Flash games may be the epitome of wasting time, but there’s no denying their appeal when you have five minutes to spare and a thirst for something more than a cursory glance at Twitter or Facebook. (And is it really a waste of time if you’re having fun?) They’ve come a long way from their humble, vector-based beginnings, finding a home on websites like Newgrounds, Kongregate, and Addicting Games, among other popular sites, while becoming increasingly more complex and fully featured.
However, in 2020, support for Adobe Flash ended, taking all of the best (and worst) games with it. Thankfully, you can still play the most popular Flash games thanks to certain flash emulators or other methods. Sadly, some Flash games are permanently gone forever now that flash support has ended. A handful of Flash games have stood the test of time but are now available as apps or even fully-fledged games, distancing themselves from their humble beginnings.
Flash games were interesting because they were often solely gameplay-focused and immediately got you into the action. Whereas many early Flash games were browser-based recreations of classic titles like Pac-Man and Frogger, the market reached new heights with the introduction of the high-speed internet and hit titles like Bowman, The Impossible Quiz, and Max Dirt Bike. They don’t offer the in-depth storylines, cutting-edge graphics, or sheer scope of today’s blockbuster console titles, but there’s no reason browser-based alternatives can’t hold you over between meetings or during those drab hours of the day.
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