The most awarded flash games

Key things

• Flash games were little gems with different gameplay styles that are now preserved online for nostalgic gamers.

• Games like “Caraveener” and “Drunken Masters” offer unique experiences emphasizing role-playing and strategy.

• Classic flash games like “Miami Shark” and “This Is the Only Level” still offer engaging and absurd entertainment online.

Long before the advent of mobile gaming, people turned to their computer browsers to play small bits. Often known as “Flash games”, these little marvels varied wildly in size and quality, but many of the best examples were free-to-play labors of love. As with modern mobile games, the game can be anything from surreal point-and-click experiences to complex, in-depth combat.

Unfortunately, the death of Flash forced many of these gems into the furthest corners of the internet. Fortunately, online archivists have saved many of the best flash games for future reference. One of the most accessible repositories, the Internet Archive even comes with a built-in Flash player to make it easier than ever to relive these forgotten gems.

10

Caravan

Not every flash game is a visual masterpiece. Andrey Serly Caravan it's not for everyone, but fans of deep role-playing and resource management will love it. In many ways, the game takes the approach of Dwarf Keep. With densely packed tables and information panels, it feels more like a playable table than a game. However, you don't play Caraveener for the graphics; this is a game of immersion and strategy.

The premise is simple. You are a merchant in an arid wasteland. You have limited space and resources, yet you must survive and make a profit. Nothing comes easy and you can't just rely on your resource management skills. You have to eat when you travel and everything has a weight and nutritional value. In Caraveener, everything goes against you, but the same ruthless system drives the game to be incredibly immersive.

9

Drunk masters

Drunk masters is one of the most criminally underrated examples of the power of Adobe Flash. As the name suggests, this browser game throws you into the role of one of ten bartenders, each with their own implied story and skills. Of course, you do more than just slide beers across a waxed counter.

Dan Hoelck's 2008 masterpiece forces you to juggle mixing drinks and entertain the audience. You flip bottles and juggle glasses while mixing the perfect whiskey sour. Drunk Masters requires your undivided attention and plenty of quick reflexes. Otherwise, you'll end up with a lot of broken alcohol bottles.

8

Miami shark

Some of the most addictive games of the Flash era were great because of their simple, no-nonsense premise. The name Miami Shark explains it all. You're a shark, you're in Miami, and you're about to be the blueprint for Sharknado. Functionally, the game is little more than an explosive side scroller look. You swim up and down, building momentum and destroying everything in your path.

However, it's the sheer absurdity of the game that makes Miami Shark a classic. You're not just eating hapless swimmers or taking out geese. You can join helicopters, passenger planes and even a NASA rocket. After you drag these monsters into the water, you're treated to a glorious explosion and – hopefully – some score-boosting chain reactions. Many game spin-offs are also available on Newgrounds.

7

This is the only level

The year 2000 was full of mind bending games. One of the most viral is The Impossible Quiz, but there is also This Is the Only Level. As the name suggests, the entire game takes place within one level. The map never changes, but don't expect to follow the same rules. After completing a level once, this 2009 puzzle game will offer you new and innovative ways to complete the same map.

The main character of the game is a little elephant, and Flash lovers will recognize it. This Is the Only Level has a sequel. Plus, it's a companion game to Achievement Unlocked, a similar puzzle game about a puzzled elephant. The game's developer, John Cooney, has since made the little elephant his mascot and developed countless games around the colorful little guy.

6

War 1944

WWII games are a dime a dozen, but few take a tactical approach. Armor Games' Warfare 1944 does Instead of a first-person view, you take on the role of an army commander. With limited resources, you must strategically deploy specific units to win iconic battles. The game's campaigns feature multiple enemies, including everything from humble infantry to formidable tanks.

Notably, this is not the only Warfare game. Unsurprisingly, the 1944 sequel followed Warfare 1914. The predecessor has many of the same mechanics, albeit buried in a dirty coat of World War I paint. Although there are slightly fewer units, Warfare 1914 has the charm of its more publicized sequel.

5

Amateur surgeon

Older audiences (and edgy youngsters) were not left out of the Flash fun. Countless adult games flooded the web, and Adult Swim was one of the premiere publishers. While some of their games were rather uninspired, most of them were unique masterpieces. They reflected the creativity, innovative spirit and whimsy of the mid-21st century and became the spirits of the times. One of the most unique examples is the Amateur Surgeon series that was later ported to the mobile market.

In Amateur Surgeon, players are tasked with solving comical medical problems with whatever they have on hand. When you're a pizza delivery guy, you don't have any sterile equipment. So instead, you treat your patients with stapling guns, rags, and alcohol. The comedically morbid series spawned several sequels before being abruptly abandoned. Fortunately, his premiere footage is still available to play online.

4

Papa's Pizzeria

One of the most famous browser classics is still available. Papa's Pizzeria it may be simple, but the neighboring title Diner Dash still has a lot of charm. Since its debut, CoolMath Games' Papa Louie has expanded its franchise into many other industries, including hamburgers, hot dogs, and tacos.

The first iteration of Papa's Pizzeria by Flipline Studios appeared back in 2007. It was an instant hit that created a surprisingly massive media legacy. In addition to the many spin-off games, Papa Louie's antics have also been ported to mobile platforms. The original Papa's Pizzeria also remains available on CoolMath Games.

3

The last stand

Mid-2000s game developers loved zombies. You couldn't walk down the video game aisle without seeing a zombie action title from at least one well-known studio. For whatever reason, the new millennium has been taken over by zombies. So it makes sense that one of the most iconic Flash series of the era would be a relentless scramble for resources in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested city.

The Last Stand by Con Artist Games series is three genres wrapped into one game. During the day, players send out units to find resources and explore new locations. Anyone who remains at the base can be sent to repair defensive barriers or upgrade automated weapon systems. At night, the game shifts to a wave shooter. The iconic formula worked so well that the series continues to receive new entries, including The Last Stand: Aftermath in 2020. However, the original Flash title is still free to play on Armor Games.

2

Crush the Castle

Most people know about the Angry Birds series, but the oddly satisfying physics game took a medieval-themed form. Crush the Castle was a less friendly version of Rovio's bird-trajectory game. Armor Games' take on a physics game featured more blood, boulders and murder than its colorful twin.

PUSH they are several online versions of Crush the Castle. Unfortunately, the programming of the game complicates any efforts to modernize the classic browser game. Most online versions, including the one hosted on The Internet Archive, require Flash.

Unfortunately, no working emulators remain online. Despite the show's popularity, Crush the Castle has been relegated to the darkest corners of the internet. Fortunately, the game received a PC port after almost a ten-year hiatus. Crush the Castle: Legacy Edition it may not be free, but it has all the popular levels you remember from the physics-based puzzle series.

1

Unicorn robot attack

Few flash games have been as iconic as Adult Swim's aptly named Robot Unicorn Attack. Lisa Frank's rainbow hues and catchy pop music paired perfectly with her undeniably weirdness. More importantly, its simple gameplay and small file size made the Adult Swim title a hit in high schools in the mid-2010s.

Robot Unicorn Attack is a simple endless running game underneath its clear aesthetic and catchy Erasure tune. You control a robotic unicorn (no surprise) and go through as many stages as possible. At the end you get a score. Longer game equals higher score. So challenge yourself and see if you still have the skills to break that old record.