Casual games have become a favorite form of entertainment on the Web because they are a great way to relax and enjoy a diversion without committing a large amount of time or money. There are a stunning variety of these games online, and more arrive every day. Without getting into traditional card and board games, here are my picks for some of the most compelling Web games currently available. Many of these sites offer downloadable versions as well.
RuneScape is one of the most ambitious Web games I've come across. It follows the format of a massively multiplayer RPG, but it runs in any Java-enabled browser and you can play free of charge. Like other MMORPGs, you create a character and explore a large persistent world. Graphically it's very primitive, but that hasn't kept it from gathering an impressive number of players.
This is the renowned Cosmic Encounter boardgame redone in Shockwave. Up to 4 players compete for galactic domination using strategy and diplomacy in this unique turn-based contest. Games are highly social, last only 30 minutes or so, and the basic aliens can be played for free.
In Gumshoe Online you must use your detective skills to identity the guilty and build a watertight case against them. The path to success in this free adventure game lies in interviewing suspects, solving puzzles, and uncovering clues. There are enough locations and items in the game to keep aspiring sleuths busy for months.
This addictive Flash game puts you in charge of your won soccer team, which will play against teams created by other players. Sunday League has a remarkable amount of detail and a good sense of humor. The only downside is that it is difficult to compete without buying credits, but prizes can be won by the season's top managers on certain servers.
Whizzball is a fine example of just how innovative and non-violent a game can be. Reminiscient of the old board game Mouse Trap, players are required to use a series of different gadgets and gutters to guide a ball to the target. As well as solving puzzles, you can create new Whizzball puzzles for others to solve. Great entertainment for kids and adults alike.
Form words by linking letter tiles in any direction. Simple to play and remarkably entertaining, this has quickly become one of the Web's most adored word games.
Like many games of the action/puzzle variety, Zuma is a terrific blend of color matching and shooting. You release marbles from a rotating position in the center of the play field, attempting to create sets of three or more marbles of the same color to clear them from the screen. It's still among best implementations of this concept.
Samorost 2 is a peculiar point-and-click adventure game that has been a big hit with casual gamers. The idea is simply to find the clickable items and click them in the proper order to get to the next stage. The original Samorost is also available on this site.
Bejeweled is a classic matching game which has withstood the test of time and inspired scores of other similar games. It's very easy to learn and quite addictive. This version has several play modes, including a puzzle mode which demands considerable thought at the higher levels.
One person draws, the others try to guess what that person is drawing. Sounds almost too mundane to be amusing, but in this case less is more. InkLink is remarkably social and games range from be wildly unpredictable to downright hilarious. Of course, there's nothing to prevent people from drawing the words rather than what the word represents, but it doesn't appear to have ruined the fun yet.
