Best Browser Monster Games to Play Free Online
Sometimes you want to run from the monster, and sometimes you want to be the monster. The monster games on this list cover both, all free in a browser tab. You can chomp ghosts, punch skyscrapers as a giant gorilla, shoot demons on Mars or descend into a dungeon packed with creatures. Here is how each one plays and who should try it first.
Key takeaways
- Pac-Man and Centipede run instantly on Dinogame with no install.
- Rampage is the classic game where you play as the monsters.
- Gauntlet, Wizard of Wor and Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup are about fighting hordes of creatures.
- DOOM and Splatterhouse are the scary picks, with violent content best suited to adults.
Quick picks
| If you want… | Play |
|---|---|
| Monster games online, instantly | Pac-Man or Centipede on Dinogame |
| To be the monster | Rampage |
| Monster hordes with friends | Gauntlet |
| Monster-slaying with gear upgrades | Wonder Boy in Monster Land |
| Demons and shotguns | DOOM |
| Hundreds of creatures to learn | Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup |
What we count as a monster game
We picked games where monsters are the main event, whether as enemies, rivals or the character you control. That rules out games with the odd creature in the background. Older titles here run through emulation in the Internet Archive’s Internet Arcade and software library, so a desktop browser with a keyboard works best.
1. Pac-Man (play it right here on Dinogame)
Pac-Man is Toru Iwatani’s 1980 Namco classic, and our Pac-Man runs in your browser right away. Its four ghosts, Blinky, Pinky, Inky and Clyde, are probably the most famous monsters in gaming.
How it plays: You steer through a maze eating pellets while the ghosts chase you. Each ghost hunts in its own way, so learning their habits is the key to surviving. Eat a power pellet and the ghosts turn blue, which means you can eat them for bonus points. Controls: Arrow keys or WASD. Why it fits: It is the purest run-from-the-monster game ever made. Best for: Everyone, from first-timers to high score chasers.
2. Centipede (play it right here on Dinogame)
Centipede is Atari’s 1981 arcade game, co-designed by Dona Bailey, and our Centipede plays free in a browser.
How it plays: A giant centipede winds down through a field of mushrooms toward you. Each segment you shoot becomes a mushroom and splits the centipede into smaller pieces, so the screen gets messier the better you do. Controls: Arrow keys or WASD to move, Space to fire. Why it fits: It turns a bug into a monster that takes over the whole screen. Best for: Players who like fast, frantic shooters.
3. Rampage
Rampage is a 1986 Bally Midway arcade game, playable in the Internet Arcade. Three humans become monsters after an experiment goes wrong: George the gorilla, Lizzie the lizard and Ralph the werewolf.
How it plays: You climb buildings and punch them until they collapse, eating people and swatting helicopters along the way. The army shoots back, and food restores health. Up to three people can play at once, smashing the same city. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for jump and punch. Why it fits: You are the monster, and the city is your playground. Best for: Friends who want chaotic co-op.
4. Gauntlet
Gauntlet is a 1985 Atari Games arcade game for up to four players, preserved in the Internet Arcade.
How it plays: As the Warrior, Valkyrie, Wizard or Elf, you fight through mazes where generators spit out ghosts, grunts and demons. Destroying the generators stops the flood. Your health drains over time, so you hunt for food and keys while racing to the exit. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for attack and magic. Why it fits: No game throws more monsters at you per square inch. Best for: Groups sharing one keyboard.
5. Wizard of Wor
Wizard of Wor is a 1980 Midway arcade game developed by Dave Nutting Associates. It is playable in the Internet Arcade.
How it plays: One or two Worriors are trapped in a dungeon maze full of creatures. Some monsters turn invisible, and a radar at the bottom of the screen shows where they are. Clear enough of them and the Wizard himself appears. In two-player games, you can work together or shoot each other. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with directions and a fire key. Why it fits: It is a creature hunt with a spooky twist. Best for: Two players who enjoy a bit of betrayal.
6. Wonder Boy in Monster Land
Wonder Boy in Monster Land is a 1987 Sega arcade game that adds RPG elements to side-scrolling action. It is in the Internet Arcade.
How it plays: Monsters have taken over Wonder Land, and you fight your way back through it. Defeated creatures drop gold, which you spend on swords, armor and boots in shops along the way. Each area ends with a boss. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for jump and attack. Why it fits: It is a monster-slaying adventure where every fight makes you stronger. Best for: Players who like upgrades with their action.
7. DOOM
DOOM is id Software’s 1993 first-person shooter, and the DOS version is playable in a browser through the Internet Archive.
How it plays: Teleportation experiments on the moons of Mars have opened a gate to Hell, and you are the marine left to fight what came through. You run through bases blasting imps, demons and worse with a growing arsenal. Finding keys and secret doors is as important as aiming. Controls: Arrow keys to move and turn, Ctrl to fire, Space to open doors. Why it fits: Its demons are some of the most iconic monsters in shooters. Best for: Adults, since DOOM is violent and gory.
8. Splatterhouse
Splatterhouse is Namco’s 1988 horror beat ’em up, playable in the Internet Arcade.
How it plays: Rick and his girlfriend Jennifer enter a haunted mansion, and Rick wakes up fused to a cursed mask that gives him great strength. You punch, kick and swing weapons at twisted creatures to rescue Jennifer. Controls: Keyboard through the emulator, with keys for attack and jump. Why it fits: It is a monster movie in game form. Best for: Adult horror fans, since it was known for its gore. For more scares, see our list of the best browser horror games.
9. Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup is a free, open-source roguelike, and its WebTiles version runs in a browser on community servers.
How it plays: You build a character from many fantasy species and backgrounds, then descend through randomly generated levels full of creatures. Each monster has its own strengths and tricks, and death is permanent, so learning the bestiary is part of the game. Controls: Keyboard, with arrow or number keys to move and letter keys for commands. Why it fits: Among creature games, few offer this many monsters to learn. Best for: Patient players who enjoy deep strategy.
Monster games for every mood
For a quick, family-friendly session, stick with Pac-Man, Centipede or Rampage. For a fight against hordes, try Gauntlet or Wizard of Wor. DOOM and Splatterhouse are for players who want real horror. If you like monsters of the undead kind, our list of the best browser zombie games has plenty more.
More monster games you can play here
Our Monster Game is a gentler take on the genre: you collect monsters instead of fighting them. You start with three baby monsters, mix pairs in the Mixing Lab to discover 35 original species, and place them on Monster Island. Each one adds its own part, from drums and bass to melody and bells, to a layered island song, and earns coins that pay for more mixes and decorations. The Monsterpedia shows silhouettes and hints for the species you have not found yet, and five of the recipes are secret.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best free monster games to play online?
Pac-Man and Centipede are the fastest to start, since both run on Dinogame without an install. Rampage is the best pick if you want to play as the monster, and Gauntlet is the best for fighting crowds of them with friends.
Is there a game where you play as a monster?
Yes. In Rampage, you control a giant gorilla, lizard or werewolf and destroy cities. It plays in a browser through the Internet Archive’s Internet Arcade.
Are these monster games suitable for kids?
Some are. Pac-Man, Centipede, Wizard of Wor and Wonder Boy in Monster Land are fine for most ages. DOOM and Splatterhouse are violent and gory, so they are better for adults.
Do I need to download anything to play these games?
No. Every game here runs in a browser. The older arcade and DOS games use emulation built into the Internet Archive’s pages, so you just open the page and click play.
Face the monsters
From ghost-filled mazes to demon-packed bases and city-smashing gorillas, there is a monster game here for every taste. Start with Pac-Man for a quick classic or Rampage for some destruction. And when you want just one friendly monster, our Chrome Dino game stars a T-Rex who only wants to jump over cacti.
