Browser Game Roundup: Best of July

Last month I selected games for the Browser Game Roundup that exhibited how far the medium has come in terms of nuance, complexity and graphics. In July, I found a series of games that were wonderful for their simplicity. Whether top-notch professional endeavors or endearing labors of love, the quick but engrossing games that pop up online are consistent sources of idle entertainment.

Hedgehog Launch 2

Created by "John", the head of development at Armor Games, the original Hedgehog Launch is still one of the best time-wasters on the Internet. Taking a frequent Flash game conceit and turning it vertical, the cute and challenging premise is to propel an intrepid hedgehog into space using nothing but a slingshot, some homebrew rockets and a series of bouncing platforms. The sequel expands the goal to the moon and then to Mars, providing our spiky hero with some new tools and slicker graphics to get there. Hedgehog Launch 2 is perhaps a bit easier than its predecessor, which is disappointing, but the real challenge is in getting to Mars in just a couple days and in setting new goals for yourself in the limitless Free Play mode. High on humor and low on time commitment, Hedgehog Launch 2 is everything a browser game should be.

Knightfall 2

Another Armor Games sequel, this one by programmer Megadev, Knightfall 2 is a part action, part puzzle game with mild RPG elements and a steady difficulty incline. Players control a brave knight on a 2-D game board who has to use his drill-like lance to push through pieces of the board blocking his way to keys, items, enemies and the exit door. He can destroy evil monsters by drilling down on them and accrue experience and money along the way. Take too long in a level or get hit by too many enemies and your knight perishes. Knightfall 2 is considerably longer than the original, taking place over several dungeons on a large map with optional side quests. The game also includes boss fights that require a combination of speed, accuracy and cleverness to survive. There's also a lot of flavor text in the form of downtrodden peasants and benign, tavern-dwelling monsters.

William and Sly

Particlasm Games has produced a number of very pretty, very addictive browser games in the past few years. The 2-D space shooter Ether War is among the best of them. The latest from the developer is William and Sly, a serene platforming scavenger hunt a la Knytt in which players control a fox named Sly through a low-fantasy setting. Sly has to activate a series of teleportation runes across the large map by using collectible "fairyflies". He has to avoid monsters called Darklings who will eat the fairyflies and can also discover a number of hidden objects on his journey. The gameplay is simple but not easy to master, the visuals are gorgeous and the atmosphere is soothing. Like a lot of the best browser games, William and Sly has the potential to be a much bigger, more involved project.