What Are HTML5 Games and Why Do They Run Everywhere?

If you have played a game on a website in the last few years without installing anything, it was almost certainly an HTML5 game. The name sounds technical, but the idea is simple: the game is built from the same ingredients as the web page around it.

The three building blocks

An HTML5 game is made with HTML for structure, CSS for layout and JavaScript for everything that moves. Most games draw their graphics on a canvas, a blank rectangle the game can paint on many times per second. More demanding 3D games use WebGL, which lets the browser talk to your device's graphics chip.

Why there is nothing to install

Older browser games needed a plug-in. HTML5 games do not, because every modern browser understands these technologies out of the box. That is why the same game can open on a Windows laptop, a Mac, a Chromebook, an Android phone and an iPhone.

What it means for you

• Instant play. A small game is usually ready in a second or two.
• No storage worries. Nothing is added to your device beyond the browser's normal temporary cache.
• Touch and keyboard. Well-made games support both. On this site, each game page lists the devices it works on.

Getting the best experience

Keep your browser up to date, close a few tabs if a game feels slow, and try fullscreen mode on small screens. If a game does not behave, the Report button on its page tells us exactly which one to look at.