Chromebook users have long had access to Android apps and games. However, many of them were made for mobile devices, and mousepad and keyboard controls were not provided. This used to be a problem and some apps might not work correctly on your Chromebooks.
Now Google has announced that ChromOS users get access to an “early Alpha version” of gaming controls optimized for certain games and apps which are designed for touch screens only. Google will make it possible to turn your buttons into simulated touchscreens to use them without touchscreens.
Google states that “we’re looking at game controls as a way to overcome the early problems with ChromeOS gaming capabilities while users wait for developers to fully optimize their apps for ChromeOS.” Many game developers optimize their games for gamepads or computers, but for those projects that aren’t optimized, Google wants to offer an alternative.
You only need to update your OS to version 105 or higher to try this feature. When you open one of the games with game controls, there will be a list of keys that correspond to the different touch controls.
Google has listed the full list of games that will support this feature at the moment. Of course, with time this list will grow and maybe one day all the applications and games will be able to support this feature. However, for now, you can only play these games with the keyboard:
Games with a joystick
- Archero
- AXES.io
- Heroics Epic Legend of Archero
- Legend of Archero: Master of Combat
- Pixel Blade R – Revolution
- Zombero: Archero Hero Shooter
- Archery Hunter – Standalone Adventure Game
- Mr. Autofire
One Button Games
- Geometry Dash Lite
- Stack Ball – Crash Platforms
- Fireballs 3D
- Stack Smash
- Helix Blast Crash 3D Stack Ball – Crash Platforms
- Helix Smash
- Crash Stack Ball
- Crash Stack Blast Ball
- Drop Stack
- Helix Stack Jump: Smash Ball
- Tap Titans 2
Multi-button games
- Hill Climb Racing
- Ninja Arashi 2
- Ninja Arashi
- Ninja Warrior: The Legend of Adventure Games
- Power Hover
- Grimvalor
Swipe Games
- 2048 (Androbaby)
- 2048 Original
- 2048 (Solebon LLC)
- Puzzle game with numbers 2048
- 2048 (S2Apps)
Of course, if you have a gaming PC or console, these games may not provide anything interesting for you. However, if you or your child uses a Chromebook as your primary device, you will benefit from these additional features.
