These Retro Games Are Ready to Play Right in Your Browser

Back in the ‘80s, I remember when retro games were just emerging. Games like Super Mario Bros., Tetris on the Game Boy, and Final Fantasy III had pixel art and chiptunes, but they weren’t considered retro at the time—they were simply video games.

At that time, we didn’t have access to the internet, or a limitless supply of talented game developers making fun, quirky, and well-crafted games for free on platforms like Itch.io, all playable straight from your browser.

With tools like Unity, PICO-8, and GB Studio, creating your own games has never been easier. These platforms encourage designers to embrace the nostalgic aesthetics, gameplay, and spirit of the ‘80s and early ‘90s. With that in mind, I’ve curated a list of my favorite browser-based games with a strong vintage vibe, including a few timeless classics.

Ascent

Designed by Johan Peitz for the PICO-8, the virtual console that also hosted the original version of Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry’s Celeste, this atmospheric platformer offers simple exploration wrapped in a Metroidvania-style framework that can be completed in under an hour. After your spaceship mysteriously crashes, your task is to explore an alien world in search of eight spirits and a way back home. Featuring delightful pixel art, a fantastic soundtrack by Vav, and all the maze-like level design and power-up progression you’d expect from a Metroidvania, this game will keep you busy uncovering the planet's secrets.

Play Ascent on Itch.io

Prince of Persia

What better way to spend some time than with a groundbreaking classic, right in your web browser? Jordan Mechner, the creator, has had an illustrious career, and his impact on the gaming world is undeniable. Prince of Persia, which has led to numerous sequels and reboots since its debut in October 1989, remains a timeless platformer thanks to its smooth rotoscoped animation, intricate level design, and a quick, satisfying two-hour playthrough. A true milestone in gaming history.

Play Prince of Persia on Internet Archive

Cuphead: Game & Watch Edition

Renowned for its charming atmosphere, brutal difficulty, and flawless platforming, Cuphead has rightfully earned its place as a modern classic. Cuphead: Game & Watch Edition blends that signature appeal with another nostalgic favorite: Nintendo’s original Game & Watch handhelds. "As Game & Watch enthusiasts, we wanted to merge these worlds and create the best result possible," explained creators Simon Delavenne and at0mium. This fan-made game stays true to the original's aesthetic while introducing fresh gameplay and fittingly retro graphics. It’s a fitting homage and a fun way to pass a few moments while waiting for your files to upload.

Play Cuphead: Game & Watch Edition on Itch.io

Rogue

Are you a fan of Dead Cells, Hades, and Spelunky? These all trace their origins back to Michael Toy and Glenn Wichman’s 1980 action RPG classic Rogue. Known for its unique graphics, surprising depth in gameplay, and genre-defining concepts, Rogue set the stage for a new era of games based on the cycle of trying, failing, and trying again. It will push you in ways many modern games won’t, but just as players discovered over 40 years ago, few games in history evoke the feeling of “just one more run” as effectively as this one.

Play Rogue on Internet Archive

Grimace’s Birthday

A brand new Game Boy Color game in 2023? Published by McDonald’s? Yes, please. To mark Grimace’s seemingly odd 52nd birthday, the fast-food giant partnered with the Brooklyn-based game studio Krool Toys to create an impressively authentic platformer that feels straight out of the 1990s. In Grimace’s Birthday, you control the titular big purple... creature? as he suits up in his helmet, grabs his skateboard, and kickflips his way through a series of platforming levels. It’s surprisingly enjoyable, especially considering it’s a marketing stunt. And the best part? You can actually play the game on an original Game Boy Color with a flash cart like an EverDrive. Pretty cool, right?

Play Grimace’s Birthday

Kitsu

Much like Ascent, Fáyer & Pato’s Kitsu was crafted for the PICO-8 and shares the same retro low-resolution graphics. However, where Ascent is more subdued, Kitsu is bursting with vibrant colors. The game blends turn-based exploration with match-three puzzle mechanics, offering a distinctive gameplay experience that makes it feel more substantial than most browser games. Described as “a very short story about saying goodbye,” Kitsu is a charming fusion of pixel art, catchy tunes, clever puzzles, and the cutest little fox you’ll encounter this side of Tunic.

Play Kitsu on Itch.

Blackout

A delightful horror game with a dash of cuteness, Blackout brings classic point-and-click adventure mechanics from titles like The Secret of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion into a spooky, atmospheric setting. Avoid corpses, creeping vines, and black cats as you lead the young witch Marilyn deeper into a mysterious (and possibly haunted) mansion. With its simple inventory system, tricky puzzles, Halloween-esque music, and an intriguing storyline, it’s an enjoyable way to get lost in the eerie atmosphere.

(On a completely different note, Blackout creator FRESH has also created a browser-friendly version of WarioWare’s microgame formula, titled Assessment.)

Play Blackout on Itch.io

Cookies Bakery

Similar to Grimace’s Birthday, Cookies Bakery is a modern Game Boy game that can be played on original hardware or directly in your browser. Created with GB Studio, an incredible open-source tool for making Game Boy games, it combines a little bit of Cooking Mama, a touch of Stardew Valley, and a dash of Animal Crossing to create a delightfully charming game centered around saving your town’s winter festival, one cookie at a time.

Play Cookies Bakery on Itch.io

Minecraft Classic

Did you know you can play Minecraft right in your browser? The future is incredible! For anyone out there who’s yet to experience Minecraft, this browser version, based on the game’s early builds, drops you into a procedurally-generated world made of pixelated blocks, allowing you to build to your heart’s content. Sure, it’s missing some features and quality-of-life upgrades from later versions, but it’s still Minecraft in your Google Chrome tab. And really, who needs Ray Tracing in their Minecraft anyway?

Play Minecraft Classic