Chromebooks have been making waves in the laptop world for their cheap price, good build quality, and ability to run Google’s Android and Chrome OS ecosystems. The Chromebook revolution has begun and it’s already begun on a small scale with the release of Chromebooks with touchscreens.
These touchscreen Chromebooks are ideal for playing games, as they are easier on the eyes and the touch response is far more natural than a track pad.
In this article, we’ll explain everything you need to know about playing games on your Chromebook.
Chromebooks are some of the most innovative devices of their era. They offer a compelling web-based computing experience at a budget-friendly price point. These capabilities have only grown more impressive in the past few years as Google has continued to iterate on the operating system and hardware design. While Chromebooks are still a small fraction of the overall laptop market, the software and device ecosystem continues to expand. With that in mind, this article covers everything you need to know about playing video games on your Chromebook. If you’re a first-time player, check out our primer on the types of Chromebooks and our guide to the best games for Chromebooks. If you’re a seasoned traveler or business traveler looking to take your gaming with you, keep on reading to learn how to play games on your Chromebook.
What is a Chromebook?
A Chromebook is a computer that runs on the Chrome operating system. It usually is a laptop with a touchscreen and is designed to be used as a remote computer for your home or small office. The operating system itself is free with no special charges or subscription fees. The only cost that you may incur is for the display which can be either a full-resolution QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) or WQHD+ (3,440 x 2,160) display.
How to Play Games on Your Chromebook
The first thing that you’ll want to do is enable developer mode on your Chromebook. This can be found by clicking on Settings, then on Apps, then on Development and lastly on Apps and Sites. Now, under the Apps and Sites section, scroll down until you see the developers section and click on “Enable developer mode”. The rest of the steps are the same as what you would do to install apps in a Windows or Mac computer.
You’ll then need to sign into your Google account, which is required for most Google services. Now, in the main web browser, go to “chrome://” and you should see a drop-down menu. From there, select “Settings” and you’ll be presented with a series of options. From there, enable “New tab” and “Switch locale” and you should see a change in the behavior of your web browser. You should also see the blue “Developer mode is enabled” indicator light up on the bottom right corner of the web browser.
Game Controllers for Chromebooks
If you’re using a Windows or Mac computer, a game controller is probably a better fit for you as they are generally easier to use compared to a mouse and keyboard. Some games, like Overwatch, have been specifically designed for the control scheme and are played entirely with the touchscreen. Some games, like Minecraft, only exist as touch versions so it’s best to stick with those games.
There are many game controllers that work with Android and Chrome OS devices. The touchscreen controllers from Razer and Thrustmaster are popular choices. Other popular game controllers that you may want to check out are the Corsair Vengeance keyboard, the Logitech Gaming Mouse, and the Razer Naga.
Free and Paid Android and Chrome Games for Chromebooks
There are many free and paid Android and Chrome OS games that you can download and play. It’s best to use an app like GameRanger to find free games and to avoid pay-to-win games. Some of the most popular paid Android and Chrome OS games include:
Goldeneye – This is the original first person shooter, still one of the best.
Overwatch – One of the most popular games on both platforms, and one of the only games that has been specifically designed for touchscreen devices.
Pokemon Go – This is the first real app game that is solely optimized for touchscreens.
How to Play Games on a Refined touchscreen Chromebook
A refined touchscreen Chromebook comes with several advantages over a track pad-only Chromebook. The main advantage of using a touchscreen Chromebook is the natural response that the touch screen has. For example, when you tap on a map, the map will respond by loading a new map and zoom in on where you tapped.
You’ll also notice that when you double tap on a Chrome OS desktop, the desktop will dim and rotate to face you.
The following tutorial is going to explain how to double tap on a Chrome OS desktop to reveal a menu option and then double tap on another menu option to run a specific app.
To double tap on a Chrome OS desktop:
1. Tap on the app icon on the bottom left-hand side of the screen.
2. Hold your finger down on the app icon for 1 second to activate the menu option.
3. Release your finger to reveal the menu option.
To double tap on a Chrome OS laptop:
1. Tap on the app icon on the bottom left-hand side of the screen.
2. Hold your finger down on the app icon for 1 second to activate the menu option.
3. Release your finger to reveal the menu option.
Conclusion
Chromebooks have been making waves in the laptop world for their cheap price, good build quality, and ability to run Google’s Android and Chrome OS ecosystems. The Chromebook revolution has begun and it’s already begun on a small scale with the release of Chromebooks with touchscreens. These touchscreen Chromebooks are ideal for playing games, as they are easier on the eyes and the touch response is far more natural than a track pad.