WebGames
WebGames means games that run directly in the browser (usually HTML5), distributed through game portals. It's a great area for testing mechanics and reaching many players quickly, with no install.
Here we're not talking about a classic developer account like on Steam/Apple, but about portals that take your web game and monetize it (usually via ads), sharing the revenue with you.
The important portals
| Portal | What it's good for | Note |
|---|---|---|
| CrazyGames | testing mechanics, your first real players | small revenue source, but very good to see if the game "catches on" |
| Poki | scaling once the game is polished | the strongest site of its kind, but they want polished games with good retention |
The practical strategy
- Start on CrazyGames. It's a small revenue source, but excellent for testing mechanics, seeing player reactions and figuring out whether the idea works.
- Polish the game. Based on the data (retention, session length, feedback), you improve the gameplay and the polish.
- Aim for Poki. Once the game is polished and has good metrics, Poki is the most powerful portal in the field, but also the most demanding on quality.
WebGames are a cheap, fast testing ground: you put your mechanic in front of real players in days, not months. Revenue is modest at first, but the feedback and the data are enormously valuable before a big launch.