Google has quietly built and released its own standalone Instant Games app.
It appears to be a standalone app that’s home to a selection of YouTube Playables, the HTML5 game catalogue that has been available in the YouTube app since 2023.
The games visible in Instant Games’ Google Play store screenshots include Zeptolab’s Om Nom Run, Gamesnacks’ Stack Bounce and Crazy Caves, and Famobi’s Chess Classic, 8 Ball Billiards Classic and Cannon Balls 3D.
The app is visible worldwide through the web on the Google Play store, and according to the storefront’s downloads counter it has been installed over 10k times already.
Data provider Appmagic says Instant Games is available in 44 markets across LatAm, MENA, SEA and also the US. Google has not marked the app for release in most European countries, China and Hong Kong, however. Appmagic and the Google Play store both state that the app was set live on June 17.
The Google Play listing’s description is pretty brief, and says Instant Games is “a collection of fun and challenging H5 games that you can play anytime, anywhere”. The app screenshots also suggest it is designed for offline play.
Instant Games appears to be a standalone hub for Google’s YouTube Playables roster, which also includes hypercasual hits Tall Man Run, Attack Hole, Bridge Race and Tomb of the Mask.
Some big brand mobile titles have been turned into Playables too, including Crossy Road, Hill Climb Racing, 8 Ball Pool, Jetpack Joyride, Angry Birds Showdown and Cut The Rope.
Google has not, as far as we’re aware, formally announced the Instant Games app to the press or mentioned it on any of its social channels. We have contacted the tech giant for comment on this story.
Google’s stealth launch of Instant Games follows the announcement of Apple’s new standalone Games app, first revealed at WWDC earlier this month.
Apple said that the new Games app will be pre-installed on each device, and is designed to be home to players’ game library, social graph and Apple Arcade. Our secret developer on the ground at WWDC described the app as “pedestrian” and “just table stakes rather than innovative”.
