The most common computers people use daily are laptops, and today’s modern machines are truly capable of doing anything. Even basic notebooks are vastly superior to what was coming out even just five years ago, and it’s no longer the case that desktop systems are a requirement for completing the most resource-heavy professional work.
Today, though, we’re going to be taking a look at laptops as a gaming platform. Steam has revolutionized the way games are bought and played, and there are dozens of fantastic titles that you can play for free in your browser.
Whether you’re on a coffee break or settling in for a long gaming session, here are ten great games you can play today.
1. Wordle
Starting this list with one of the most basic entries, there’s Wordle – a game that’s taken the world by storm despite its simplicity.
It’s the best game to play if you’re very short on time, as all you’ve got to do is guess a five-letter word in six tries. You play the game once per day, making it low effort and a low time commitment.
2. Factorio
Factorio might look simple from the outset, but make no mistake, this is an incredibly deep real-time strategy title.
Your character is stranded on an alien planet and must survive there until they can rebuild their spaceship to escape. To achieve this goal, you’ll need to scavenge for resources and build a sprawling factory to create everything you require to build a life here for the time being, all while fending off numerous alien creatures that get in your way.
There are hundreds of hours of fun to be had here, and even once you’ve finished the main game, there are a plethora of mods available that you can install to enhance your experience further.
3. Minecraft
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve most certainly heard of Minecraft, but you might not be familiar with the premise.
The game puts players in a randomly generated world that’s entirely made out of blocks they can harvest. The goal is simply to survive.
There’s a day and night cycle, and come nighttime, creatures stalk the world that can take you out with a well-positioned hit. You need to build yourself a base and craft items to defend against them. The way the game works is simple to understand, but some truly amazing worlds can be crafted based on this straightforward setup.
Minecraft is as much about creativity as it is survival, and contrary to popular belief, this isn’t just a game for children. Many adults play to unwind, as the experience is very relaxing overall.
4. Checkers
Checkers is a game that’s easy to learn but difficult to master. Traditionally played on a checkered board but now playable for free online, two players face off against each other to take their opponent’s pieces and render them unable to play any more legal moves.
This is a great one to boot up from your browser for when you only have ten to fifteen minutes spare, and it’s something that gets you to think hard and strategize, so it’s a nice option if you’re looking for a challenge.
Many people consider checkers to essentially be chess-lite, but it’s much more than that, so give it a shot if you have some free time.
5. Stardew Valley
If you enjoy life simulators like The Sims or Animal Crossing, you’ll feel right at home with Stardew Valley.
The game puts you in charge of a run-down old farm that you have to build back up to become a functioning business, and while real-life farming is backbreaking work, this is one of the most relaxing video game experiences on the market.
The graphics are truly charming, and the music is serene, but undoubtedly one of the best elements of this game is the characters. Stardew Valley has a host of unique NPCs to form relationships with, each of which has been written to be quirky and likable in their own right (the writing is surprisingly good for a game of this size).
6. Fortnite
If you’ve never played a Battle Royale game, Fortnite is a good place to start.
In this multiplayer shooter, players are launched from a flying bus onto a sprawling map full of unique biomes and attractions. The entire place is littered with chests full of weapons – weapons you’ll need if you hope to come out on top.
There’s only one winner in Fortnite, making for tense bursts of action and a difficult game to put down (it’s also free to play).
7. GeoGuessr
If you’re looking for something a little simpler and with educational elements, check out GeoGuessr.
This game drops you somewhere on the world map at street level, and then tasks you with figuring out where you are. You’ll need to come up with your own strategies to discover the locations, from determining the language from a sign in the distance to recognising key cultural landmarks of big cities or a certain style of architecture.
8. Celeste
If you enjoy platformer games, you owe it to yourself to give Celeste a go.
The game follows a young girl as she journeys up to the summit of a treacherous mountain. The graphics are beautiful, channeling an 8-bit style reminiscent of old NES titles from back in the day, and the score is very well produced as well.
What takes center stage, though, is the addictive gameplay. With just a few simple move sets, the developers have created one of the most addictive control styles in recent times.
It’s also worth mentioning that the story will surprise you (ultimately, the game is virtually faultless).
Wrapping Up
So, there you have it – eight of the best games you can play from your laptop. There’s a huge variety here, so dive in, try out some demos, read a few reviews, and see what resonates with you the most. Have fun!
