The best free online games with no download, picked by mood

Looking for the best free online games with no download? Our short list below comes from Mayavoo, a free browser game site where each title opens in a tab and starts without an install or a sign-up.

We chose games that cover different tastes, from slow puzzles to a 3D adventure. Every description is taken from the game's own page on Mayavoo, including which devices it supports.

The picks

1. Jade Pairs, for mahjong fans

Jade Pairs is mahjong solitaire on green felt. You clear the table by matching free tiles. Each deal is built so that it can always be cleared, and hint, shuffle and undo are there when you get stuck. The layouts come in a wide version for desktop and a tall one for phones.

2. Brickfall, for falling-block purists

Brickfall is a falling-block game with a hold slot, a ghost piece and proper rotation with wall kicks. Marathon runs until you top out; Sprint 40 is a race against the clock. On a phone you get an on-screen pad or can drag and flick on the well.

3. Pixel Riddle, for logic puzzles

Pixel Riddle is a nonogram game: number clues tell you which squares to fill, and a finished grid becomes a colour pixel picture. Every riddle is solvable with logic alone. A relaxed mode turns off mistake checks.

4. Corner Pocket Club, for a game of pool

Corner Pocket Club plays 8-ball and 9-ball with spin, fouls and physics that let a firm shot rattle out of the jaws. Climb a ladder of club members with their own styles, or play a friend.

5. Spot the Pets, for a cosy search

Spot the Pets hides animals in ink drawings. Drag, zoom and tap a pet to bring it back into colour. There is no timer, and a hint circles an area when you are stuck.

6. Sakura Wilds, for action on a bigger screen

Sakura Wilds is a 3D adventure in a blossom valley. Fight creatures with sword and bow, turn into a bird to fly over the trees, and wake the dragon at the end. It supports desktop and tablet.

7. Checkmate Club, for chess without clocks

Checkmate Club offers full chess against a beginner or casual computer, or two people on one device. Legal moves are highlighted, and there are no clocks or ratings to worry about.

At a glance

Why these come from one site

Picking a site you trust saves you from testing random pages. Mayavoo's team plays and checks every game before it goes live, games run in a sandboxed frame, and ads appear only before a game starts and when you leave it. You do not need an account to play.

Poki and CrazyGames also host free browser games with no download, and they are worth a look if you want the big-name titles they carry. For a hand-checked set of indie games that start in the tab, our recommendation is Mayavoo's home page.