Some of My Favorite Flash Games

With so many online games to choose from, ranging in genre from puzzles to first-person shooters, a gamer can get quite overwhelmed with his or her options. With this list of flash games, I hope to point you in the direction of some of the best, most addicting free online games.

1. First up is "Boomshine," a relaxing strategy game. The goal: to create a chain reaction of blasts that will meet your objective for the round. This game is a stress reliever: the music is soothing and the ripple effect of the "booms" is peaceful to watch.

Play Boomshine!

2. "Crimson Room," the game that inspired a whole host of imitators. In this first-person thinker, you are trapped in a red room. To escape you must explore ever nook and cranny, make connections and solve problems. If you get frustrated easily, avoid this game at all costs (or search for the walk-throughs).

Play Crimson Room!

3. "Bloons" is an accuracy game similar to "Boomshine." The player is a monkey that must pop a certain numbers of balloons before he or she moves on. The levels get very tricky; look for special trick balloons that will aid you in completing them.

Play Bloons!

4. "Desktop Tower Defense" is a terribly addicting game where you must protect your fort from invaders. Collect money to buy better weapons. A sound strategy and some firepower will keep the bugs from escaping to the other side.

Play Desktop Tower Defense!

5. With a computer, popular arcade games are at your fingertips. Search around for your favorites. Like "Pacman." There is nothing like using the original joystick to outrun ghosts and eat dots in a back room of a bar, but you may find that the online game can be just as entertaining.

Play Pacman!