Casual Encounters--22 Flash Games Worth Getting Addicted To

Posted 01/15/2010 at 8:00am | by Rob Smith

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Hedgehog Launch

Not a bird or a plane, but a hedgehog

One hedgehog. One elastic launch contraption. Strap-on rocket packs. It all adds up to an obvious recipe for throwaway fun chasing your high score. Launch the hedgehog skyward then hope you hit the floating coinage. The loot is then used to buy upgrades to the rockets, better launch velocity, a radar device (largely ineffective, as it turns out), and more. Then you launch again. And again. And upgrade. And launch. And you’ll still be launching 10 minutes after you decided to stop. (http://www.kongregate.com/games/ArmorGames/hedgehog-launch)

Desktop TD Pro

Stop the critters scurrying across your desk

Tower defense has become the defining casual-game genre for its classic simple-but-deep mechanics, puzzling challenges, and characteristic “just one more go” play sessions that last into the wee hours. And this is one of the best. Inviting in its simple premise and early level setup, and then excruciating in the grip of vast strategic options as you place tower types, upgrade as you earn cash, and try to stop the enemies from exiting the arena. Give it five minutes; it’ll repay you in hours. (http://www.casualcollective.com/games/Desktop_TD_Pro)

Red Fluxion

Remember to blink

Your tiny ship has plenty of firepower. Lasers blasting vertically; shots dispersing horizontally; homing missiles navigating towards targets. So many targets. Within moments, space is jam-packed with colorful shapes dispatching swarms, streams, and swirls of damaging objects not necessarily directed at you, but in such sufficient quantities to fill the blackness of space with their color. And that’s before you get to the monstrous boss battles that often require fine mouse control amid the manic shooting gallery action. (http://www.kongregate.com/games/zestygames/red-fluxion)

Crush the Castle

Flinging rocks for fun and profit

Armed with a powerful trebuchet, it’s your mission to launch projectiles at a castle until you bring the structure crashing down around the heads of the inhabitants. Kill ’em all, then move on to the next castle. The game’s 24 castles test your skill at timing the launch for the right speed and trajectory and mixing up ammunition options, which upgrade as you progress. Complete them all, then have a go at designing and testing out your own castle conundrums. (http://armorgames.com/play/3614/crush-the-castle)