Before there were Xboxes and PlayStations, when a switch was something on the wall, gamers were still gaming. If you are old enough to remember the early days of the internet then you will look back fondly at the browser based games of the old days and may be in need of a shot of nostalgia. If you are too young to remember the screeches of a dial-up modem, then you don’t know what you’ve been missing out on. It’s time to find out. Here is the ultimate guide to old school gaming on a web browser. Let’s party like it’s 1995.
First Stop: The Classics
Back in the day, way back, games were difficult to find online. The best bet for good gaming experiences was always at the online casinos, and they are still dishing out great gaming today. Go old school online and learn how to play popular casino games with Play Live Casino so you can spin some slot reels and play some card games with the skill of a pro. It is easy to spend an hour or two enjoying classic casino games, and you are guaranteed fun. Modern sites also have live games you can join, hosted by a real croupier in a real casino setting if you want a contemporary take on classic gaming.
Second On The List: Chess
The oldies are goldies, and it is hard to find an older game than Chess. There are many places to play online, and you do not have to play against a computer opponent either. Many sites offer games with players across the world, and you can build up a rank if you play consistently enough. It is a tricky game for the uninitiated so you may be better off sticking to AI games before you enter the arena of competitive online chess playing. In the old days, the graphics were not that great, not that it matters too much, but now there are lots of browser based chess games with some stunning visuals to keep you engaged between moves.
Next Up: Tetris
If you can hear the music in your head and picture the falling blocks in your mind, then congratulations; you are approaching middle age. The children who spent hours on their Nintendo Gameboys and blitzed through packs and packs of batteries are now in their thirties and forties, but the game has never left them. You can find plenty of places to play Tetris on your browser, though you may struggle to find one with the iconic soundtrack, and some sites switch up the rules and the playing style. Always search for ‘classic Tetris’ when you are looking for the game you know so well. If you want a more sedate Tetris experience, have a read of the story behind the game and its epic twists and turns.
Four The Win: Solitaire
Your biggest opponent is often yourself, so this single player game pits you against your ultimate nemesis. Believe it or not, this game is still somewhere on your operating system if you use a Windows based PC but online games offer a little more variety. Whether you want to speed through a game and beat your best time, or take each card slowly and carefully pick your way through the puzzle, this game is still great to play after all these years. There are a few variants you can explore if you grow tired of traditional solitaire, like Klondike, FreeCell, and Spider.
Final Destination: Minecraft
I understand your immediate objection. This is not an old school game, but it certainly has an old school feel and look. You can play it for free in your browser, though some of the features will not be there and some of the mechanics may not work the way you are used to. If you have never dived into Minecraft before though, then this will not present a problem. This game takes its inspiration from a number of old school classics and the pixel art presentation only adds to the nostalgia it creates even though the game was first released just twelve years ago. Build your house quickly before nightfall brings the creepers out, and make sure you have plenty of food in your inventory to see you through the game.
This list should keep you busy for weeks. You can turn the clock back and enjoy some great games that have been forgotten but are still waiting for you to fire them up and start playing. The internet is an incredible tool that can be used to fill your mind with knowledge or fill your wallet with the profits of commerce. It can also fill you with the warm feeling of nostalgia and hours and hours of pleasant time spent spinning blocks, turning cards, or building castles.
