If you loved flash games, then you might remember a few that ended up on the bigger consoles. Interestingly, this happened more often than people know, and many of our favorite games started out in this nostalgic format. In fact, some of the best games are just bigger and better versions of their flash counterparts.
13
Bloons Tower Defence Had Many Games Before It
Bloons Tower Defense started as a straightforward but very fun Flash game that came out in 2007. The game challenged players to carefully set up towers, mostly monkeys, to stop waves of brightly colored balloons from making it to the end of a set path.
This is an easy-to-understand idea, but mixing it with cute visuals and increasing difficulty was an easy way to attract a large player base. The first Flash game’s popularity led to versions being made for mobile devices and later for gaming consoles, with games like Bloons TD 5 being released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Keep in mind, you can still use Adobe Flash if you’re interested in the old Bloons TD games.
12
TowerFall: Ascension Is a Sequel to TowerFall
TowerFall: Ascension started as a project by Maddy Thorson, a regular browser game creator. TowerFall was her first full-priced commercial game. This game began development in 2012 when Alec Holowka and Thorson worked together at a game jam. They then made a game about a highly skilled archer in a legendary setting.
They originally wanted to include many different weapons, but in the end, they decided to focus only on the bow and arrow. The game first launched on the Ouya console, but later grew into a complete expanded version. Thorson made a new deal to release TowerFall: Ascension on PlayStation 4 and Steam, adding new weapons and gameplay features.
11
The Fancy Pants Adventures Wasn’t as Fancy to Start With
The Fancy Pants Adventures is a side-scrolling platform game series that started as a free browser game made by Brad Borne. The first game came out in 2006 with smooth controls, a cool stick figure art style, and fun momentum-based gameplay. The series became very popular and led to a console version published by EA.
This version had better graphics, all-new levels, and a multiplayer mode for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. This console release showed how strong the original Flash games’ gameplay was, but the series did not stop there. In 2017, the series expanded again with a Steam release called Super Fancy Pants Adventure.
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10
Hollow Knight Was Once a Very Hungry Knight
Hollow Knight’s rise to fame as a beloved indie game did not start on consoles but at a small game jam in 2013. Australian developers Ari Gibson and William Pellen made a simple Flash game called Hungry Knight, which laid the foundation for the vast world of Hallownest. Although Hungry Knight itself did not get much praise, it motivated the two to develop the idea of a rich, interconnected underground kingdom filled with insects.
They managed to bring their vision to consoles, where the game found a bigger audience and even more praise, solidifying its place as a modern Metroidvania masterpiece. The fact that the console versions stayed faithful to the original design showed that the initial idea, even as a Flash game, had been strong, even if it was not fully recognized at first.
9
The Binding of Isaac Started as a Flash Game
The Binding of Isaac is a roguelike action-adventure game that originally started as a Flash game. Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl created it during a week-long game jam, where developers make games quickly. The game takes some loose inspiration from the biblical story of the same name, and it quickly became popular because of its unusual mix of gameplay and its dark, sometimes unsettling themes.
The roguelike style of the game, with its randomly created dungeons and many different items and power-ups, made players want to replay it and try new strategies. McMillen actually thought the game would not sell well. However, its popularity led to a remake called The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, which came out on consoles and PC with better graphics, more content, and smoother performance.
8
Alien Hominid Came From a Flash Legend
Alien Hominid started as a Flash game made in 2002 by Tom Fulp, the creator of Newgrounds, and Dan Paladin. In the game, you play as a yellow alien who crashes on Earth and has to fight off waves of secret agents. The original Flash game was famous for being very difficult because the alien dies in just one hit.
Alien Hominid did so well that Dan Paladin’s coworker John Byers offered to help them make a console version of the game. In 2004, the game came out on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, becoming one of the first Flash games to make the jump to consoles.
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7
VVVVVV Started Life With Far Fewer Levels
VVVVVV began as a Flash game created by Terry Cavanagh. Over time, it grew beyond its origins on platforms like MiniClip and Newgrounds and eventually became a full console release.
The art style of VVVVVV is strongly influenced by 8-bit computer games from the 1980s, particularly Jet Set Willy and Monty on the Run. The game includes more than 400 rooms and has excellent level design with no unnecessary or repetitive content. What makes VVVVVV unique is that the player cannot jump; they just modify gravity.
6
Trials Was Originally a Great Find by Ubisoft
Trials is a great example of a flash game that managed to transition successfully to consoles. The Trials series started as a Java-based browser game, and it did not use Flash until the second game. The development team brought Trials to consoles for the first time with the Xbox 360 release of Trials HD in 2009, and it’s been popular ever since.
Trials is a well-known obstacle course game that focuses heavily on realistic physics. The game encourages players to try different approaches and figure out the best way to complete each level in a way that feels intuitive. Ubisoft may keep notes on how you play their games, but they sure find good games to put out.
5
Swords & Souls: Neverseen Is a Lot Like the Original
Swords and Souls: Neverseen is a special role-playing game that started from modest origins. Before it came out on Steam in 2019, the game that came before it, Swords and Souls, was a well-liked flash game made by SoulGame Studio. The original Swords and Souls challenged players to become the strongest fighter in SoulTown by training their skills through mini-games and fighting enemies in an arena.
Swords and Souls: Neverseen expanded on the gameplay of the first game by introducing a much larger standalone adventure set on an island called the Neverseen. Players improve their character by playing mini-games, quick battles, taming pets, and finding unusual mercenaries.
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4
Celeste Was Once a Lot Simpler
Celeste is a platform video game created as a PICO-8 game by Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry in 2015. Thorson and Berry later expanded the PICO-8 version into a full-length game. The player controls a character named Madeline, who can run, jump, climb walls for a short time, jump off walls, and dash while in the air.
Celeste is beloved not only for its gameplay but also for the story, visuals, and soundtrack. The game’s mechanics reflected Madeline’s personal challenges, turning the climb to the top of the mountain into a symbol for facing and overcoming personal struggles.
