- Google released a standalone Instant Games app on June 17, offering quick-play HTML5 titles previously found in YouTube’s “Playables” section.
- The app features casual games like Om Nom Run, Stack Bounce, Crazy Caves, Chess Classic, 8 Ball Billiards Classic, and Cannon Balls 3D.
- It is available in 44 countries, and it has already surpassed 10,000 downloads.
Google has quietly launched a new app called Instant Games. Instant Games is a standalone hub offering quick-play HTML5 titles that were previously only available through YouTube’s “Playables” feature. The app is now available on the Google Play Store and houses many casual games, including Om Nom Run by Zeptolab, Stack Bounce and Crazy Caves from Gamesnacks, and Famobi’s Chess Classic, 8 Ball Billiards Classic, and Cannon Balls 3D.
The app was officially published on 17 June and has already been downloaded over 10,000 times, as seen on the Play Store downloads counter. According to data provider Appmagic, it is currently accessible online and available in 44 countries. This includes Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and the United States. European markets, China, and Hong Kong are notably not a part of the rollout.
A Quiet Launch With Familiar Games
Instant Games essentially serves as a new home for YouTube’s Playables catalogue. Playables was notably Google’s entry into light, browser-based gaming, which debuted in 2023. The lineup includes well-known hypercasual hits like Tall Man Run, Attack Hole, Bridge Race, and Tomb of the Mask. Google has also licensed several popular mobile games for the platform, including Crossy Road, Jetpack Joyride, Cut the Rope, Hill Climb Racing, Angry Birds Showdown, and 8 Ball Pool.
On Google Play, Instant Games is described briefly as a “collection of fun and challenging H5 games that you can play anytime, anywhere.” Screenshots from the app also suggest that it is designed predominantly for offline play. This is likely aimed at casual players looking to pass time on the go without competitive gameplay or a constant internet connection.
While the app has already been released, Google has yet to make any public announcement or press release regarding Instant Games. Mobile Gamer has reported that it has reached out to Google for comments, given that Instant Games has not been mentioned even on its social media handles.
It should be noted that this soft launch from Google has followed Apple’s unveiling of its own Games app during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025. According to Apple, this app will act as a central hub for users’ game libraries, friends, and Apple Arcade content and will be pre-installed on all iPhones.
