Games to Play on Chromebook: Free in Chrome, No Download
Updated
Every game in the catalog is HTML5 and runs inside the browser, so a Chromebook plays it in Chrome with nothing to install: open the game page and press play. Light 2D games are the safer pick on a Chromebook with little memory, while 3D games need more memory and graphics power, so close other tabs before you start one.
What games can you play on a Chromebook?
Browser games, which run inside a Chrome tab the same way they do on any computer. You open a game, press play and it loads in the page. Where a game lists its controls, they are shown under the player, so you can see before you start whether it wants the keyboard, the mouse or touch.
Light 2D games to start with
2D games draw flat scenes and usually ask less of the hardware, so they are the place to start on a Chromebook with little memory. 12 MiniBattles puts two players on one keyboard, with A for one and L for the other. Solitaire 8 Collection holds eight solitaires and has keyboard shortcuts: N for a new deal, P for a hint, Z to undo and M for the game list.
In Space Guardian you click where the ship should go, or steer it with WASD or the arrow keys, and Space fires rockets. Scrap Arms Neo is a pixel-art roguelite played with WASD or the arrows. Boo Brew runs a potion café with the mouse, or with the number keys 1 to 6 for ingredients and Space or Enter to stir.
3D games for stronger Chromebooks
3D browser games usually draw through WebGL and lean on the graphics chip and the memory. Before you start one, close the tabs you are not using. If a game stutters or stays black, try one of the 2D games above, and see what to do when a browser game will not load.
Curve Free Kick has 12 levels of free kicks: move the mouse to place your player, then click or press Space to shoot. Neon City Drift Racing drives with W or the up arrow and boosts with Space or Shift. Space Rover crosses planets and moons, with Shift for a boost and C to switch the camera. Zombie Quell 3D is a shooter seen from above, played with WASD and the mouse.
More are in 3D games.
Full screen on a Chromebook
The full screen key sits in the row of special keys above the numbers, usually just right of the refresh key. Press it to fill the screen with Chrome, and press it again to go back.
To fill the screen with the game alone, start the game, then press Play fullscreen under the game, on the right. Esc brings you back. There is more in how to make a browser game full screen.
Chromebook keys for games
A Chromebook keyboard has special keys, such as back and refresh, where other keyboards have F1 to F12, and a few everyday actions sit on different keys. These come from Google's Chromebook help.
| You want to | On a Chromebook |
|---|---|
| Reload a page where a game froze | Ctrl + R, or Ctrl + Shift + R to skip the cached copy |
| Fill the screen with Chrome | The full screen key, just right of refresh |
| Press a function key a game asks for | Search, or Launcher, plus the key in that position |
| Right-click | Press or tap the touchpad with two fingers, or hold Alt and click |
What WASD, Space and the other common game keys usually do is covered in keyboard controls for games.
Touchpad and touch screen
The touchpad works as the mouse. Some games aim or scope with the right mouse button, Zombie Survival : Last Stand among them, so the two-finger tap is worth learning before you start. Google's touchpad help shows the other gestures.
On a Chromebook with a touch screen, games played with taps and drags work with a finger, as on a tablet. Some say outright that they take both: Gem Mahjong works with touch and mouse, Solitaire 8 Collection with mouse and touch, and Klondike Solitaire Treasures adds a two-finger pinch to zoom.
Playing with a controller
Most browser games are built for a keyboard, a mouse or touch, but a few list gamepad controls in their instructions, such as Space Guardian and Pixel Tower. Connect the controller, open the game, then press any button on the controller. If the controller was connected before the page loaded, the game sees it only after you press a button or move a stick.
Frequently asked questions
What games can you play on a Chromebook for free?
Browser games: the games in the catalog are free and open in a Chrome tab, and 2D games are the safer start on a model with little memory.
Can you play games on a Chromebook without downloading?
Yes. Browser games load inside a Chrome tab, so there is nothing to get from an app store and nothing to install.
How do I make a game full screen on a Chromebook?
Press the full screen key above the number keys, or start the game and press Play fullscreen under it, on the right. Press the key again to leave browser full screen, and Esc to leave the game's own full screen.
Why is a game slow on my Chromebook?
3D games usually need more memory and graphics power than 2D ones. Close other tabs and restart Chrome, and if the game is still slow, pick a 2D game instead.
A Chromebook with Chrome and an internet connection is enough to start playing.
