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Strategy that runs in a tab

Three browser games
for evenings after the dust settles

When the sun drops behind the mesas, some of us like a slow plan rather than a quick thrill. These three free-to-play browser games each reward patience in a different way: one fortifies a medieval castle, one moves armies across a wartime world map and one shapes a magical city of elves or humans. Each loads inside a browser window, and joining is free.

Goodgame Empire key art
01 · Medieval castle strategy

Goodgame Empire

Begin with a small wooden keep and raise it into a walled stronghold with farms, workshops and barracks. Train soldiers, set up defences against raids and join an alliance to hold ground on a shared kingdom map, where outposts and events keep each week busy.

Good for
Players who like building walls and planning attacks in equal measure.
Typical session
Several short check-ins a day
Where it runs
Desktop browser
Cost
Nothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.
Your first session
  1. Keep food and wood production ahead of your troop numbers from the first day.
  2. Put defenders on the walls early; neighbours notice a bare castle quickly.
  3. Join an active alliance soon, as members help each other with defence and building.
Play Goodgame Empire freeOpens empire.goodgamestudios.com in a new tab
Call of War key art
02 · Second World War grand strategy

Call of War

Lead a country through a wartime match lasting days or weeks, balancing its factories, research and armed forces across a shared globe. Land, air and sea units move in real time, and diplomacy with other players matters as much as any front line.

Good for
Thoughtful strategists who enjoy long games and careful diplomacy.
Typical session
A few minutes, several times a day
Where it runs
Desktop browser
Cost
Nothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.
Your first session
  1. Build up industry in your core provinces before pushing outwards.
  2. Talk to your neighbours early; a quiet border frees troops for elsewhere.
  3. Give orders before logging off, since armies keep marching while you are away.
Play Call of War freeOpens callofwar.com in a new tab
Elvenar key art
03 · Fantasy city builder

Elvenar

Choose to lead elves or humans and design a fantasy city road by road, from workshops and residences to grand ancient wonders. Research unlocks new chapters, while scouting nearby provinces and trading goods with neighbours keep the city growing.

Good for
Builders who enjoy tidy layouts and a gentle, unhurried rhythm.
Typical session
10 to 20 minutes
Where it runs
Desktop browser
Cost
Nothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.
Your first session
  1. Plan roads with room to spare; moving buildings later takes effort.
  2. Line up workshop production with the times you expect to return.
  3. Join a fellowship early to trade goods and share bonuses.
Play Elvenar freeOpens en.elvenar.com in a new tab

How the trio compares

Goodgame EmpireCall of WarElvenar
GenreMedieval castle strategySecond World War grand strategyFantasy city builder
PaceSteady real timeSlow, map-wide real timeRelaxed
Playing with othersAlliances across the kingdomCoalitions on a persistent mapFellowships and neighbourhood help
Typical sessionSeveral short check-ins a dayA few minutes, several times a day10 to 20 minutes
Where it runsDesktop browserDesktop browserDesktop browser
CostNothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.Nothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.Nothing to pay at the door; the in-game shop is optional.

Where the money comes in, if at all

All three cost nothing to join, and you can keep playing for a long time without spending anything; no essential part of the game is locked away.

Every studio stocks a shop inside its game with premium currency, ornaments and timer boosts. Many players never open it, and if younger people use your computer it is worth switching on spending limits in the studio account.

Getting going on the first evening

Press the link beneath any of the three and the studio's own website appears in a separate tab. Register there, usually with just an email, and your first castle, country or city is ready almost at once.

Every game starts with a guided tutorial. Finish it on your first visit, because it explains resources, building and co-operation in a sensible order.

Fitting play around daily life

These worlds keep moving when you are away. Buildings finish, armies travel and workshops produce goods with the tab closed, so a brief look each morning and evening keeps things on track.

Quick visits are for chores: gather finished goods, set the next jobs going and answer messages from your side. Keep the longer evenings for weighty calls like opening a new front, laying out a district or starting a wonder.

Looking after your login

Each account belongs to the studio, so only enter your password on the studio's own pages. Give each game its own password, and enable two-factor security wherever a studio supports it.

Genuine support staff never ask for your password through chat or email. Be wary of anyone who offers bonus currency in exchange for a login; what they really want is the account.

Why these three earned a place on the shelf

  • A regular computer browser handles every one of them, and nothing extra has to be installed first.
  • Registration is free, and the whole game can be played without paying; the shop is there only for those who want it.
  • Your castle, front or city keeps working after you shut the window, so a brief call still pushes plans forward.
  • All three have been running for years, with large communities and studios that keep releasing updates.

No. All three play in a standard desktop browser without any extra software.

Yes. Creating an account and playing are both free, and the in-game shops are optional.

No. Independent studios develop and run them; our buttons simply take you to each official site to sign up.

No. Three separate studios means three separate registrations, one per game.

Timers and orders carry on without you, and popping back morning and evening is plenty to stay level.

Elvenar, with its calm city building and no constant threat of attack. Pick Goodgame Empire for castle battles or Call of War for long wartime campaigns.

Yes. Goodgame Empire has alliances, Call of War has coalitions and Elvenar has fellowships, so friends can play together in each.