If you loved flash games, then you might remember a few that ended up on the bigger consoles. Interestingly, this happened more often than people know, and many of our favorite games started out in this nostalgic format. In fact, some of the best games are just bigger and better versions of their flash counterparts.

Bloons Tower Defensestarted as a straightforward but very fun Flash game that came out in 2007. The game challenged players to carefully set up towers, mostly monkeys, to stop waves of brightly colored balloons from making it to the end of a set path.

Playing defending their area with multiple monkeys in Bloons TD 6.

This is an easy-to-understand idea, but mixing it with cute visuals and increasing difficulty was an easy way to attract a large player base. The first Flash game’s popularity led to versions being made for mobile devices and later for gaming consoles, with games likeBloons TD 5being released on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. Keep in mind,you can still use Adobe Flashif you’re interested in the oldBloons TDgames.

12TowerFall: AscensionIs a Sequel toTowerFall

TowerFall: Ascensionstarted as a project by Maddy Thorson, a regular browser game creator.TowerFallwas her first full-priced commercial game. This game began development in 2012 when Alec Holowka and Thorson worked together at a game jam. They then made a game about a highly skilled archer in a legendary setting.

They originally wanted to include many different weapons, but in the end, they decided to focus only on the bow and arrow. The game first launched on the Ouya console, but later grew into a complete expanded version. Thorson made a new deal to releaseTowerFall: Ascensionon PlayStation 4 and Steam, adding new weapons and gameplay features.

The player as an archer falling off the map in Towerfall Ascension.

11The Fancy Pants AdventuresWasn’t as Fancy to Start With

The Fancy Pants Adventuresis a side-scrolling platform game series that started as a free browser game made by Brad Borne. The first game came out in 2006 with smooth controls, a cool stick figure art style, and fun momentum-based gameplay. The series became very popular and led to a console version published by EA.

This version had better graphics, all-new levels, and a multiplayer mode for Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network. This console release showed how strong the original Flash games' gameplay was, but the series did not stop there. In 2017, the series expanded again with a Steam release calledSuper Fancy Pants Adventure.

The player jumping over spiders in Fancy Pants Adventures.

10Hollow KnightWas Once a Very Hungry Knight

Hollow Knight’srise to fame as a beloved indie game did not start on consoles but at a small game jam in 2013. Australian developers Ari Gibson and William Pellen made a simple Flash game calledHungry Knight, which laid the foundation for the vast world of Hallownest. AlthoughHungry Knightitself did not get much praise, it motivated the two to develop the idea of a rich, interconnected underground kingdom filled with insects.

They managed to bring their vision to consoles, where the game found a bigger audience and even more praise, solidifying its place as a modern Metroidvania masterpiece. The fact that the console versions stayed faithful to the original design showed that the initial idea, even as a Flash game, had been strong, even if it was not fully recognized at first.

Playing shooting out a powerful magic missile in Hollow Knight.

9The Binding of IsaacStarted as a Flash Game

The Binding of Isaacis a roguelike action-adventure game that originally started as a Flash game. Edmund McMillen and Florian Himsl created it during a week-long game jam, where developers make games quickly. The game takes some loose inspiration from the biblical story of the same name, and it quickly became popular because of its unusual mix of gameplay and its dark, sometimes unsettling themes.

The roguelike style of the game, with its randomly created dungeons and many different items and power-ups, made players want to replay it and try new strategies. McMillen actually thought the game would not sell well. However, its popularity led to a remake calledThe Binding of Isaac: Rebirth, which came out on consoles and PC with better graphics, more content, and smoother performance.

The player with a laser eye shooting at enemies in The Binding of Isaac.

8Alien HominidCame From a Flash Legend

Alien Hominidstarted as a Flash game made in 2002 by Tom Fulp, the creator of Newgrounds, and Dan Paladin. In the game, you play as a yellow alien who crashes on Earth and has to fight off waves of secret agents. The original Flash game was famous for being very difficult because the alien dies in just one hit.

Alien Hominiddid so well that Dan Paladin’s coworker John Byers offered to help them make a console version of the game. In 2004, the game came out on the PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Xbox, becoming one of the first Flash games to make the jump to consoles.

The player destroying FBI members in their helicopters in Alien Hominid.

7VVVVVVStarted Life With Far Fewer Levels

VVVVVVbegan as a Flash game created by Terry Cavanagh. Over time, it grew beyond its origins on platforms like MiniClip and Newgrounds and eventually became a full console release.

The art style ofVVVVVVis strongly influenced by 8-bit computer games from the 1980s, particularlyJet Set WillyandMonty on the Run. The game includes more than 400 rooms and has excellent level design with no unnecessary or repetitive content. What makesVVVVVVunique is that the player cannot jump; they just modify gravity.

A player looking at a wall in VVVVVV.

6TrialsWas Originally a Great Find by Ubisoft

Trialsis a great example of a flash game that managed to transition successfully to consoles. TheTrialsseries started as a Java-based browser game, and it did not use Flash until the second game. The development team broughtTrialsto consoles for the first time with the Xbox 360 release ofTrials HDin 2009, and it’s been popular ever since.

Trialsis a well-known obstacle course game that focuses heavily on realistic physics. The game encourages players to try different approaches and figure out the best way to complete each level in a way that feels intuitive.Ubisoft may keep notes on how you play their games, but they sure find good games to put out.

Multiple bikers racing down a steep track in Trials.

5Swords & Souls: NeverseenIs a Lot Like the Original

Swords and Souls: Neverseenis a special role-playing game that started from modest origins. Before it came out on Steam in 2019, the game that came before it,Swords and Souls, was a well-liked flash game made by SoulGame Studio. The originalSwords and Soulschallenged players to become the strongest fighter in SoulTown by training their skills through mini-games and fighting enemies in an arena.

Swords and Souls: Neverseenexpanded on the gameplay of the first game by introducing a much larger standalone adventure set on an island called the Neverseen. Players improve their character by playing mini-games, quick battles, taming pets, and finding unusual mercenaries.

The player fighting enemies in Swords and Souls Neverseen.

4CelesteWas Once a Lot Simpler

Celesteis a platform video game created as a PICO-8 game by Maddy Thorson and Noel Berry in 2015. Thorson and Berry later expanded the PICO-8 version into a full-length game. The player controls a character named Madeline, who can run, jump, climb walls for a short time, jump off walls, and dash while in the air.

Celesteis beloved not only for its gameplay but also for the story, visuals, and soundtrack. The game’s mechanics reflected Madeline’s personal challenges, turning the climb to the top of the mountain into a symbol for facing and overcoming personal struggles.

The player dashing past spikes in Celeste.