Agar.io kicked off the .io games craze in 2015 by throwing players into simple browser battles that exploded in popularity. Other titles followed, with browser gaming websites like Poki now hosting a bunch of these games, from the originals to newer ones that keep the same quick multiplayer vibe going strong. This article takes you through the history of .io games and the reasons why this genre still lasts.
Agar.io Origins
Matheus Valadares created Agar.io quickly using JavaScript and C++, first testing it on 4chan before launching the public site on April 28, 2015. You control a cell in a dish full of other players, eating dots and smaller cells to grow while splitting to attack or escape, but the dish’s big size makes you slow and an easy prey for viruses.
YouTubers such as PewDiePie helped the game explode to five million daily players, leading to a Miniclip mobile version in July that topped charts and reached 113 million downloads by late 2016. People complained about the repetition and mobile controls at times, but team modes and skins added enough flair to keep it going.
Poki’s Game Collection Continues the .io Craze
Being one of the most popular browser gaming websites today, Poki offers a mix of classic .io games and fresh variations that all load right in your browser on phones or computers. Standing out among Poki’s .io games is EvoWorld.io (also known as FlyOrDie.io), where you start as a fly and eat your way up to bigger animals through fights and feeding. Also sitting proudly in Poki’s collection is YoHoHo.io, which puts you in pirate ships firing cannons and boarding enemy decks in heated sea battles.
Other hits include MineFun.io, with its block-based shooting in underground maps, Narrow.One for sniping across dark fields, and Sushi Party, where you slither around eating sushi rolls to climb the leaderboard. On the other hand, Shipo.io has boats clashing in water fights, Vectaria.io by Vectaria lets you mine blocks and build bases in multiplayer survival arenas, and Snake.is MLG Edition updates the Snake game with multiplayer boosts and skins.
Other .io Games That Push the Genre Forward
Slither.io came out in March 2016 from Steven Howse, also changing the Snake game so you eat glowing dots and boost for speed, but risk crashing into walls. It beat Agar.io with 60 million daily users and became a top Google search. Meanwhile, Diep.io added tanks with upgradeable guns for shooting matches that same summer.
Games like Mope.io let you grow animals from small to large, while Wing.io featured plane dogfights, and Paper.io had you claim territory by drawing lines. By 2017, these titles saw 192 million visits, with the .io name, coming from programming terms for input and output, becoming the defining label for the genre.
Why These Games Still Stick Around
Most .io games focus on growing by eating in big free-for-all matches, with leaderboards, player names, skins, and temporary teams that can turn into betrayals. You eject food for speed, use viruses to break up large opponents, or hide near spikes for advantages – easy for beginners but tricky for top spots.
They work great on mobile with fixed controls, and billions of video views show how they fill time between bigger games. Different modes, like teams or special rules, help keep things varied. Additionally, .io games continue to draw players in 2025 because they work well on touchscreens and offer short matches that turn into longer sessions without feeling forced.
These browser short-session titles also start instantly with no downloads, making them perfect for quick plays or breaks. They reflect the new trend of putting even AAA titles on web browsers, making games more accessible to wider audiences.
At the end of the day, there’s no denying that browser-based game websites like Poki keep .io games running smoothly, carrying forward the simple fun from Agar.io’s early days. Coupled with the growing popularity of browser-based games, surely you’ll see more .io titles coming in the near future.
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