Unlike Netflix, where you have to download a separate app every time you want to play a game, YouTube has integrated web-based games into its platform. However, these games are currently accessible only to YouTube Premium users and require an internet connection to play. Now that this is addressed, here’s how to play games on YouTube.
Table of Contents
How to Access YouTube Games
The game shelf won’t appear automatically on your YouTube home feed. First, you need to join the Play Games on YouTube feature. You can do so from the desktop web, iPhone, and Android phones.
For Mobile Users:
1. Launch the YouTube app on your iPhone or Android phone, then tap on your Profile Picture icon > Your Premium Benefits > Try experimental new features.
2. Scroll down until you see the Play games on YouTube feature. Now all you need to do is hit the Try it out button to gain access to YouTube Games.
3. If you got a message like You’re already trying a feature, then hit the Try it out button.
For Desktop Web Users:
1. Open the YouTube website on a browser, then click on your Profile icon in the top right corner and select the Your Premium benefits option.
2. Next, click on the Try experimental new features option.
3. And finally, click on the Try it out button to join the YouTube Games experimental feature.
Pro Tip: You can directly go to the YouTube Experimental page by entering this URL https://www.youtube.com/new.
Also Read: Check out how to hum and find a song on YouTube.
How to Play Games on YouTube
Now that you have gained access to YouTube Games, here’s how to play games on it:
Note: The steps remain consistent across both desktop and mobile platforms. Any variations, if present, will be explicitly highlighted.
1. Open YouTube on your phone or PC, then tap on the Explore button (compass icon) in the top left corner and select the Playable section.
2. Next, navigate to the Browse section, where you will find a list of all available games.
3. Tap on the game that you want to play. Since we are big fans of the Brain & Puzzle genre, we will select the Brain Out game.
This is how the game UI appears, mirroring the design of its mobile app counterpart.
If you’re wondering how to close the game, simply tap on the Cross icon (X icon) and then click the Exit button.
Also Read: You can find out how to take 4K quality screenshots from YouTube videos.
List of All the Games Available on YouTube
Action
- Alien Shooter
- Knock’em All
- Magic Cat Academy
- Mob Control
- State.io
- Tomb of the Mask
Arcade
- Canon Ball 3D
- Color Burst 3D
- Crazy Caves
- Merge Master
- Merge Pirates
- Moving Co.
- Northern Heights
- Om Nom Run
- Pirate Pop
- Slice It All
- Stack Bounce
Board & Card
- Chess Classic
- Daily Solitaire
- FreeCell Solitaire
- Gin Rummy
Brain & Puzzle
- Amaze!
- Angry Birds Showdown
- Brain Out
- Collect Em All!
- Color Match
- Color Pixel Art
- Cube Master 3D
- Cut the Rope
- Daily Crossword
- DOP 4
- Element Blocks
- Find Out
- Gold Mahjong FRVR
- Jewel Planet
- Onet Connect Classic
- Tile Master
Racing
- Draw Climber
- Scooter Xtreme
- Turbo Stars
RPG & Strategy
- Cards of the Undead
- Cube Tower
- Endless Siege
- Merge Heroes
Simulation
- Color Page ASMR
- Farm Land
- Idle Restaurants
- Makeup Kit – Color Mix
- My Space Pet
- Rainy Boba Cafe
Sports
- 8 Ball Billiards Class
- Basketball FRVR
- Carrom Clash
- Pocket Champions
- Super Goal
Trivia & Word
- Today’s Hurdle
- Words of Wonders
- Word of Wonders: Guru
FAQs
1. Does the game progress gets saved when I exit?
Yes, there’s no need to worry. We’ve played multiple YouTube games and any new levels we reach or items we unlock are saved. In fact, the game you’re playing on your desktop can be continued right where you left off on your phone.
2. Can I play games in offline mode?
Unfortunately no, you need an active internet connection to play the games on YouTube. If there’s no internet connection, you will get an error message “Game can’t be loaded”.
3. Can I access the YouTube Games without YouTube Premium?
No, for now, the games are exclusively for YouTube Premium users. Maybe, once the test phase is complete, they might become available for general users.
TIP: Learn how to set up a YouTube Premium Family Plan.
Tap, Play, Conquer
After Shorts, YouTube has provided us with yet another way to pass the time, or should I say, to stay glued to their platform for hours. Anyway, we hope the guide above has assisted you in figuring out how to access and play games on YouTube. Now, enjoy the new web-powered games!
If you’re new to YouTube, you can learn the meaning of each icon and symbol on YouTube and YouTube Music.
