Playing browser games on a phone: what works and what doesn’t
Plenty of browser games work well on a phone. Some do not, and it helps to know which is which.
Which games work
Games controlled by tapping, dragging or swiping work well. Games that need a keyboard do not, because the on-screen keyboard covers the game. Every game here says on its page if it needs a keyboard.
Upright or sideways
Most browser games are wider than they are tall, so turn your phone sideways. A few are made for a phone held upright; we keep a list of those.
Fullscreen on Android
The Fullscreen button on the game page works in Chrome on Android and hides everything but the game.
Fullscreen on iPhone
Safari on iPhone does not let websites go truly fullscreen. On an iPhone, the Fullscreen button makes the game fill the whole browser window instead, which is as big as Safari allows. Adding the site to your home screen hides the address bar too.
Games to try
1. Football Crash 2
Football & Sports. Works on phone, tablet and computer.
Football Crash 2 is a fast and free American football runner you can play online, with no download.
Controls: DESKTOP Left Right arrows or A D - move Mouse hold left or right side of the screen - move Space Enter - confirm ESC - pause MOBILE Tap and hold the left or right side - move Or drag your finger…
2. Police Chase Run
Cars & Racing. Works on phone, tablet and computer.
Take the wheel and try to survive as long as possible in a tense police chase.
Controls: Control the car with the on-screen steering wheel Turn in time to avoid crashing into police cars Collect coins during the run and try to stay in the chase for as long as possible After losing…
3. Tiny Zomby The Barricade
Shooting. Works on phone, tablet and computer.
A bomb went off, the radiation did the rest, and now the whole town wants a piece of you.
Controls: Mouse click or tap to play…
4. ANT COLONY
Puzzle & Brain. Works on phone, tablet and computer.
ANT COLONY is a relaxing puzzle where a tiny ant crew hauls a pixel picture away, block by block.
Controls: Tap a box in the queue to send it to a free slot Ants will carry bricks of that colour into the hole If all slots fill up with no matching colour left the level ends Use the power-ups below when…