Marketing

What Are HTML5 Games? 101 Guide for Business Managers

Aug 19 2024

Browser games have come a long way since their birth. In the early days of HTML5 technology (2010), native mobile games were at their peak, and it was never financially and programmatically profitable to make a web game.

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With advances in hardware manufacturing and web development technologies, we witnessed significant improvements in browser games. They could handle larger graphical assets and more objects in a scene.

Now we’re here! HTML5 games have become an undeniable solution not only for gaming portals but also for any businesses in other industries.

 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore several key aspects of browser games for business managers, define them and the types of games that can be developed with this technology, and look at real-world examples of companies leveraging HTML5 games.

You can also find valuable suggestions and ideas about implementing these games into your business at the end of the article.

 

What Are HTML5 Games?

HTML5 games (also known as web games, web-based games, browser games, or H5 games) are video games that run directly on browsers without the need for third-party plugins or installation. They are usually much lighter and more accessible than games made using other technologies (Android and iOS games).

One of the most useful features of browser games is that you can present them with other types of information. Imagine you are browsing your feed on a social platform, and a “Play the Game” button catches your eye. You can click on it and play the game there.

This integrity with other types of media, no need to download, and lower technical cost (if you want to use native mobile games, you should release different versions of a game for different OSs) make web games a unique option for business owners to implement various business strategies via gaming.

 

Where Can I Find Browser Games to Play?

You most probably encountered browser games and even played them, but because of the nature of these games, which are easily embedded among the content of webpages, you didn’t recognize that you were playing a game.

The most famous use of browser games in a business is Google Doodle Games. On different occasions, Google releases a game and showcases it on the Google search home page. Users can easily click on the play button, and they will learn about the event while playing the game.

Facebook is another place where you can find HTML5 games. Since 2016, FB has provided a platform (FB Gaming) where game publishers and developers can publish their games and earn money.

The interesting part about FB Gaming is that users can share a game with their friends in its Messenger app and play it while they’re on chats or voice/video calls. They can also have a look at their score ranked against other players through the in-game leaderboard FB has prepared.

Google and FB are just two of many companies moving toward browser games. In recent years, many great brands like YouTube, TikTok, LinkedIn, Discord, Telegram, Yandex, etc, have started using games as a solution to improve their marketing and sales strategies.

 

Which Type of Games Can Be Developed With HTML5 Technology?

HTML5 games run within web browsers, utilizing system resources through web technologies. While they may not always match the performance efficiency of native applications, modern browsers and web technologies allow for increasingly complex and resource-demanding games.

These games are often designed to be lighter and more accessible, but this is typically a choice based on target audience and platform requirements rather than strict technical limitations.

However, generally speaking, browser games perform weaker when running complex 3D graphics and physical simulations. Therefore, it doesn’t make sense to invest in browser games for complex game projects like Call of Duty or FIFA soccer games.

However, some developers, by making games like Quake JS and Maze Planet 3D, tried to demonstrate the maximum potential of HTML5 technology in making games.

 

What Are the Weaknesses of HTML5 Games?

HTML5 technology, like any other technology, has its weaknesses and limitations. I have listed the weaknesses that have the most considerable effects on commercial uses of browser games.

Performance Limitations

The first and the most significant negative point about HTML5 games (which may prevent some businesses from investing in them) is lower performance compared to native apps/games, especially when a game needs to run complex graphics or physical simulations.

Fortunately, the gap between browser games and native games is becoming narrower by the day. Browser games were too basic games in the first days of HTML5 technology but now they compete with native games in many game-making fields.

Remember, you won’t have any limitations when you want to make a casual or mid-core game that never runs complex 3D effects.

Browser Compatibility Issues

As I said before, one of the advantages of HTML5 games is the ability to run on all devices with any operating system. On the other hand, this advantage sometimes causes problems, especially when your audiences use less common, old, or low-performance devices/OSs.

According to our experience in the HTML5 game industry, this sort of problem can be solved easily if you have a skillful team to develop games or you prepare your games from reputable HTML5 license providers that tested their games on different devices before releasing them.

Security Concerns

HTML5 games may be more vulnerable to specific attacks or exploits. This includes risks such as cross-site scripting (XSS), data injection, and potential exposure of game logic or assets through client-side code inspection.

 

What Is the Average Size of Browser Games?

HTML5 games need to be downloaded to the user’s device, which means the smaller the size, the faster the loading. If a game can’t load quickly, it makes users frustrated and lose them over time.

Therefore, using low-volume assets (graphic arts, SFXs, music, etc.) in order to reduce the final size of a game is a principle in developing HTML5 games, and developers are careful about it.

In general, the size of a casual HTML5 game rarely exceeds 50 MB, and the average size is usually under 10 MB. Such a small size makes HTML5 games highly accessible everywhere over any internet connection quality.

 

Which Devices Support Playing HTML5 Games?

HTML5 games are web-based games, and wherever you can open a simple webpage (computer, smartphone, tablet, TV, seatbacks, digital signage, etc,.), you can run an HTML5 game. This ability gives HTML5 games the potential to go viral.

A recent example of this virality is the Hamster Kombat game that was distributed through Telegram messenger. It occupied all the cryptocurrency news headlines in just a week. One important reason for this game’s popularity was that users could share it easily by sending a URL to their friends. And also the link receiver could easily play the game by clicking on the link.

 

Can HTML5 Games Play in Multiplayer Mode?

Yes! There are hundreds of multiplayer games that you can find on CrazyGames, the top 1 portal for playing browser games.

Due to HTML5 games’ unique features (instant playing & vast accessibility), making a multiplayer version of these games is an awesome strategy to boost your business targets. Browser games can be shared like an Instagram post, so when your users like a multiplayer game that can play with their friends and compete with them, they share it and engage with it for a long time. If you are lucky, your game (and your brand) will go viral.

What Companies Leverage HTML5 Games in Their Business?

As an activist in the industry, I’ve never witnessed such an enthusiastic welcome to browser games. It doesn’t matter which industry you work in. You may be a hospital manager who wants to make recovery time more tolerable or an airline manager who wants to excite your passengers during a boring flight.

Regardless of HTML5 gaming portals, many major players in different industries are moving towards using web games as a solution for reaching their business targets. In the following, I will try to introduce a handful of them to you.

YouTube Playables: Higher User Engagement

YouTube has recently started using browser games as an approach to improve user engagement. By launching Playables, YouTube diversifies the content provided to its users, and also creates a new revenue stream by displaying ads and in-game purchases.

Samsung Instant Plays: A New Experience of Free Play 

If you have a Samsung smartphone, you may work with Samsung Instant Plays (Free Play). It’s an HTML5 gaming portal embedded in Samsung phones. Users can quickly launch the app and play hundreds of games free of charge. Without the need to update the app, it provides its users with new games once they are published.

Fanta Ride N Sip: Marketing Campaign to Attract Gen-Z

To attract Gen-Z audience, Fanta launched a marketing campaign called Ride N Sip. The game was very simple and attractive. You should deliver a glass filled with Fanta soda with the minimum spillage. Also, at the end of the game, you get a reward coupon.

All the visual and aural assets of the game were chosen for Gen-Z users’ tastes.

BMW: Next Level In-Car Entertainment

BMW, in cooperation with the AirConsole gaming platform, is the first automobile company to bring games into cars. I believe that after this revolutionary movement, other companies will follow BMW, and in-car gaming will become a necessary option for any vehicle.

CBC Kids: Learning Through Playing

CBC Kids is one of the most famous kids’ streaming channels in Canada, and it is a good solution for leveraging games to teach our kids. It offers various educational and fun content, including attractive games suitable for its target audience. Through gaming, they can convey educational content much better and more profound than traditional approaches.

If you are still curious why different brands are moving toward browser games, I recommend reading Games for Brands: 6 Reasons to Count on Them.

 

How Can HTML5 Games Help My Business Grow?

As I mentioned above, companies use different creative ways to leverage gaming. These solutions are highly compatible with business targets and nature.

For you, the first step is to find the factor you aim to improve. Are you looking to improve user engagement, create a new revenue stream, educate your audience, or diversify your content, or feature your other products? Every problem has its own solution.

After finding which metric you want to improve, investigate it and think about the ways you can integrate games into your business. Make sure that browser games are beneficial for a wide range of your concerns.

Below are some of the common, tried, and tested ways that businesses utilize web games to improve their metrics. They can serve as your starting point to establish your own creative approach:

• Gaming portals have an extensive library of browser games and make money by running ads, making in-game purchases, and selling subscriptions.
• Super apps and social media platforms like Facebook have gaming sections, which improve user engagement by showcasing games as a new type of media besides text, images, and video.
• Public Transportation organizations, like airlines, provide games in their entertainment systems to diversify their package and increase user loyalty during and after the flight.
• HTML5 games also play an essential role in education systems, regardless of their audiences’ age and gender (kids, teenagers, elderly, etc.).

However, these aren’t all the ways you can utilize browser games. There are countless creative ways businesses can benefit from the potential of these games.

 

Where to Order HTML5 Games for My Business?

There are many individual game developers to whom you can outsource your orders. However, working with a person can be a risky decision, especially for a company that has structured plans and strategies.

Also, browser games don’t benefit you on their own. They need to be integrated into your website, app, or products via different services that individual developers don’t provide often.

You might also be in a rush and need ready-to-publish games. This is another problem when working with freelance developers because they don’t have a collection of various game categories in different genres.

Finally, it’s not feasible to establish a trustworthy, guaranteed agreement with individual developers. Due to the complexity of games, there are bound to be numerous ambiguous and undiscovered issues during development that would be difficult to explain and prove to legal authorities if one arises.

Therefore, companies like yours usually prefer to work with reliable HTML5 game license providers. Working with them has several benefits:

• Reliable HTML5 game license providers know your business requirements very well.
• They have a comprehensive portfolio of previously made games in various genres, and you can find your desired games in their store.
• Because they have a team of experts, they can handle your order quickly and efficiently.
• The agreement with reliable license providers is a legally strong contract that is recognized by legal authorities.

Generally, I recommend you to know more about how to prepare HTML5 games for a business and also notes before buying any HTML5 game license before you decide to purchase a game license. However, if you’re looking for top HTML5 games license providers, you can start with the following:

1. DoonDook.Studio

1. Buy.HTML5games.com
2. MarketJS.com
3. CodeCanyon.net

 

 

Are HTML5 Games Customizable Based on My Business Needs?

Yes! Web games are very customizable to your business needs. The reliable HTML5 game license providers have a wide range of additional services for their games that can guarantee their games will be integrated into your products correctly.

Some of the most common services on web games that other businesses look for are:

White Label HTML5 Games

License providers implement your business logo within the games. White Label HTML5 Game Service makes the games yours, and your audience feels familiar with them, remembering your brand. It also helps your marketing efforts by improving brand awareness and customer loyalty.

Reskinning HTML5 Games

Sometimes, you may need more than putting your logo in the games. You may need a dedicated game for your brand. In such situations, the game’s color palette, graphic assets, music, or even storyline should be changed. License providers usually call this HTML5 Game Reskin Service.

The most crucial benefit of reskin service is that you don’t have to create a new game from scratch. You just search for and choose a game from the license provider’s game library and order it for reskin. Therefore, you’ll save your time and money!

HTML5 Games Localization

Localization is a type of reskin, but it focuses on geographical, traditional, and linguistic aspects of different regions.

The most usual item changed through HTML5 Games Localization Service is the game’s language, which includes texts and voices.

API Implementation

You may want to implement your API in a game to sign in/sign up users and record their data, scores, engagement time, or anything else. License providers, through this service, can integrate your API within games.

Custom Game Development

If there is no similar version of the game that you want, the only way is to make a game from scratch. Usually, this approach costs you a lot, but you will have a fully dedicated game that has no restrictions on being one with your brand.

 

How to Start Implementing HTML5 Games in My Business

As a business manager who recently became familiar with web games and their undeniable benefits for businesses, this is the starting point. After that, you should benefit from expert consultations and find the best way to implement web games that move you toward the best results.

At DoonDookStudio, we’re always ready to become your partner in the HTML5 games world. With over 7 years of experience in the industry and working with more than 100 businesses, our team of experts can help you reach your targets. Just fill out the Contact Us form, and we’ll get back to you soon.

 

Conclusion

HTML5 games are an undeniable solution for non-gaming businesses that want to improve their marketing and sales metrics through modern approaches. Integrity with other types of content, accessibility over even low-quality networks, cost-effectiveness, and simplicity are just some of the unrivaled benefits of browser games.

This superiority is proven by recent movements of major companies in different industries. From Google to LinkedIn, from Samsung to BMW. Each found a way to leverage HTML5 games to improve their metrics or diversify their content to users.

What about you? What do you think about using HTML5 games in your business?