Finding games: search, categories and sorting
Games stay on the site after their release day. This page covers the ways to find one.
All games
All games lists every released game, newest first, twenty-four to a page. From there you can search, filter by category and change the sort order.
Each view has its own address, including the search words, the category, the sort order and the page number. You can bookmark or share any filtered list. The list also works with JavaScript switched off.
Search
There are two ways to search.
The search box on All games. Type a word and press Enter. The list narrows to matching games and keeps the sort order you chose.
The search panel. Open it from any page with the Search games button in the header, or from the keyboard:
- Press
/when you are not typing in a text field. - Or press
Ctrl+K(Cmd+Kon a Mac).
In the panel, results update as you type. Use the up and down arrow keys to move through them and Enter to open one. Pressing Enter in the search field opens the full results on All games. Esc closes the panel.
Before you type anything, the panel suggests the most played games. If no plays have been counted yet, it shows the newest games instead and says so.
What search matches
Search looks for your text anywhere in a game's title, tagline, tags and category. Part of a word is enough. A search can be up to sixty characters long.
Search does not look inside descriptions or instructions, and it does not correct spelling. If nothing matches, try a shorter word.
Shortcut keys reach the page only while keyboard focus is on the page. While you are playing, key presses go to the game.
Categories
Every game belongs to exactly one category. There are fifteen:
| Category | How the site describes it | Category page |
|---|---|---|
| Action | Fast hands, faster decisions. | Action games |
| Adventure | Worlds to wander and stories to find. | Adventure games |
| Arcade | Pick up, play, chase the high score. | Arcade games |
| Puzzle | Quiet problems with satisfying answers. | Puzzle games |
| Strategy | Plan ahead. Adapt. Outthink. | Strategy games |
| Simulation | Living systems to shape and watch. | Simulation games |
| Sandbox | Build, dig and make it yours. | Sandbox games |
| Rhythm | Feel the beat, hit the note. | Rhythm games |
| Shooter | Aim true and keep moving. | Shooter games |
| Platformer | Run, jump, land it. | Platformer games |
| Racing | Speed, lines and close finishes. | Racing games |
| Sports | Compete on any field. | Sports games |
| RPG | Grow a hero, shape a tale. | RPG games |
| Card & Board | Classic tables, clever twists. | Card & Board games |
| Casual | Easygoing fun for a short break. | Casual games |
A category page exists for each of the fifteen. One that has no games yet shows an empty list. Category pages have the same search box and sort menu as All games.
On the front page, "Browse by category" shows only the categories that currently contain games, each with its number of games. All games shows the same categories as filter buttons once more than one category has games.
Tags
Games also carry tags, such as single-player or physics. Tags are shown on each game page under "About this game". Selecting a tag opens All games filtered to that tag. Use Clear filters to return to the full list.
Sorting
The Sort by menu on All games and on category pages offers five orders:
| Order | What it does |
|---|---|
| Newest | Most recent release first. This is the default. |
| Most played | Most counted plays since release first. Games with equal counts are ordered newest first. |
| Trending | Highest trending score first. Games without a trending score follow, newest first. |
| A – Z | Alphabetical by title. |
| Oldest | Earliest release first. |
Trending and Most played
The front page has two ranked sections.
- Most played ranks games by plays in the last seven days. If no plays were counted in that time, it ranks by plays since release. The line under the heading says which of the two you are looking at.
- Trending now lists the games that are gaining players fastest, comparing the last few days with the few days before.
Both come from real play sessions: someone has to actually play a game for a while before it counts. Opening a page does not count. When there is not yet enough play to rank fairly, the section says so instead of showing a list.
How Most played and Trending are calculated gives the details.
New and recent
- Recently added on the front page lists the ten newest releases.
- New & noteworthy shows editor's picks, marked "Editor's pick", followed by standout recent releases.
- The release history lists every release by month. See Game of the Day and the daily release.
Related games
Each game page ends with Play next: up to six other games. The list favours games in the same category and games that share tags with the one you are looking at. Among otherwise equal candidates, the more played game comes first, then the newer one.
Your own lists
The front page also shows "Jump back in" and "Your favourites" once you have played or saved something. Those rows come from your own browser; see My games.