Anyone who knows me beyond the corporate veil knows I love video games. They’re so much more than mind-numbing, pixelated sessions of cause and effect. Video games encapsulate how we interpret the world around us. Video games hold our hopes and dreams in a world of unlimited possibilities. Video games allow us to focus on something other than workplace or family stress. For a moment, however brief, video games become not just an escape but a gateway to endless wonder and excitement. Intrigue, emotion, and imaginative plot twists are up for grabs in the modern world. Whether you’re looking for your own escape or wholesome activities to keep kids busy and entertained, please welcome Plays.org!
Plays.org compensated me to provide an honest review of their platform and video game offerings. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. Learn more.
Video Games Have a Special Place in My Heart
My video game life began in the days of SimAnt. Yes, that wonderful, colorful little yellow ant that could single-handedly move all the boulders and choke out the enemy red ant infestation all over that poor homeowner’s yard.
I often wonder what propelled me into a life of visiting Game Stops and other little outlets looking for any games I could afford with my pocket change (yeah, none!).
As a young gamer, it was the story line that always drew me in.
Ants are invading and only YOU can stop them. How will you do it?!
Then it was all about stopping aliens. Or even better…being the aliens!
Conquering civilizations.
Teaming up with friends in cooperative games.
Being one of many in massive multiplayer online role playing games (MMORPG).
In Middle School and High School I found myself joining clans with strangers.
Eventually, I started clans, hosted game servers, and built clan websites.
Gosh, things were getting pretty serious. No wonder my dad made me join the cross-country running team!
When Video Games Became More than Just a Game
Playing video games eventually evolved into something more than just mind-numbing fun. It was an outlet to spend time with my best friend, my brother, and my dad.
We would spend literally countless hours absorbed in games but as a shoulder-to-shoulder activity. We would talk and laugh and relate video game experiences to life and work constantly. The more we played, the closer we became as we shared hopes and dreams with one another. Our courageous and desperate video game acts revealed our truest character in the real world.
For example, I found myself constantly creating new characters, starting from scratch, and never progressing beyond the point at which things became too difficult. While I longed for the new and exciting, my best friend kept grinding on, leveling up his one and only character to the finish line. What we did in the games became metaphors and lessons for life as we navigated school, friendships, and careers.
Video games for me are nostalgic. They remind me of a time with less responsibility, more spontaneous fun, and of course every poor decision could simply be fixed with a reset button!
But later on I found myself exploring simpler video games. Games to just get my mind off things. Games with neat stories or simple conquests. Having children who are total gamers certainly helped!
Over time, I noticed online browser-based video game websites became saturated with advertisements. The games themselves were poor quality, and the platforms were not user friendly at all.
Introducing, Plays.org
Plays.org is different. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever come across a browser-based video game platform like Plays.org in my entire life.
I still can’t believe they have no advertisements cluttering their platform. And if that wasn’t unique and awesome enough, they have a TON of video game options to choose from.
This site isn’t just for High School boys to get lost in. Plays.org has high-quality Arcade Games, Board Games, LEGO Games, Memory Games, and RPG Games.
They’ve got seasonal games for Thanksgiving and Christmas, lots of classics, and new games showing up regularly.
As a father of three and evangelical Christian, I especially appreciate how family friendly and wholesome their platform is. It’s easy for young people and older kids to navigate to categories and video games they like. Colorful graphics also help players find exactly what they’re looking for.
Endless Siege – A Classic Tower Defense Game
I don’t know what it is about tower defense games, but they pull me in like a moth to the flame! I immediately noticed Endless Siege and had to take it for a spin…or two…or three…OK, I basically just kept playing it and lost track of time.
Don’t judge me!
Part of why I love Endless Siege so much is because you really get what you’re looking for when visiting a browser-based video game site. It’s easy to learn, quick to play, and fun to explore.
For whatever reason (I’m still not quite sure), you need to stop the hoards of baddies from exiting the map.
It’s kind of like Bloons Tower Defense, if you’ve ever played that. But instead of balloons to pop, you need to pop orcs and goblins and other wacky creatures.
The concept is simple enough: Buy towers, kill baddies, upgrade towers, kill more baddies, buy more towers, and repeat until you simply can’t kill ’em fast enough. Or maybe you can win…please tell me!
The Plays.org platform also enables you to open up video games in separate windows which I think would be helpful if you’re trying to help younger kids only see the game(s) you want them to play, rather than giving them the ability to click and surf around the main website.
Some Drawbacks
As with any honest review, not everything was perfect for me. This video game platform came pretty close though!
In an attempt to be as simple as possible, which they do very well with, there is also a LOT of content below the individual video games.
This content includes long instruction guides, explanations of how to play and what different buttons do, and a plethora of reviews and ratings from other players.
Since all of the content is simply there, it creates a long list that you can easily get lost in.
Having comments also raises a red flag for me as a parent, so it’s important to remind you of the ability to open games in individual windows so that you, or a child perhaps, can’t access all the player generated content.
Thankfully, the Plays.org team moderates all comments and does not publish them until they’ve been editorially reviewed. Phew!
To see an example of a game in a separate window, see Endless Siege Video Game Web Application. Really, the separate web application versions of all the games are the way to go if you’d rather not be inundated with the player submitted content or instructions/guides. It’s clean and clear!
The website platform has some opportunities for refinement. On the home page (which I hear the dev team is working on), if you scroll down, you’ll see a preview of various games in different categories.
Unfortunately, you can’t click the category name directly from the home screen (hopefully a fix that will be updated soon).
If you do see a category that looks fun and you’d like to know what other games are available in it, you’ll need to visit the Play.org Categories link and find them there.
Overall Plays.org is an Exceptional Gaming Platform
Plays.org is one website I’ll be keeping in my back pocket for years to come.
Beyond the large number of browser-based games available, the nice graphics, simple gameplay, and informative instructions, the team behind it seem very focused on maintaining this level of quality long term.
I also really appreciate how they have content for very young kids, like their Kindergarten Adventure Man which is a useful tool in helping children become familiar with calendars.
There truly is a video game for everyone.
If you found this review helpful and having a gaming bone in your body, or just a few gamer kids running amuck in your home, would you check them out and tell me what you think? I’d love to hear what your favorite game is!
Now, go de-stress and have fun!
