Since Agar.io’s release on April 28th, 2015, .io games have gained popularity thanks to their accessibility and ample exposure through Let’s Play videos. Over the past half-decade, the best .io games have expanded to become some of the most prominent timekillers on the internet. Some are zombie-themed, others have war robots. Some lag like crazy, others run smoothly and extend their reach to mobile devices.
Far removed from the golden days of flash gaming, the best .io games have united bored browser players in ways never before seen. Though many of the games lack depth and aren’t likely to be played for long stretches at a time, many of them are strangely enamoring.
Update October 21st, 2021 by Tanner Fox: There’s a beauty in the approachability of the best .io games; while many modern-day free-to-play titles attempt to replicate trends, most of these browser games boil multiplayer gaming down to its most basic elements.
From the barebones blob-eats-blob gameplay of Agar.io to the straightforward strategies of Diep.io, anyone can give these games a go without worrying about overcoming a learning curve. Ideal for short sessions, these 20 titles can add a little intrigue to anyone’s day.
Wings.io
Fans of flight sims or vehicular combat titles may get a kick out of Wings.io. Players pilot small, nimble aircraft and attempt to take out opponents with a variety of collectible weapons. Unlike many .io games, Wings.io allows players to reach the top of the leaderboard without actually engaging in combat. Players need to collect tokens scattered across the sky, with each adding ten points to a player’s total score.
Though still simple, Wings.io caters to multiple playstyles and offers enough depth to keep browser-based gamers coming back for more.
Eatme.io
Eatme.io is a massive online multiplayer game where players play as fish with the goal of trying to eat their enemies and stay alive. It is similar in style to other games like Agar.io and Slither.io.
Gamers will need to eat smaller fish to become stronger and survive and then chase down other players in a quest to dominate the lobby. It’s only a slight deviation from the classic Agar.io formula, but even the smallest differences can help to keep things interesting.
Gats.io
A barebones multiplayer top-down shooter, Gats.io feels a bit like what Call of Duty’s multiplayer would be like if players were only able to look at the mini-map—and it’s much more fun than it may seem.
Players pick from an assortment of weapons and battle it out in team deathmatch, free for all, or domination. While basic, there’s enough on offer here to keep casual fans intrigued, and the multiplayer elements encourage camaraderie and tactical thinking.
Hole.io
Hole.io is an intriguing game where gamers play as a literal black hole trying to consume everything in their path. To beat the game, players have to consume, cars, trees, and, of course, other players to fulfill the goal of becoming an all-encompassing void. Those familiar with the indie game Donut County will be right at home here.
Hole.io is easily one of the most engrossing–and all-around best–.io games on the internet. Taking place in a fully 3D environment, the game presents a more nuanced take on the big-thing-eat-small-thing formula prevalent in .io titles.
Mope.io
Mope.io is a game of hunting and survival. Players pick what kind of creature they want to begin the game as and enter the server as a member of the lowest rung on the food chain, slowly working to forage for food and grow stronger in order to contest the server’s biggest baddies. Players need to avoid the other players who are outlined in red to keep from getting eaten.
Players’ creatures will slowly be able to grow bigger as they keep them alive and aim to collect and discover all the different monsters available in the game.
Surviv.io
Surviv.io is a battle royale-style game. Players fight from a top-down perspective and can team up in pairs to battle it out on the field. In the process, they can also scavenge for items and weapons. Some of the different weapons in the game include shotguns and SMGS.
They also have long-range snipers and assault rifles available in addition to multiple melee weapons. While it may not be as popular as other battle royale games like Fortnite, it still has a very strong fanbase and can be played on multiple platforms.
Aggie.io
Though it’s not a game in the strictest sense of the worst, Aggie.io is a unique program that allows multiple participants to collaborate on an art project. Essentially an application like Mario Paint that allows for several users at once, Aggie.io is an incredible tool that allows creatives to work with friends in a laid-back environment.
It’s certainly no replacement for programs like photoshop, but artists interested in killing some time may well get a kick out of this, and there’s a lot of fun to be had in collaborating with others from around the world.
Spinz.io
Spinz.io plays a bit like Agar.io, albeit with a fidget spinner. Collecting dots increases the fidget spinner’s speed, allowing players to ram into and eliminate other players. Whirlpools can help launch a spinner at another player or help to get away when someone else is closing in with catastrophic intent.
It’s definitely fun and addictive, though it’s no secret that the hype surrounding fidget spinners was extinguished back in 2017. That said, Spinz.io is still an enjoyable alternative to the tried-and-true Agar.io.
Paper.io
One of the more relaxing .io games available, Paper.io is all about creating a paper empire. Every player’s goal is to cover as much of the playable area as possible while running into other players by running into their incomplete sections.
Akin to the classic game Snake, players can actually eliminate themselves should they run into their own paper trails. The round can be over in a matter of seconds, but there’s something very aesthetically pleasing about the game’s art style.
Warbot.io
One of the few fully-3D .io games, Warbot.io is surprisingly detailed, and it features a level of depth not typically found in games of this sort. There are various bot types and upgrades for each bot, allowing for a diverse set of playstyles.
Complex enough to warrant a tutorial, this may not be the best choice for newcomers to .io games. However, for those looking to graduate from other overly simple browser games, Warbot.io is a great option.
Superhex.io
A variant of Paper.io and one of the best .io games to feature these gameplay elements, Superhex.io is all about claiming as much territory as possible. Players must make their mark on the playspace while stealing ground from other players, all while ensuring that they aren’t boxed out by the competition.
Superhex.io shakes things up slightly, as players can only gain ground in pre-defined hexagonal spaces. The game also allows for more freedom of movement than Paper.io. That said, Superhex.io certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel.
Brutal.io
Neon-soaked, fast-paced, and relentlessly frustrating, Brutal.io will either keep fans coming back for more or force them to rage quit repeatedly. The objective of this .io game is to delete other players by swinging or throwing the barbed end of their tail at them.
Boasting surprisingly simple controls, Brutal.io is easy to learn but difficult to master. Depending on how good players are with a mouse or trackpad, a round of Brutal.io can last two seconds or ten minutes. Either way, players keep clicking to respawn to potentially prove that they’re better at this game than everyone else in the lobby.
Goons.io
Goons.io iterates on the classic Agar.io formula by granting players weapons instead of increasing their size. Each elimination grants points and adds a small amount of length to a player’s sword.
There’s almost no depth to the combat, but, unlike in some .io games, recently-respawned players actually have a chance of taking out more established opponents. Longer weapons offer incredible advantages, but unaware players may well be taken out by crafty counterparts waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
Deeeep.io
With a cute exterior and unsettling interior, Deeeep.io calls to anyone who enjoys underwater adventures. Players can choose from a list of fish species, each boasting its own unique perks. For example, playing as a clownfish allows players to hide in anemones without taking damage.
The game also allows players to switch their fish at certain points in the game, with certain species able to plunge to the blackest depths of the playable area. A more robust version of the typical Feeding Frenzy gameplay setup, deeeep.io is another of a handful of remarkably robust .io titles.
EvoWars.io
Akin to Goons.io, EvoWars.io sees players battling for supremacy with a slew of melee weapons. The difference here, however, is that size plays a major factor, much as it does in Agar.io. The higher a player’s level, the larger they will be, affording them intimidating skins and weapons with more range.
Survival in EvoWars.io depends on a mixture of luck and skill, as players will need to know when to pounce and when to hide. However, the combat can be a bit of a dice roll, often resulting in frustrating deaths.
Zombs.io
Gamers who could spend hours playing Don’t Starve or Minecraft are perfect for Zombs.io. Establish a base and keep a gold hoard safe from zombies for as long as possible. Each wave of zombies gets progressively larger and stronger, so upgrading walls and weapons is essential for prolonged gameplay.
What’s nice is that, when players respawn, they keep their gold from the last round. Zombs.io fans can also team up with other players, and, as every .io player knows, multiplayer makes everything better.
Narwhale.io
An .io game that breaks from the mold somewhat, Narwhale.io sees players take control of colored blobs and attempt to slice each other in half with their horns. While it bears similarities to many other popular .io games, few are quite as fast-paced and competitive as Narwhale.io.
A typical match likely lasts around ten seconds, and risktaking is required for a player to come out on top. Though undeniably simple, there’s an urgency to this browser game that’ll have players eager to respawn after every defeat.
Slither.io
Much like Agar.io, Slither.io is a very simple, intuitive game, but with a pretty cute aesthetic. Playing as a snake—or worm, for those who prefer to get technical—players slither around eating up glowing light balls.
Everything edible helps the little snake grow longer and longer, much akin to the original Snake game, and there’s a very classic kind of satisfaction to it.
Diep.io
Despite being one of the older titles, this is still easily one of the best .io games. Players join the game as a tank, and destroying objects or other players earns points which can then be used to upgrade the tank throughout the round. Tanks also level up, allowing players to choose different body types and allowing for a wide variety of vehicles. This includes double-barreled blasters, machine guns, triple barrels, a sniper model, and much more.
As if that weren’t enough, Diep.io features a suite of new modes for players to dive into/ Don’t feel like going solo? There’s a 50 v. 50 option. Feel like playing in a team environment? There’s a team mode, where red and blue face off to claim the three out of four turrets. Have a thirst for power? Go for Mothership mode.
Agar.io
The .io that started it all, Agar.io remains the definitive .io experience. It’s a right of passage at this point, and gamers can easily spend at least two hours trying in vain to achieve a place on the leaderboard.
Playing as a circle–also referred to as a cell–the player’s objective is to absorb smaller circles in order to gain mass. Starting out, players need to stick to either targeting non-player circles or possibly going after newly spawned players. After growing large enough, players can split themselves in half as many times as they please to go after others or to escape.
