A browser-based game is a game that is played entirely within a web browser rather than through a video game console or other apparatus. This means that the game can be played from many different types of computers and can often involve many different players at the same time. Some browser games are simple puzzle games, but some can be quite detailed and involve entire worlds. As such, it is best to think of this type of gaming as a way in which a game is accessed rather than a description of the game itself.
Usually, a browser-based game can be accessed through a computer that has access to the Internet, although the computer may need to have certain features in order to play the game. The game runs in a browser, meaning that the user does not download the game to his desktop, nor does he play the game on a special gaming device. The player plays the game in the same type of browser that displays websites because the game is located on a website.
There are several different types of games that can be played in a browser. A basic browser-based game may involve only one player and may not involve much of a time investment. On the other hand, a more complex browser-based game might involve meeting friends at a specific time online and going on quests or missions. It is important to understand that there are many different multiplayer games that are not played through a browser. Multiplayer games and browser games are not synonymous.
This type of game is almost entirely reliant on what types of activities can be performed online. The advancement of online technologies directly affects the advancement possible in the game. Many browser games that have existed for long periods of time have undergone extreme changes in design, sometimes as extreme as moving from a two-dimensional design to a three-dimensional design. It is logical that as the Internet continues to advance so will browser gaming.
The benefits of playing a browser-based game versus a game that must be played in another way depend on the user. Many games of this type are free or supported by advertising, particularly when they are single-player games. Other browser games are supported by subscriptions, which some people do not enjoy. On the other hand, many people already have a computer with an Internet browser, so playing games in this way means that a person does not need to invest in a gaming system. In each individual case, arguments can be made for and against browser gaming.
