BrowserQuest

BrowserQuest is a top-down multiplayer adventure RPG that Mozilla built to demonstrate what WebSockets and HTML5 could do together. You wander a tile-based fantasy world, fight rats and skeletons, collect loot, and chat with other real players who are online at the same time. It is small, charming, and historically important — when it shipped it was a clear proof that a browser tab could host a living multiplayer world.

The game itself is a breezy afternoon. There is a quest to defeat the boss deep in a dungeon, a handful of weapons and armor to upgrade through, and NPCs handing out hints. The real texture comes from the other players: you will see strangers wandering, fighting alongside you, or standing AFK in town. Many community-run servers still host the game, and the full source is on GitHub, which has made it a perennial starting point for anyone building browser multiplayer.

Move with WASD or the arrow keys. Click or press space to attack with your equipped weapon. Talk to NPCs by walking into them. The interface shows your health and inventory.

Strategy: do not head straight for the dungeon. Upgrade your weapon and armor in town first by collecting gold from easier enemies near the spawn. Other players can help you in combat, so following a stronger character into the wilderness is a safe way to explore. Save your health potions for the boss room at the end of the main quest.