A Crash Course in Free Flash Games

Stuck in an intro level computer class with a teacher so behind the times they need you to show them how to start up their PCs? You are not alone my digital generation brothers and sisters, we’ve all had those times, and we all had our methods of alleviating the mind-numbing boredom that ensues. My remedy of choice: online flash games; they helped me survive my high school technology courses and also helped during those late college nights when I really needed to put off that huge research paper. Here are a few of my favorite free online games that will help satiate your boredom, whether it’s in a computer lab or in your cubical, these are bound to keep you occupied.

First up isn’t just a single game, but one of the best throwback packages of all time: Midway’s classic collection. Rampage, Spyhunter, Sinistar, Joust… You know your inner five-year-old has never been happier. None of these games have aged well, at all, and it seems Midway is fully aware of this, which is why they offer the games for free in your internet browser. These are the full games you played growing up, and you’ll love to relive some of those memories, even if it’s just to laugh at how lousy your taste in games was. Just a quick heads up—these games use Adobe Shockwave rather than Flash, so you might need to download an extra plug-in you don’t already have.

Next is one of the simplest games you’ve probably never played: Snake Jump. Snake Jump is basic side-scrolling platforming at its absolute best. As a pair of dots being followed by a ’snake’ tail, you are tasked with moving from left to right as far as you possibly can by jumping on tiny platforms that are placed at various intervals along the way. It’s extremely accessible, and if you can master the subtle timing and quick thinking this game requires, you will likely never put it down… because those skills are useless pretty much everywhere else. Even if you completely suck at this game though, you can’t help but appreciate how enjoyable the idea is.

Another addicting title is Nanaka Crash. Basically, you play as a girl named Nanaka who has some kind of supernatural abilities associated with her bike and is trying to hit some poor bastard and launch him really far. The characters are spun off of an “eroge” (look it up) named Cross Channel for Windows and PS2. While the source material is of questionable merit, Nanaka Crash captures that blend of skill and dumb luck that makes freeware games (like Bejeweled) so damn addicting. Unlike Snake Jump, this game won’t lose much flavor even if you suck, because at any time, you’re only a few attempts away from setting an epic high score.

Last up, one of my personal favorites of all time: Sonic. That’s right folks, someone actually ported a fully functional flash version of Sonic the Hedgehog and it is available at GameSloth.com. Even if you were a Nintendo kid (like me) you probably still have a few fond memories of playing Sonic over at a friend’s house growing up. This game doesn’t offer the level of polish or depth as the old Genesis games, but it comes pretty close, and it’s totally free. Seriously, check it out, it is infinitely better than Sonic’s last console release.

Whether you need to kill time in class, put your mind off that exam tomorrow, or take an unscheduled break at work when your boss isn’t looking, here are just a couple titles to dive into. There are thousands more at sites like Newgrounds and the previously mentioned GameSloth, and while a lot aren’t worth your time, the gems that you find amidst the garbage makes the quest worthwhile.