The Most Under Appreciated Flash Games

Key Takeaways

• Flash games were bite-sized gems with diverse gameplay styles, now preserved online for nostalgic players.
• Games like “Caraveener” and “Drunken Masters” offer unique experiences emphasizing roleplay and strategy.
• Classic Flash games like “Miami Shark” and “This Is the Only Level” still offer engaging and absurd fun online.

Long before the rise of mobile games, people turned to their PC browsers for bite-sized gaming. Often known as “Flash games,” these little wonders varied wildly in size and quality, but many of the best examples were free-to-play labors of love. Like modern mobile games, gameplay could be anything from surrealist point-and-click experiences to complex in-depth combat.

Unfortunately, the death of Flash has forced many of these gems to the furthest reaches of the internet. Fortunately, online archivists have saved many of the best Flash games for future consumption. One of the most accessible repositories, the Internet Archive, even comes with a built-in Flash player to make it easier than ever to re-experience these forgotten gems.

10

Caraveener

Not every Flash game is a visual masterpiece. Andrey Serly’s Caraveener isn’t for everyone, but fans of in-depth roleplay and resource management will love it. In many ways, the game takes the Dwarf Fortress approach. Its densely packed tables and information panels make it seem like more of a playable spreadsheet than a game. You don’t play Caraveener for the graphics, though; this is a game about immersion and strategy.

The premise is simple. You’re a trader in a parched wasteland. You have limited space and resources, yet you must survive and earn a profit. Nothing comes easily, and you can’t just rely on your resource management skills. You must eat as you travel, and everything has a specific weight and nutritional value. Everything works against you in Caraveener, yet that same unforgiving system drives the game’s unbelievable immersion.

9

Drunken Masters

Drunken Masters is one of the most criminally underappreciated examples of Adobe Flash’s power. As its name implies, this browser game casts you as one of ten bartenders, each with their own implied backstory and skills. Of course, you’re doing more than sliding beers down a waxed countertop.

Dan Hoelck’s 2008 masterpiece forces you to juggle mixing drinks and entertaining your audience. You’re flipping bottles and juggling cups as you mix the perfect whiskey sour. Drunk Masters demands your full attention and plenty of fast reflexes. Otherwise, you’ll be on the hook for a lot of broken liquor bottles.

8

Miami Shark

Some of the most addicting games of the Flash era were great because of their simple, no-nonsense premise. Miami Shark’s title explains it all. You’re a shark, you’re in Miami, and you’re about to be the blueprint for Sharknado. Functionally, the game is little more than an explosive take on a side-scroller. You swim up and down, build momentum, and destroy anything in your path.

However, it’s the sheer absurdity of the game that makes Miami Shark a classic. You’re not just eating hapless swimmers or taking out geese. You can latch onto helicopters, passenger planes, and even a NASA rocket. After pulling these behemoths into the water, you’re treated to a lovely explosion and — hopefully — some score-boosting chain reactions. The game’s many spin-offs are also available on Newgrounds.

7

This Is the Only Level

The 2000s were rife with “gotcha” mind-bender games. One of the most viral is The Impossible Quiz, but there’s also This Is the Only Level. As the name implies, the entire game takes place within a single level. The map never changes, but don’t expect to follow the same rules. After completing the level once, this 2009 puzzler pitches you new and innovative ways to finish the same map.

The starring character of the game is a tiny elephant, and Flash aficionados will recognize it. This Is the Only Level has a sequel. Moreover, it’s the companion game to Achievement Unlocked, a similar puzzle game about a confused elephant. The game’s developer, John Cooney, has since made the little elephant his mascot, developing countless games around the colorful little guy.

6

Warfare 1944

World War II games are a dime a dozen, but few take the tactical approach. Armor Games’ Warfare 1944 does. Instead of assuming a first-person view, you take the role of an army commander. With limited resources, you must strategically deploy specific units to win iconic battles. The game’s campaigns include multiple enemies, including everything from humble infantry to formidable tanks.

Notably, this isn’t the only Warfare game. Not surprisingly, the 1944 sequel followed Warfare 1914. The predecessor has many of the same mechanics, although it’s buried in a grimy coat of World War I paint. Though there are slightly fewer units, Warfare 1914 has all the charm of its more publicly promoted sequel.

5

Amateur Surgeon

Older audiences (and edgy youngsters) weren’t left out of the Flash game fun. Countless adult-oriented games flooded the web, and Adult Swim was one of the premiere publishers. While some of their games were somewhat uninspired, most were unique masterpieces. They reflected the creativity, innovative spirit, and whimsy of the mid-2000s, becoming zeitgeists of the era. One of the most unique examples is the Amateur Surgeon series, which was later ported to the mobile market.

In Amateur Surgeon, players are tasked with solving comical medical problems with whatever they have on hand. There’s no sterile equipment when you’re a pizza delivery boy. So, instead, you heal your patients with staple guns, rags, and alcohol. The comedically morbid series spawned a few sequels before being abruptly abandoned. Fortunately, its premiere entry is still available to play online.

4

Papa’s Pizzeria

One of the most iconic browser classics is still available to play. Papa’s Pizzeria may be simple, but the Diner Dash adjacent title still has plenty of charm. Since its debut, CoolMath Games’ Papa Louie has expanded his franchise to many other industries, including burgers, hot dogs, and tacos.

Flipline Studios’ first iteration of Papa’s Pizzeria appeared way back in 2007. It was an instant hit that established a surprisingly massive media legacy. Beyond the games’ many spin-offs, Papa Louie’s antics have also been ported to mobile platforms. The original Papa’s Pizzeria also remains available on CoolMath Games.

3

The Last Stand

Game developers of the mid-2000s loved zombies. You couldn’t walk down a video game aisle without seeing at least one big-name studio’s zombie-centric action title. For whatever reason, the new millennium was captivated by zombies. So, it only makes sense for one of the most iconic Flash series of the era to be a down-and-out scramble for resources in a post-apocalyptic, zombie-infested city.

Con Artist Games’ The Last Stand series is three genres packed into one game. During the day, players dispatch units to find resources and scout new locations. Anyone remaining at the base can be sent to repair defensive barriers or upgrade automated weapons systems. At night, the game shifts to a wave shooter. The iconic formula worked so well that the series is still receiving new entries, including The Last Stand: Aftermath in 2020. However, the original Flash title is still free to play on Armor Games.

2

Crush the Castle

Most people know about the Angry Birds series, but the oddly satisfying physics game had a Medieval-themed lookalike. Crush the Castle was a less child-friendly version of Rovio’s avian trajectory game. Armor Games’ take on a physics game had more blood, boulders, and regicide than its colorful twin.

There are a few online versions of Crush the Castle. Unfortunately, the game’s programming complicates any efforts to modernize the classic browser game. Most online versions, including the version hosted on The Internet Archive, require Flash.

Unfortunately, no functional emulators remain online. Despite the series’ popularity, Crush the Castle was relegated to the darkest corners of the internet. Fortunately, after almost a decade of silence, the game got a PC port. Crush the Castle: Legacy Edition may not be free, but it has all the beloved levels you remember from the physics-based puzzler series.

1

Robot Unicorn Attack

Few Flash games were as iconic as Adult Swim’s descriptively titled Robot Unicorn Attack. The game’s Lisa Frank rainbow hues and catchy pop music melded perfectly with its admittedly strange. More importantly, its simple gameplay and small file size made the Adult Swim title a hit in high schools during the mid-2010s.

Beneath its bright aesthetic and catchy Erasure tune, Robot Unicorn Attack is a simple endlessly running game. You control a robotic unicorn (no surprise there) and navigate through as many stages as possible. At the end, you receive a score. A longer game equals a higher score. So, challenge yourself and see if you still have the skills to beat that old record.