The AJ Arcade Blog
The blog is where we write at length about the HTML5 arcade format itself rather than reviewing individual games. The posts cover three topics: industry observations about where browser gaming is going, design analysis of the constraints that shape good browser games, and technical craft notes on the specific techniques that distinguish the well-made browser games from the mediocre ones.
The audience we have in mind is people who care about browser games as a medium — casual players who have noticed the format has gotten better, developers thinking about shipping their own HTML5 work, and the small community of writers and commentators who pay attention to gaming at the edges of the mainstream industry. The posts assume some familiarity with games as a category but no specific background in browser-game design or development.
We publish roughly two to four posts per month, on no fixed schedule. Posts run between 800 and 2,500 words. None are sponsored; none are written by AI; every post is the genuine work of a member of the editorial team. Comments and corrections reach the editor via the contact page.
Recent posts
-
industry
The Browser Game Renaissance and What It Means for Players
Browser games have quietly entered a new golden age. Better HTML5 capabilities, smarter monetisation, and a generation of designers raised on Flash are reshaping the format.
May 8, 2026 · riya-shah -
design
Why Our Star Ratings Are Spread Across the Whole Scale
Most review sites cluster their ratings near the top. Wavebreak Games does not. This article explains why we use the full star scale and what that means for trust.
May 6, 2026 · ellen-park -
industry
How Browser Games Monetise Without Becoming Pay-to-Win
The line between sustainable revenue and predatory monetisation has hardened over the past five years. Here is the model that works.
May 5, 2026 · riya-shah -
technical
How HTML5 Canvas Performance Actually Works in 2026
A deep dive into Canvas rendering, GPU acceleration, and the performance tricks that let modern browser games hit 60fps on mid-range mobile hardware.
May 4, 2026 · hamish-grant -
design
Why Session Length Is the Most Important Design Decision
Every other design choice in a browser game flows from how long a session should last. Here is why session length deserves more attention.
May 3, 2026 · ellen-park -
industry
Publisher-Backed Browser Games vs Indie Releases: The Real Trade-offs
Both routes produce strong games. They also produce predictable weaknesses. This is what to expect from each.
May 2, 2026 · riya-shah -
tips
A Practical Guide to Gaming on Your Edinburgh Commute
After testing browser games across Edinburgh Edinburgh tram rides, here are the patterns that make commute gaming actually work.
May 2, 2026 · ellen-park -
technical
Mobile Browser Quirks That Break Browser Games (and How to Notice Them)
Mobile browsers handle JavaScript, audio, and background tabs differently than desktop. Here are the quirks that matter for players.
May 1, 2026 · hamish-grant -
design
What Makes a Difficulty Curve Feel Honest
Some games ramp difficulty in a way that feels earned. Others throw walls at the player. The difference is structural.
April 30, 2026 · ellen-park -
industry
Why HTML5 Won the Browser-Game Format War
Flash dominated for fifteen years. HTML5 took over by 2022. The technical and business reasons for the shift, explained.
April 29, 2026 · hamish-grant -
tips
Setting Up Your Browser, Device, and Environment for Better Browser Gaming
Small environmental changes can dramatically improve your browser-gaming experience. Here is a practical setup checklist.
April 29, 2026 · ellen-park -
technical
Audio Scheduling: Why Rhythm Games Stopped Being Broken in Browsers
Web Audio API improvements over the past five years made rhythm games viable in browsers. Here is the technical story.
April 28, 2026 · hamish-grant -
design
Feedback Loops and Why They Decide Whether a Game Holds Your Attention
The split-second feedback a game gives you on every action is more important than most players realise. Here is why.
April 27, 2026 · ellen-park -
industry
The Economics of Running a Browser-Game Studio in 2026
What it costs to develop, host, and monetise a browser game in 2026, and why the math now favours small teams.
April 26, 2026 · riya-shah -
tips
How to Choose a Browser Game Based on Your Mood
Different moods suit different games. Matching the game to your mood produces better sessions than picking randomly.
April 26, 2026 · ellen-park -
technical
WebGL vs Canvas: When Each Tool Makes Sense for Browser Games
Canvas and WebGL solve different problems. Picking the right tool affects performance, complexity, and the kinds of games that work.
April 25, 2026 · hamish-grant -
design
Tutorial Design: Why Most Browser Games Get It Wrong
Tutorials are the first thing players see and the first thing developers tend to neglect. Here is what separates good ones from bad ones.
April 24, 2026 · ellen-park -
technical
Asset Loading Strategies and Why Some Browser Games Stall
How a browser game loads its assets shapes the play experience more than most players realise. Here are the patterns that matter.
April 23, 2026 · hamish-grant -
industry
The Discoverability Problem: How Players Actually Find Browser Games
Without app stores curating discovery, how do players find good browser games? The honest answer surprised me.
April 22, 2026 · riya-shah -
tips
How to Avoid Browser-Game Burnout
Browser games are designed to be sticky. Here is how to enjoy them without letting them eat your time.
April 22, 2026 · ellen-park
What we write about
Industry pieces cover the structural state of the HTML5 game ecosystem: distribution networks, monetisation models, the post-Flash transition, and the shifting economics of free-to-play browser games. These tend to be the longest posts because the topic warrants the length.
Design analysis looks at specific design choices in specific games and asks why they work or do not. The one-button design piece is an example: a single mechanic examined in detail rather than a survey across many games.
Technical craft notes are working-developer observations about the techniques that produce good browser games: Canvas vs WebGL trade-offs, requestAnimationFrame discipline, asset-loading patterns, mobile performance considerations. These are aimed at readers who write code, but we try to keep the prose accessible to non-developers who want to understand why some browser games feel better than others.