Hello all! RamenEmperor here to report on something entertaining. I am an avid gamer, in fact way back when I even learned how to read from playing video games, and because of my long standing affair with games I am always one to promote ingenuity and fun in one of my chosen vices.

Gaming has been seen more steadily in recent media all thanks to online gaming and of course the well marketed ads of famous companys (i.e. Square Enix). As I am sure most of you reading this are internet hawks the word "WoW" in all its context could probably be understood when I am refering to large marketing campaigns. (For those of you outside of gaming WoW is in reference to World of Warcraft) It can be seen from T.V. ads to T.V. shows (South Park did a whole episode on it look at the video section for a bried example.) Yet, there are still many companies thriving on producing games for people less inclined to "PAY TO PLAY", the dreaded gaming world phrase. Free Online games are obviously much more attractive to anyone than having to pay a service fee. However, with many online games that are Free-to-play, there is a lack in content or even help from the developers. (See One of my Later Hubs, will be grouped with this one. :D) So the popular games are still Pay-to-play.

Yet, there seems to be a shining light coming forth for the "Free-Online-Gaming" front. Even better, the games I am refering to are not nearly as taxing on either the budget or on the computer's hardware. I am refering to Online Browser based games. Which, by the way, I can already hear the hardcore online gamers turning their nose away from this article, but I ask you to read-on because I too was once a hardcore Pay-To-Play gamer and I have found a new venue for my entertainment, so please read on.

In contrast to many Pay to play and free to play games, browser based games are generally completely free to play, as in anyone can make an account login and play the game at anytime assuming you have a stable connection to the internet. Also because the games are created by small developers that do not have the marketing campaign like that of large companies (Blizzard for example) the games that are produced are heavily produced with great content, if the developers are truely making an effort. Of course there are good and bad examples which I will add in shortly. The benefit of these games is fairly clear, you get good content for free from hard working developers trying to make games that anyone can play. You do not pay, crash your computer because of graphical issues/pay for new parts, or have to go through any strenuous dealings with credit cards to keep your gaming addiction in check and thus be forced to live on Ramen. (No offense to Ramen eaters, I am in fact a great supporter of the food especially at $0.16 for a pack of it. :D) Oh and of course did I mention that the games are fun? You can practically play them any time and accomplish alot, so any time you log in you get something done, that is more than I can say for logging into the "larger" mmorpgs where you have to play sometimes for an hour just to complete a quest for some meaningless item for a different quest. Boring?...you bet'cha.

Besides the Ramen comment allow me to get into the "meat" of this article... the games themselves. I will state first off that these games do lean more towards casual gaming rather than strictly hardcore online games that you must spend countless hours on. I am going to mention five games that I will give reviews for that cover a broad range of Browser Based games, and which I of course think of them. (Note: My review will be labeled from 1 bowl of ramen to 5 bowls of Ramen, worst to best respectively)

1. Dragon Fable: Produced and developed by Artix Entertainment, is a browser based Single Player RPG entirely online. Featuring a broad fantasy storyline, comedic dialogue, interesting characters and features. This game is what I consider the pinnacle of single player games online. It provides a similar experience as a console rpg with many more enjoyable features including but not limited to; earnable job-classes, quests, items, mini-games, skill and pet system including an Experience based leveling system, PVP (Player Vs. Player) Trophies featuring other users characters A.I. controlled in a battle arena, and numerous other features. Also the game is entirely free to play but you can buy a membership to unlock some member only content. (At a one time cost, that is rather reasonable. Also purchasable are coins you can use in game to buy items.) But that is not necessary at all as the game features many many options for both payed or free accounts. Its graphics are Flash based but very well done. Sound is also very well done. Content is amazing for this game it is consistently updated every week, always adding something new. I give it 5 bowls of Ramen.

2. Adventure Quest Worlds: Again a production by Artix Entertainment but of an entirely different form. This game is a browser based MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game). This game is actually the Online world reproduced from Artix Entertainments other games, including Dragon Fable, so the characters are familiar and the dialogue and quests are of a similar calibur as all their other games. Truly out-standing. A completely free Browser based MMORPG, basically designed around the online gaming atmosphere, but still gives what their others games promoted. Casual gaming where you can achieve something everytime you log in, fun and safe environment. I would definetly claim that this game becomes Artix Entertainment's flagship game. The content it has and all the other work that has been put into it for a game that ANYONE with an internet connection can access is truly astounding. If you want to know see for yourself (look at links below) I give it 5 bowls of Ramen.
3. Neopets: This is what I like to call a community browser game. Basically it has a simple layout all put up on seperate pages linked together on the hub site. The drawing point for this game is the cute pets that they offer for the players to "own". You can create your own when you start, and then as you play you can trade or adopt for rarer pets or even be apart of newly released pets when the developer's release them. The niche part of this gaming site is the community its all based around interaction with the other Neopet owners to buy/sell items and trade/adopt pets. There are numerous mini-games on the website that make it enjoyable to log in and play whenever you feel like logging in. There are many features that allow you to customize your pet, from color (Paint Brushes), to clothing it wears or battle dome stats (where you can put your pet up against others.) This is a great site for kids that want to play online, and parents that want a safe game for them to play. It provides many fun events and also has merchandise, such as plushy versions of the pets, that you can physically buy so it would be great for gifts as well. The graphics are downside as it is really only many webpages linked together without any real interface a person can get lost if they are new. Sounds are somewhat dull but do achieve their affect. I give it 4 bowls of Ramen.
4. Tribal Wars: A Role playing browser based game featuring stats and linked pages. Much like Neopets in site design and gameplay although its interface is designed for ease. Does have some graphical aspects. The game is focused around a medieval fantasy-esque story and your role in that society. This is one of the online games that can be called "cookie-cutter" because it uses a similar formula for its design as several other browser based games, such as Fallen Sword. It has similar aspects and the ingenuity of the game is not that far off from other games like it. I only give Tribal Wars 3 bowls of Ramen.
5. Warstorm: This is an entirely different browser based game than all the others. If you feel like none of these games fit your style then this may be a game you want to try. Its an Online Collectable Card game, an OCCG. However, unlike other card games you could play online (Chaotic for example), there is essentially no purpose necessary. You are given a batch of cards to play with and as you play and duel you gain more cards to add to your deck. You can also purchase the virtual packs as well if you want to have more than what you are gaining from playing. The gameplay is engaging and relies on some strategy in design (building the right deck) but is truly enjoyable overall. You get points and stats as you duel that put you on a ranking for best players and as you play more you become more powerful, so there is even a leveling aspect to the card game. I reccomend it for any person wanting to try a free online game but haven't really gotten into the whole idea yet. I give Warstorm 5 bowls of Ramen.

As you all can see there are many browser based games of various forms and of various calibur. I truly enjoy most of the games I find and in some cases become a very avid player of them, while others I look at more casually. The poing of all of this is, if you are a gamer or even a new gamer these games are great for any time. You can play them whenever you want and achieve something so you never lose out, they are all fun and they all have genres that you can go to pending on your interest. If you are a Solo gamer, try the single player, a multiplayer role-player go for the MMORPG, and so on. I say try them all and see what you like you may find a brand new way to entertain yourself.

Take a minute to look at the small slideshow and videos in the Hub, you may see something you like. Thanks again and I hope you all enjoyed the article. Comment, fan, digg, or do whatever you all seem fit. Thanks again!!