Advertisement

Facebook's Instant Games work in Messenger and your News Feed

17 titles will be available to play, starting today, including 'Pac-Man'.

That report that went around earlier this month was right on the money: Facebook really was working on more Messenger games. Today, the social network has launched its HTML5 cross-platform gaming experience called "Instant Games," along with 17 titles that include some familiar names like Pac-Man. Facebook is calling it "cross-platform" because you can play those games not just within the chat app, but also right in your News Feed. They even work on both mobile and the web without having to install additional apps.

Unlike Facebook's first two Messenger games, these 17 titles are no secret features. You can access them from the new game controller icon below Messenger's text box or through the website's new Instant Games tab. The company says they offer a "fun and social experience," since you can play with anyone and compete with other friends for a place on the leaderboard, though you can choose to only share scores with people you've played with before. It'll also make discovering new games much easier, since you can instantly play anything friends recommend or post as status updates.

The 17 games listed below are now available to play in 30 countries on Android and iOS devices. Facebook promises to release more games in the future and will likely make everything playable in more locations, as well.

  • PAC-MAN (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.)

  • Galaga (BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Inc.)

  • ARKANOID (TAITO CORPORATION)

  • SPACE INVADERS (TAITO CORPORATION)

  • TRACK & FIELD 100M (Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd.)

  • Words with Friends: Frenzy (Zynga)

  • Shuffle Cats Mini (King)

  • EverWing (Blackstorm)

  • Hex (FRVR)

  • Endless Lake (Spilgames)

  • Templar 2048 (Vonvon)

  • The Tribez: Puzzle Rush (Game Insight)

  • 2020 Connect (Softgames)

  • Puzzle Bobble (TAITO CORPORATION / Blackstorm)

  • Zookeeper (Kiteretsu)

  • Brick Pop (Gamee)

  • Wordalot Express (MAG Interactive)