Most games on Windows, as well as most applications, require an installation before we use them. This is not the case with portable apps and games, though, which we can freely move, copy, and run straight from their folder, without an installation. In this guide, we will see the best portable games, that we can run from a USB flash drive or any other type of external drive, from any PC.
Humble Monthly is a curated bundle of games sent to your inbox every month. Subscribe for $12 to build the ultimate library, getting $100-$250+ in games each month, redeemable on Steam, while supporting charity, and get 10% off the store.
Why play a portable game
If your daily lives involve playing at internet cafes or using public computers in general, portable games are a handy option. Contrary to conventional games, these do not leave any leftover data on the operating computer.
This means that if we are tired of a game, all we have to do is delete the folder from the storage drive, and it will be removed without a trace.
PortableApps and Softpedia are two pages that have accumulated not only portable games, but also a host of other portable applications.
We should also mention that most, if not all portable games, are free to play and open source. So, this is also a big plus, in our book.
Here is our personal selection of what we consider the best portable games we can get our hands on.
Adventure Games
Dark Room
Dark Room is a remarkable title. The game is not framed by a contemporary graphical interface, but by text and keys, setting it apart from the competition.
For this reason, it deserves a place among the best portable games. Through this particular graphical interface, the player takes part in an adventure where their choices determine how the game plays out.
The Legend of Edgar
"The Legend of Edgar" is yet another interesting title. The player is tasked with helping the protagonist, Edgar, carry out his mission to save his father.
Some of the features that make this game stand out are the range of weapons, the vastly distinct environments, and the boss encounters. The musical background is yet another fantastic feature the game offers.
Portable board games
Lucas Chess Portable
Lucas Chess Portable is an excellent choice for chess lovers. It features learning tools and several AI frameworks with different levels of difficulty. However, you can always have a relaxing game of chess.
Strategy games
Battle for Wesnoth
"Battle for Wesnoth" is one of the most interesting titles of the sort out there. Multiplayer mode aside, this turn-based game features a collection of 16 scenarios (campaign) for single-player play.
It also has a World-Builder where we can make our maps, limited only by our imagination.
FreeCiv
FreeCiv is another game worth mentioning. The game is reminiscent of Civilization, a rather monumental title in the strategy genre.
Puzzles
Sudoku
Sudoku is a widely popular number-based puzzle game, in which the player is required to fill in the gaps of a 9 by 9 dashboard. Each number must not be repeated on the same line, column, as well as in the 3 by 3 area it's being placed in.
Sudoku first appeared in the early 19th century, while in recent years it has become one of the most famous puzzle games.
2048
2048 is yet another portable game worth checking out. In 2048, the player is called to collapse as many randomly displayed boxes as possible into each other in a 4 by 4 grid.
A number can only be combined with an identical one, and with each move, all boxes are moved in the same direction, provided there is enough space.
It looks simple at first glance, but things are more complicated than one would initially realize, and it only gets harder as you progress.
Arcade games
LBreakout2
In the portable arcade genre, "LBreakout2" is among the best. It is a similar game to the famous Arkanoid. The player handles a bar trying to hit a moving ball and direct it toward a few rows of blocks.
When we break all the blocks, the game ends, listing the score in a ranking table. The game features plenty of power-ups such as multiple balls, a magnetic bar, more lives, etc., making the gaming experience even better.
Racing games
SuperTuxKart
SuperTuxKart has excelled in racing games as it has an attractive user interface. The application also supports multiplayer, but we can have an enjoyable offline experience using an offline account.
The only thing that is certain, is that the SuperTuxKart is not mere "Mario Cart wannabe." It offers a wide variety of imaginatively designed levels...
...game modes...
...and excellent graphics for a free and open-source game.
Card games
QuickSolitaire
In the card game genre, solitaire stands out as a bright example. Perhaps one of the most popular and beloved games in computer history among pre-installed Windows games.
QuickSolitaire is a great choice since, besides the classic solitaire.
It also includes some other variations of the base game.
More Games
For more portable games, we can see the complete collection of PortableApps on the official page. It counts several dozen portable games to try and find what you like the most.
A page that also has several portable games is Softpedia. Softpedia's collection is far more significant than that of PortableApps, counting several hundred titles.
If you are a fan of Minecraft, check our detailed guide on how to play it on a portable device:
What are your favorite portable games?
Did you know that you can play your games on any computer from a flash drive? Have you ever played a portable game? If so, which one(s)? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Support PCsteps
Do you want to support PCsteps, so we can post high quality articles throughout the week?
You can like our Facebook page, share this post with your friends, and select our affiliate links for your purchases on Amazon.com or Newegg.
If you prefer your purchases from China, we are affiliated with the largest international e-shops:
Leave a Reply