(Credit: Google / René Ramos)
You would be forgiven for thinking your Chromebook can't handle the rigors of PC gaming. After all, it's an underpowered and lightweight device used primarily for browser-based tasks. A device running ChromeOS won't be able to natively support the latest AAA titles on high settings, but it can play quite a bit.
Chromebooks made for gaming that have hit the market in recent years put a greater emphasis on better performance and cloud gaming. However, just about any Chromebook can be used for gaming with the right combination of games and services. If you want to play games, and all you have is a Chromebook, here are some of your options.
Play Web-Friendly Games in Your Browser
Remember the in-browser games of old? We have come a long way since Elf Bowling because computers are now powerful enough to run plenty of classic games right in a browser window. The Internet Archive has a massive collection of old software—from retro console games to the DOS games of yore—much of which you can run online. Performance is less than ideal, so you'll have to see which ones are actually playable.
If you want to play those old DOS games with improved performance, there are sites that may emulate them better. DOS Zone has a decent selection of built-in games, including Doom and Wolfenstein (though many are the limited shareware versions). Microsoft just released an AI-generated version of Quake II for your browser. If there's a specific game you want to play, search around and see if someone has built an online emulator for it—you might be surprised at what you find.
Grab Android Games From the Play Store
ChromeOS can run Android apps, so there are many mobile games that you can play right on your laptop with minimal hassle. This option isn’t available on all Chromebooks, but it is available on many of them. Enable the Play Store on your Chromebook by clicking the clock in the lower-right corner and selecting the Settings cog. Scroll down to Google Play Store and click Turn on, then accept the terms of service.
Best Chromebooks for Gaming
If your Chromebook has a touch screen, most games should play well. But if you are stuck with only a keyboard and mouse, you may want to seek out games that work well with that control scheme. Titles like Asphalt 9 and Baldur’s Gate support keyboard controls. Others may work with a gamepad, like Oceanhorn or Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. And plenty others work perfectly fine with the mouse simulating touch, including Project Highrise and RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic.
Install Steam
Not satisfied with online emulation and mobile apps? You can play real PC games through Steam now that the app is in beta. In order to take advantage of this feature, your device must meet the minimum requirements of at least an Intel i3 or Ryzen 3 CPU, 8GB RAM, and 128GB of storage. Google also provides a list of supported devices and games.
To download Steam, open the Launcher, search for "Steam installer" and select Steam Installer. If nothing comes up, your Chromebook doesn't meet the minimum requirements. Keep in mind that this is still in beta, so there are known bugs, limitations, and performance issues that may impact gameplay.
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Install linux
Every Chromebook from 2019 and later (and certain older models) support linux on ChromeOS (Crostini), which lets you tap into the computer's underlying linux system to play PC games on linux. You'll still be limited by the Chromebook's hardware, and by which games have linux support (though some Windows-only games are playable through Wine), but it's something. In order to do this, you need to install linux on your Chromebook.
For linux on ChromeOS, click the clock in the bottom-right corner and go to Settings > Advanced > Developers then click Turn on next to linux development environment. If you're using Crouton or dual-booting linux, just run sudo apt install steam in a Terminal window. ChromeOS will download the necessary files and set up your linux container. Then use these instructions to download the linux version of Steam to play Steam games that support linux.
Stream Games on the Web
If you are unsatisfied with the selection of native games available to you, cloud gaming services allow you to play PC titles over the internet through a browser. You won't need to worry about underpowered Chromebook hardware, since the game is running on a server with a high-end graphics card. However, you'll need a strong internet connection to keep the game running at a playable rate.
Before trying anything, take a moment to check your internet speed and make sure it's up to snuff. Connecting to an Ethernet cable or USB-to-Ethernet adapter is best, but you can also optimize your router or boost your Wi-Fi connection to improve results. If you're worried about network congestion, there are steps you can take to free up bandwidth while streaming.
As for streaming platforms, there are a few options that work well and have a large selection of games. Nvidia's GeForce Now streaming service works in ChromeOS and is the only option that allows you to play games you already own on other storefronts. Amazon Luna has subscription options, individual games for sale, and free titles with your Amazon Prime membership. If you have a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, Xbox Cloud Gaming should work through your browser.
Stream Games From Your Own PC
If you already have a gaming PC, you can also stream games locally using the Steam Link app. For this to work, you need to download the Steam Link Android app to your Chromebook. You can follow our guide to set up Steam Link but you'll need to link the two devices through the app and connect a gamepad before playing. Your mileage may vary here, since the Steam Link app is not a native ChromeOS application. Still, it's worth a shot since the app can still be used in some capacity.
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