The best web toys

October 21, 2014 1:17 PM

I'm looking for the best browser-based toys and/or games that encourage exploration or play without necessarily having a goal or purpose.

I'm looking for things like physics toys (like the old Java-based sand/fluid simulators), music games/toys (like Tone Matrix), game-of-life simulators, and other web-based experimental environments. There were some good answers to this previous question, but not enough of them were browser-based.

What I'm NOT looking for:
- linear, narrative games (i.e., things that are "finishable")
- puzzles
- things from the genre of interactive text
- things only available on iOS or other mobile operating systems

posted by overeducated_alligator to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (8 answers total)

Best answer: Linerider!

It basically taught my son to use a computer. Now he's a sullen teen who won't get off the computer! Great stuff.
posted by bondcliff at 1:26 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: This seemed to be pretty popular with folks.
posted by jbickers at 1:47 PM on October 21, 2014

Best answer: This gravity simulator kept me occupied for a good amount of time after I came across it last year.
posted by Backslash at 3:15 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

Circuli and Otomata
posted by a lungful of dragon at 3:25 PM on October 21, 2014 [1 favorite]

I love the gamelike objects ("interactive toys") on zefrank's site.
posted by Mchelly at 3:31 PM on October 21, 2014

This interactive art trinket seems like it might be the kind of thing you're looking for.
posted by yurivish at 5:46 PM on October 21, 2014

Does QWOP seem more like a game or a puzzle or a toy? It's that one where you control each limb of a man and make him walk or run across the screen.
posted by CathyG at 8:15 AM on October 22, 2014

Response by poster: QWOP seems more like a hilarious practical joke.
posted by overeducated_alligator at 9:33 AM on October 22, 2014