How to Play Games on Chromebook and Chrome OS in 2020

Comparing Chromebook with other available windows or iOS-based
laptops is purely an ambiguous concept. Chromebook is a different
species of the computer world that is only confined to streaming videos, browsing the internet, desktop
publishing, basic photo editing, and media playback. Since it does
rely on the cloud to store data or files, it barely comes with high
space capability. Having used only Chrome OS, Chromebook surely
does not guarantee a better environment to play high-end games.
Besides, most of the Chromebooks used to have low-end hard drives
and poorly-performed integrated graphics cards resulted in, poor
performance in the gaming or editing. ^[1][2]

However, the recent advent of the latest Chromebooks has proved
that they are not lagging behind from the other contemporary
laptops in terms of up to date hardwires. There are various types
of Chromebook available out there in the market but not all of them
are fit enough to run the games spontaneously. Despite Chromebook’s
ability to play games, this question always comes up that how we
can play games on Chromebook. I think it is important to recognize
that not all platforms will enable your Chromebook to play games in
a straightforward way.

Play Games for Chromebook/Chrome
OS

I have found a few ways to play games on Chromebook or Chrome OS^[3]
which need some installations or setup based on their requirements.
However, there are some websites such as Parsec, LiquidSky, and
Shadow by Blades which also allow the users to play games from any
Chromebook the same as other laptops but these websites are not our
main priority for this article as they run in any device.
Therefore, I am going to discuss all the plausible platforms to
play games on the Chromebook by explaining each of their
characteristics and installation processes.

1. Android Games on Chromebook
(Google Play Store)

You will blunder expecting the same gaming experience from
Chromebook like other gaming PCs since the Chromebook will hardly
pace with the other high-equipped PCs. As Chromebook solely runs on
Chrome OS, we can expect to have the liberty to choose Android apps in our preciously bought
Chromebook since Chrome OS supports Android games. As long as the hardware
is concerned, having perfect RAM and processor are prerequisites.
^[4][5]

If not hassle to buy, it is worth having at least 4 GB RAM and
an intel Celeron-based processor to run the Android Games. This
will bolster the smoothness of your gaming mechanism in the
Chromebook than the other conventional devices. Most of the Android
apps, as well as games, are optimized for the Chromebook, making it
feel more like a native app in Chromebook.

The addition of Android apps support has bridged the gap amongst
the desire of the consumers in spite of having an ability of
Chromebook to run Chrome browser extensions, web apps, and Chrome
apps. This then leads to an increase of this platform’s value even
more beside the other platforms, thus, allows the customers to
access millions of apps just in a snap. Most of the gamers face
challenges to play games on Chromebook due to their lack of
adaptation to the touchscreen.

Since, most of the games available on Google Play Store, are
designed for touchscreen interface whereas most of the
old-fashioned Chromebooks appear with sub-optimal keyboard and
mouse, gamers may have to spend a bit of money to buy the latest
Chromebook which can be used with a touchscreen. The installation
processes of Google Play Store are as follows:

Step – 1: Go to the bottom right of the screen
and click on the clock menu. Then click the setting icon. Scroll
down to the apps menu and click on it will show you Google Play
store. If the Google Play Store is available for installation then
install it straight away.

Step – 2: If this is the case that your
Chromebook is capable of running Play Store but has not been turned
on then you will see an option stating, ‘turn on’ next to Google
Play Store and click on it to turn on.

Step – 3: After that, your Google Play Store
will be ready to use and you will be presented with terms and
conditions in which you have to accept it after reading it. That’s
it. You can then see the Play Store logo on your launcher option
and click it to play games on Chromebook.

Step – 4: Whichever games you want to play,
just type it on the ‘search’ option and click on the game, and then
you will see install next to the game. By looking at the thumbnails
and info, if you think that you want to play it then click on the
install button to finally play it.

It can be possible that your Chromebook may support Android apps
or games but you cannot play it due to an outdated Chrome OS is
installed in your device. Don’t forget to upgrade your Chrome OS
version to 53 or above. In order to do this, go to the
settings icon and select ‘about Chrome OS’ at the top of the
screen. You then click the ‘check for and apply updates’ button to
select the latest version of Chrome OS and finally finish the
process by restarting the device.

2. Sideloading Android Games
without Developer Mode

If your Chromebook still doesn’t support Android apps or doesn’t
allow you to install Google Play Store then don’t be disappointed
because I will show you how you can install Play store by switching
Chromebook into a developer channel. This, however, won’t run
without impunity as this process can put your system susceptible to
any security threats or bugs. Processes of switching to the
developer channel are as follows:

Step – 1: Go to the settings page as usual and
select the ‘About Chrome OS’ to find your
version number and current channel.

Step – 2: Click on the ‘additional
details’ and it will expand the page where you can
see the details of your current version. By clicking the
‘change channel’ button, you can select a
new channel on the dialog.

Step – 3: There are two options such as Beta
and Develop – unstable. You have to select developer – unstable and
click on the ‘Change Channel’ button
after carefully scamming through the warning notice.

Step – 4: This then will update the device and
select the Restart button to fully see the developer channel being
used in your device. Now you can download and play games on
Chromebook by using the Google Play Store beta app in this new
developer channel.

3. Sideloading Android Games with
Linux Crostini

There is another option which you might like if you want to
sideload Android APKs including games by switching your Chromebook
into a Dev channel as well as using Linux Crostini^[6]. This process is a bit
complicating and does not compromise the security restriction the
same as developer mode which changes the whole operating system.
Rather, this process only brings future updates into your Chrome
OS. The processes follow as below:

Step – 1: Follow the process of how to switch
into the developer channel as mentioned above.

Step – 2: If Linux beta is available then go to
settings and on the Linux option on the left side, click on the
‘turn on’ option.

Step – 3: When the Linux is installed, go to
Linux again and click on the ‘Develop Android Apps’ and enable the
toggle for ADB Debugging. Then you have to restart your device and
ADB prompt will appear in which you have to click on ‘Allow’.
However, it can be possible that ADB toggle will not turn on and in
this case, you need to reset your Chromebook. Don’t forget to back
up your data before the whole process begins.

Step – 4: Terminal needs to be opened from the
app drawer and type the following command in the terminal to
install the ADB platform-tools followed by press “Y”.

sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb

Step – 5: With the help of a WiFi network, type
the following command to link the Android system with Linux in
Chrome OS.

adb connect 100.115.92.2:5555

Should the terminal show “Permission Denied” or “Command Not
Found” then use the following command followed by same adb
connect command.

adb start-server

Step – 6: A window stating, “Allow USB
Debugging” will appear in which you have to tick the checkbox for
“Always allow” followed by a click on the “OK” button. Now the
setup is done. You can now download and move your selected APK
which is not available on the Play Store to the Linux files and
able to play games on Chromebook.

4. Playing Games on Chromebook by
Using Steam

If you decide to play desktop games in a huge online platform
then there is no alternative to Steam. Developed by Valve, Steam
was initially launched for Windows OS and then evolved into iOS,
Android, and Windows phones. However, the journey did not end as it
has reached out to Chromebook these days as well. Thanks to Steam
for becoming a giant game distributor which to me, is simply a
gaming guru.

Steam supports the Linux system and makes games for Linux as
well, making it a big positive side for Chromebook as Linux
Crostini provides a sheer advantage to the Chrome OS for playing
these AAA games in this big virtual platform. Another good news for
the gamers is that Google is contemplating to inaugurate Steam
officially for the Chrome OS so that the gamers won’t have to
grouch of undergoing complex installation process.

There are two ways of installing Steam. The first way requires
the Chromebook to have a built-in Linux beta app which allows the
Steam to work as a native Linux app whereas the other way is to
install Linux on its own as a solo OS beside Chrome OS and then
install Steam through Ubuntu.

Install Linux OS

There are three ways you can install Linux OS in your
Chromebook. Bear in mind that only one method out of three is the
official method of downloading Linux in your device whereas the
other two are beneficial but can lead to an impairment of your
security. You may want to install Chromebook Recovery utility to
back up your data and files in your recovery disk (in this case at
least 4 GB flash drive) in case, If the files get deleted after
installation. Our team has curated a comprehensive tutorial on
how to enable or install Linux on
Chromebook^[7] which will help you to
set up the things in the right way.

Install Steam on Chromebook

Installation processes for Steam are as follow:

Step – 1: First, follow any of the above
procedure to install Linux on your Chromebook.

Step – 2: Press Shift+Ctrl+T to open the Linux
terminal and input the following command.

echo ‘deb http://httpredir.debian.org/debian/ jessie main contrib non-free’ | sudo tee –a /etc/apt/sources.list

Step – 3: Enter the following first command in
the terminal first followed by the second one.

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update

Step – 4: Now for the last time, type the
following command and then type “Y” and press down the “Enter” to
finally begin with the installation.

sudo apt install steam

Step – 5: After that, a window will appear with
terms and conditions and once you read it, then select “I AGREE”
and click on the “OK” button to proceed further.

Step – 6: If you have an existing account on
Steam then you can log in with your Steam credentials and enjoy the
diverse games as you explore or you can open an account if you
want.

Extra Tips: GPU Acceleration for Steam

When the Linux support was declared two years ago on Chromebook,
some of the features were absent which then have been recently
improved and one such example is the introduction of GPU
acceleration for accelerated graphics. GPU is limited to certain
latest Chromebooks and I reckon that all the Chromebooks that I
have mentioned earlier on this article are compatible with GPU.
However, you should check whether or not your Chromebook supports
it for you to play games on Chromebook spontaneously with no or
least hassle with graphics. The installation process for GPU are as
follow:

Step – 1: You can either open your Chrome
browser and go to the Chrome Flags page or type

chrome://flags

Step – 2: In this page, go for “Crostini GPU
support and from the drop-down menu, change it to “enabled”. You
can also click this link to open the dedicated flag such as

chrome://flags/#crostini-gpu-support

Step – 3: Click the “restart” button at the
bottom and open the terminal to confirm that GPU is installed and
working properly by typing the following command. If the device
shows “virgl” and Accelerated shows “Yes” then it is working
properly. However, the device name can differ based on the graphic
card installed in your individual Chromebook.

glxinfo -B

5. Playing Games
on Chromebook by Using Stadia

If you wish to play games on Chromebook by using a platform that
will neither demand a higher Chromebook nor become a limitation for
choosing suitable games then you are in the right place. Google’s
Stadia is a platform that solely uses a Cloud gaming system to aid support to
your Chromebook. ^[8]

Stadia takes the responsibility of any heavy-lifting games that
you play because it uses robust hardwires like the Intel x86
processor clocked at 2.7GHz with AVX2 and 9.5 MB of L2+L3 cache.
Besides, it uses a custom AMD GPU supported by Vega architecture
with HBM2 memory which consists of 56 compute units and 10.7
teraFLOPS.

Accessed only through Chrome OS, this platform does not require
any specific instructions to download or install rather, it only
requires a smooth internet connection between 10 Mbps to 35 Mbps to
provide better quality graphics. Worth remembering that, Stadia is
not like Netflix where you will get large collections of games for
free in a monthly subscription rather, Stadia enables you to
purchase any game like any platform with its original price.

You can spontaneously plug & play keyboard and mouse by
connecting with Chromebook using USB-C port otherwise, you can
connect with Bluetooth-based keyboard and mouse. On the contrary,
if you want to experience the vividness of your virtual game then
you can take the help of the Stadia controller which also requires
a USB-C connection with Chromebook. This controller is unique for
its comfortable handling, clicky face buttons, lightweight, and
stable ergonomic d-pad design.

Monthly $10 Stadia pro provides you an opportunity to play your
favorite games with a resolution up to 4K with a frame rate of
60FPS. You will be stunned with a 5.1 surround sound system while
getting free games on a regular basis alongside the regular
discounts. Installation processes are as follow:

Step – 1: Go to the “Settings” and on the left
side of the Settings window, click on the “About Chrome OS” and
then click on “Check for updates”. This will ensure that your
Chromebook is up to date.

Step – 2: Go to stadia.google.com. You will be
redirected to the home screen if the registration email for Stadia
turns out the same as your Chromebook email. Otherwise, you will be
asked to open one.

Step – 3: However, if you wish to play games on
Chromebook using Stadia app instead of using Chrome browser, then
go to Stadia official website using Chrome browser and on the top
right next to start button, click on the + sign and then click on
“install Stadia”. You can now play games using the app.

6. NaClBox (Native Client
Box)

If you want to fiddle around with 90’s game which could be
played using MSDOS then you should check NaClBox. Fortuitously,
Google has developed an emulator called NaClBox, which allows
gamers to access the games of the 90s by using the Google Chrome
browser. However, you need to choose your preferred subscription
for which you have to pay for.  Games like Descent, Duke Nukem
1 and 2 and many more games can be played through this
platform.

NaClBox, as a cloud-based DOSBOX, allows the developers to seed
the codes of those DOS games in the Chrome browser to create a
DOSBox port to make them run on Native Client in a way as if they
belong to the OS of that computer.

It is neither ActiveX nor Java rather, it joins with HTML5 and
CSS3 to pave the way for the gamers to develop the games, add them
on the Cloud system of NaClBox and play games on Chromebook using
this native platform. Games are mainly imported from Id software
and Gog.com to NaClBox. Setup processes of NaClBox are as
follow:

Step – 1: If you have Google Chrome 11 or
above, then go to the browser and on the address bar, type
about:flags

Step – 2: Scroll down the page to find “Native
Client” and click “enable” followed by “restart Chrome”.

Step – 3: Go to www.naclbox.com and sign up
into the account while choosing the right subscription for you for
which you have to pay for sure.

Step – 4: On the home screen, you have many
games to play for. For the purpose of the demonstration, I will
choose the Epic Pinball game but you may select different
games.

Step – 5: Click on “Epic Pinball” and that will
take you to the info of the game. Here you have an option to click
“play” to get into the game, “delete” to completely erase the game
which is irreversible, and “add file” to upload the desired files
in this apps. Files of the games can be seen at the top right of
the screen. Here, blocks mean how much space this game has
used.

Step – 6: If you want to add games in NaClBox,
then first purchase the games from any reliable website or source.
You can buy old DOS games from Gog.com and in this demonstration, I
will choose Wing Commander but you may have other games to
upload.

Step – 7: Run the setup and install Wing
Commander on your Chromebook. Login to your NaClBox and click “Add
New Application” and type the name of the game and again click on
the “Create” button.

Step – 8: In this WC folder, you will click on
“add files” and select the installed wing commander file from the
desired location of your device and transfer it to your new My
NaClBox app. Once the upload is complete, refresh the NaClBox and
play it.

Finally, Insight

To me, the most convenient way of playing games in my Chromebook
is to use Google Play Store and for this, I need to have a recent
or up to date Chromebook. This platform will allow you to play a
lot of games both in a free and paid option. Secondly, Stadia seems
a valuable platform to me as this will save you from having a
nightmare for not owning any robust Chromebook by letting you play
games in their hard drive and the setup is quite easy.

However, my groundswell of support for sideloading Android apps
and using Steam is unequivocally less as they put your system at
risk as well as involve installing the Linux OS by following
various processes. On the contrary, the setup of NaClBox is
straightforward, albeit mostly support old DOS games.

I couldn’t find any other productive way of playing games in the
Chromebook as long as I acknowledge it. If you think I have missed
out on any platform or could have added more information on each
process then let me know it by commenting here and I will try to
sort it out. Thank you.