kbhgames.com/
Known for its large collection of games, Miniclip has been online since 2001 and is available in several languages. The site features a large number of free online games, including multiplayer games, and its single-player games allow players to compete for high scores and player rankings. The game site also offers downloadable mobile games that can be played on an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows mobile device. Games are sorted by popularity and by genre.
https://www.miniclip.com/
Accepting user-generated Flash games and animation since 1999, Newgrounds added an audio portal and co-authoring system in 2003, allowing artists to team up with musicians, later adding an art portal and a writing forum, as well as sponsoring events and jams. Besides Flash, the portal now allows uploads of animations in MP4 or other video formats and HTML 5 games. Its policies for creating an account are given, and resources for developers and artists are provided.
https://www.newgrounds.com/
The site features a catalog of thousands of free online games across hundreds of categories, all of them unblocked, free HTML games that can be played directly in the web browser, with no mobile application downloads required. Plays licenses games from hundreds of developers, including leading indy game studios, some of which are named here. Featured games and recent additions are listed on the index page. Registration for a free account allows players to save their favorite games.
https://www.plays.org/
Created by Matthew H. Yarrows and released through EpicImagination, Sryth is a browser-based, single-player role-playing text adventure game. While the game is free to play, those who upgrade to an Adventurers Guild membership get extended access to the game, including exclusive adventures, premium content, special events, and character bonuses. Screenshots, lore from the game world, documentation, and a hall of champions section is featured on the site.
http://www.sryth.com/
