The Best Browser For Games (And Why It’s Not What You Think It Is)

We’ve Compiled Our Top 5 – But Who Takes The Cake?

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The Best Browser For Games (And Why It’s Not What You Think It Is)

We’ve Compiled Our Top 5 – But Who Takes The Cake?

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ESG Quick Review:

Browser games may seem like a thing of the past, but there are more of them out there than ever now, and they’re perfect for anyone who wants to game without bogging down their computer with downloads. But what browser is the best browser for games? Now that you’ve got your gaming setup figured out, it’s time to choose. We have our favorite, but ultimately, it depends on your individual needs. Today, we’ll go over five different browsers, judging by them by the following:

  • Performance
  • Customizability
  • Privacy
  • Everyday browsing capabilities

We’ll also go over great games to play on any of these browsers.

Let’s get started!

Opera GX

A Gaming Browser At Its Purest

An image of Opera GX’s “GX Control” menu.
Opera GX’s sleek “GX Control” menu, allowing you a bird’s eye view of your resource usage. Image courtesy of IONOS.

Designed specifically for gamers, Opera GX is an extremely customizable browser when it comes to aesthetics, and comes with Discord and Twitch integrated into the browser for easy access. While it’s not inherently the lightest in performance, several aspects of resource usage can be controlled by the user, making it easy to control things like your CPU or RAM usage. Some users worry about Opera GX being spyware, but those theories have been debunked – its data collection practices are on par with Chrome and Edge, making it certainly not the most private, but nothing unusual. Aside from middling privacy policies, the major drawback for Opera is that, while it’s well-suited to gaming, it doesn’t function well as an everyday browser.

Brave

You’re Already A Private Person – Why Not Get Rewarded For It?

An image of Brave browser’s privacy stats, showing a computer screen and a phone view.
Easy access to your privacy stats, across every device. Image courtesy of TechRadar.

Privacy is important – and if you’re someone who especially values their online privacy, Brave is one of the best options for you. Though it’s not overloaded with gaming-specific features, it’s one of the most lightweight browsers out there, and comes with a built-in adblocker and tracking protection. It also has a rewards program, and a built-in video chat feature. On the downside, it’s not the most customizable when it comes to extensions, and some websites may run into issues with its privacy software (though settings can be adjusted if you run into this issue). Its interface may also pose somewhat of a learning curve for some users.

Iridium

Yes, Chrome – Hold the Google

An image of Iridium browser’s home screen, reading, “A browser securing your privacy. That’s it.”
Keep it simple. Keep it safe. Image courtesy of Bitcatcha.

Like Google Chrome, but wish it was more secure? Or maybe you’re just sick of how much RAM it uses. If that’s the case, try Iridium, a Chromium browser excelling in privacy features and designed to be especially lightweight. It’s easy to use, but you’ll want to remember to write your passwords down somewhere – as part of its safety measures, Iridium wipes all cookies when you close the browser, so it won’t remember your login information. A small price to pay for peace of mind. Iridium is developed by a team in Germany, and by default, uses the French search engine Qwant to balance privacy and good search results. It can be a bit plain-looking compared to other browsers, though, and isn’t available as a mobile browser.

Firefox

The Iconic Browser With A Myriad of Extensions

A close-up of Firefox’s logo on a menu.
Firefox’s chic logo is recognizable to just about anyone. Image courtesy of SomosLibres.

Mozilla Firefox is one of the top browsers out there – but did you know it can be great for gaming? Though it’s not specifically built for it, it boasts a massive collection of extensions that will allow you to customize your gaming experience, and it uses less memory than other common browsers. There’s also a multitude of privacy features, from cookie blockers to autoplay blocking, to even blocking social media trackers, making it an excellent choice for a secure browser. On the downside, when it comes to everyday browsing, not all websites are compatible with Firefox, making a switch to other browsers sometimes necessary in order to access them (however, you may be able to bypass this with the right extensions). 

And Our Personal Favorite… Vivaldi

Any Way You Like It

An image of Vivaldi’s UI, with a Reading List, Translate screen, and Bookmarks menu overlaid over the browser.
Vivaldi makes it easy to juggle everything the busy gamer needs, eliminating the need for multiple monitors and ceaseless tabbing back and forth. Image courtesy of Vivaldi.

If it’s extensive customization you’re looking for, it’s hard to beat Vivaldi. Reviews on resource usage tend to vary – some report a very low RAM and CPU usage, while others on older PCs report a less impressive performance, though the array of unique features more than make up for it. From tab grouping, to a notes manager, to translation, even to various privacy features, Vivaldi is able to be tailored to anyone’s liking. The main drawback of Vivaldi is that it’s so customizable that users can feel a little overwhelmed by all the options. It can take a minute to learn all of Vivaldi’s quirks, and may not be necessary if you’re just looking for a quick, simple browser.

You’ve Chosen Your Browser – Now What Should You Play On It?

Build Your Cookie Empire, Survive A Strange New World, Solve An Alien Mystery – There’s A Browser Game For Everyone

An image of Fallen London’s logo, a clock tower sinking into water.
Where will your browser take you? Image courtesy of Failbetter Games.

Now that you’ve downloaded the best browser for games (whichever that is to you), it’s time to take that new browser out for a spin! We’ve compiled three of our favorite browser games below for you to fall in love with.

Cookie Clicker

An image of cursors pointing at a cookie, with a transparent grandmother in the background.
Lose hours to this mesmerizing idle clicker. Image courtesy of Game Rant.

If you love idle games, you have Cookie Clicker to thank – coded in one night in 2013, Cookie Clicker is often credited with the rise in idle games. Click cookies to earn… more cookies! Spend these cookies to buy cursors, banks, temples, even grandmas, which all help your cookie production. Though it’s over a decade old, Cookie Clicker is still updated regularly, making it a beloved browser game that never goes stale.

Fallen London

A map of Fallen London.
“Hell is close, immortality is cheap, and the screaming has largely stopped.” Image courtesy of GamingOnLinux.

Ever wish London was even more terrifying and strange than it already is? In Fallen London, you can step into an alternative gothic London, and interact directly with the narrative as you uncover secrets, choices, and consequences. Running continuously since 2009, Fallen London’s popularity has led to other games in the franchise, such as Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies, the visual novel Mask of the Rose, and even an RPG. Step into the quirky steampunk world of Fallen London today.

Corru.Observer

An image of Corru.Observer’s gameplay. A purple being claws onto the screen. Player choices are listed in the top right corner.
Sometimes what’s at the bottom of the ocean is best left at the bottom of the ocean. Image courtesy of browsercraft.com.

Want more mystery in your life? Try playing Corru.Observer, a mystery-adventure game that isn’t limited to one form of storytelling – though it’s primarily a visual novel, Corru.Observer mixes in various other gameplay elements, creating a compelling story and engaging story as you explore a fragmented alien biocomputer found at the bottom of the ocean, playing a featureless protagonist and their assistant, Moth. Not recommended for photosensitive players.

And that’s it for our findings on the best browser for games! Now that you have your new browser, head out there and find your next favorite browser game.

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