Table of Contents
Luckily, we’ve done part of the hard work for you by narrowing it down to just our picks of the ten best Flash games. The games can still be played online for now, and we have links to where you can do so. Flashpoint will provide you with a replacement when Flash finally disappears.
Flash classics go far beyond what we’ve listed here, of course, so if your favorite isn’t here, let us know why you love it in the comments below.
Best Flash games
QWOP
Bennett Foddy’s games emphasize mastering inputs. While Foddy’s Getting Over It took players on a large journey, QWOP focuses solely on difficult controls by having them run across a track. Even though it can be frustrating, QWOP’s uncompromising nature makes every improvement satisfying.
Crimson Room
Crimson Room is one of the oldest escape-the-room games and a great introduction to the genre. It may lack the flourishes of its successors, but it best exemplifies the appeal of the genre. Crimson Room, like many escape-the-room games, has moments when the way forward is unclear, with the player wildly clicking in hopes of finding the next object, but its simplicity prevents such situations. It’s short and simple, but well done.
Strike Force Heroes
There are many online side-scrolling shooters, but Strike Force Heroes provides a fun campaign that sends the player through a series of Team Deathmatches. It has a decent progression system and multiple classes that give it more depth and longevity than its competitors. While Strike Force Heroes is still relatively simplistic, the addition of new weapons and maps keeps the game interesting.
Radioactive Teddy Bear Zombies
Adult Swim released a lot of Flash games for its website. Radioactive Zombie Teddy Bears contains enough ridiculousness to be entertaining despite focusing on crass shock humor and ageing poorly as a result. While it is not as over-the-top as full-fledged run-and-gun shooters, its variety of enemies and humorous premise make it an enjoyable journey.
Age Of War
As a result of its limited player options, Age Of War is a compelling strategy game. A few types of units and a single type of resource are available. Battles are automated and 2D, with units constantly marching towards the enemy base. The challenge is how to maximize production to overwhelm the enemy. As a result of its limited options, Age of War makes the player’s choices more meaningful.
Adobo’s Big Adventure
Adobo’s Big Adventure’s overly violent humor has aged poorly, as it does with many Flash games. Fortunately, it remains an enjoyable tribute to the NES classics, with Adobo fighting through levels and enemies ripped straight from some of its best moments. Even though it doesn’t match the peaks of the games it references, fighting Bubble Man in a Mario-style water level or facing off against the old man from the original Zelda is entertaining. Adobo’s Big Adventure is a fun tribute to Adobo and shows how Flash games can be complete adventures.
Super House Of Dead Ninjas
Similarly, Super House Of Dead Ninjas feels like the Flash evolution of coin-op arcade games. Each game over encourages just one more try because of the short bursts of frantic action. There is fluid combat and platforming, with the player jumping and slicing through a variety of intense monsters. The Steam version of Super House Of Dead Ninjas is more developed than other versions on this list.
Bloons TD5
It is not just one of the best Flash tower defense games, but one of the best tower defense games out there. Microtransactions and account progression do not work on Flashpoint, but the base game is amazing nonetheless. The variety of towers, cutesy art style, and drip-feed of new upgrades keep players continuously playing. Bloons TD5 is available on multiple platforms, including Steam.
Meat Boy
Edmund McMillen’s platforming meat grinder, Meat Boy, is a great challenge. Meat Boy’s levels and controls are great, though it doesn’t have as much variety as Super Meat Boy. A speedy and slippery feel turns each level into a frantic test of reflexes in Meat Boy. It’s an absolute blast to play.
Alien Hominid
This is the first game users play when they open Flashpoint for the first time. The alien Hominid not only outshines what Flash has to offer, but is also able to go toe-to-toe with some of the best run-and-gun shooters. The cartoony art style and tough-as-nails gameplay will keep players hooked for a long time. It’s true that Flash is dying, but games like Alien Hominid show why these games are worth preserving.