For a brief but fascinating moment in internet history, G+ Games—the gaming feature built into Google+—offered a unique social gaming hub. If you were active during Google+’s prime (2011–2014), you might remember logging in to play titles like Angry Birds, CityVille, or Bejeweled Blitz without needing a separate platform or console.
This was Google’s attempt to blend social networking with instant-access gaming, much like Facebook Games at the time. It was a simple idea: instead of just posting updates, you could invite friends to play a round, compare scores, or share gaming achievements right in your feed.
1. A Quick History of G+ Games
Google launched Google+ in June 2011 to challenge Facebook. Two months later, they rolled out G+—featuring partnerships with popular developers like Zynga, Rovio, and PopCap.
The concept was straightforward:
- You’d log into Google+
- Open the “Games” tab
- Pick from dozens of casual and social games
- Play directly in your browser, often without installing anything
It was especially appealing to users who wanted entertainment without leaving the platform. The integration with Google+ Circles also meant you could choose exactly who saw your gaming activity—a privacy feature Facebook games lacked at the time.
2. Popular Titles on G+ Games
Some of the big names included:
- Angry Birds – Flinging birds at pigs never got old.
- CityVille – Build your dream metropolis while trading with friends.
- Bejeweled Blitz – The addictive match-3 classic with a social leaderboard.
- Dragon Age Legends – A fantasy RPG spin-off from the BioWare franchise.
- Crime City – A multiplayer gangster-themed builder game.
These games ran directly in your browser using Flash or HTML5, which made them accessible but also meant they were vulnerable to the shifting tides of web technology.
3. Why G+ Games Faded Away
Despite a promising start, G+never reached Facebook-level popularity. Reasons included:
- Limited player base – Google+ struggled to match Facebook’s user engagement.
- Developer shift – Game companies began focusing on mobile apps instead of browser games.
- Changing tech – Flash was on its way out, and HTML5 gaming was still maturing.
- Platform closure – Google decided to wind down Google+ for consumers, taking G+ with it.
In June 2013, Google announced they would shut down G+ Games entirely by June 30, 2013, giving players a short window to finish or transfer progress.
4. Life After G+ Games
Many games from the G+ catalog migrated to other platforms:
- CityVille and FarmVille continued on Facebook for several more years.
- Angry Birds thrived as a mobile app.
- Casual puzzle games like Bejeweled found new life on mobile stores.
- Some unique titles simply disappeared.
In hindsight, G+ was a bridge between the golden era of browser-based social games and the modern mobile-first gaming ecosystem we have today.
5. What We Can Learn from G+ Games
- Platform success drives game success – Even good gam need a thriving user base to survive.
- Technology shifts change gaming fast – Moving from Flash to mobile altered the entire landscape.
- Social gaming isn’t gone—it’s evolved – Today’s equivalents are mobile games with built-in friend systems, in-game chat, and cross-platform play.
- 6. Top G+ Unblocked Games You Can Try
Here are some fan favorites you can likely find on Unblocked Games G+:
Game Title
Gameplay Style
Survival Race
Fast-paced, obstacle racing
Basketball Stars
Multiplayer arcade hoops
Moto X3M
Stunt motorcycle racing
Granny
Puzzle, horror-infused escape
Red vs Blue
Strategy, merge battling
Expand your collection with recommendations from Unblocked Games G+ guides or trusted platforms.
FAQs About G+ Games
Q1: What were G+ Games?
A: G+ Gam were browser-based social games integrated directly into the Google+ social network, allowing users to play titles like Angry Birds and CityVille without leaving the site.
Q2: When did G+ Games launch and shut down?
A: They launched in August 2011 and officially shut down on June 30, 2013, as part of Google’s shift away from the service.
Q3: Why did Google close G+ Games?
A: The main reasons were low user engagement on Google+, developers moving to mobile, and the phasing out of Flash-based web games.
Q4: Can you still play G+ Games today?
A: No, the original service is gone. However, many titles like Angry Birds and Bejeweled are available on mobile app stores or other gaming platforms.
Q5: Were G+ Games similar to Facebook Games?
A: Yes, they were very similar—both offered browser gam with social integration, but G+ Gam had more privacy controls thanks to Google+ Circles.
Final Thoughts
While G+ Games was short-lived, it represents a nostalgic chapter in the evolution of online gaming. It captured a moment when people still played games in-browser, shared scores with friends, and didn’t need a dedicated console to have fun. Though it disappeared with the fall of Google+, its spirit lives on in the mobile and cross-platform social games we play today.