Best io games you can play right now, ranked

Io games are increasingly popular, to the point that you’ve probably heard of at least one, even if you didn’t realize it. Beginning back in 2015, io games made a huge debut and were some of the most popular titles on the market all the way through 2018, with even PewDiePie once declaring an io game to be his “new favorite game.” Now that’s some popularity.

Nowadays, there are still loads of active io games for players to enjoy or just try out. There are way too many to list, but there are a few that are worth checking out. Here are the eight best io games you can play right now.

8. Paper.io

Paper.io is an io game that heavily focuses on taking over territory by creating some form of a “paper empire.” While other players try to create large sheets of paper, you’re doing your best to make your paper sheet even larger. To make your sheet larger, you must create small boxes that return to your original sheet. If another player “cuts” your paper while you’re attempting to make your sheet larger, it’s game over.

First debuting in November 2016, Paper.io is under the category of a puzzle game. The producers of the game are Voodoo. They also published the game alongside producing it. This game is one of the more classic io entries, making it a pretty good choice for someone looking to try out these sorts of games.

7. Friday Night Funkin’

Yeah, it was pretty obvious that this one would get some confusion. At first glance, Friday Night Funkin’ does not seem to be part of the io game family. But, if you look at its URL when playing on a PC, the address ends in .io — technically making it an io game. Created in 2020, FNF is one of the more recent io games to hit screens. Developed by The Funkin’ Crew Inc., FNF has since gained massive popularity within the gaming community.

In comparison to all other io games, FNF is definitely the most unique. It does not follow the original play style of any of the other io entries to this day. Friday Night Funkin’ is a rhythm game focusing on our main character, Boyfriend. His goal is to beat a number of opponents in rhythmic battles to continue dating his significant other, Girlfriend. The gameplay is engaging, fast-paced and filled with an insanely good soundtrack.

6. Agar.io

Agar.io was the first io game to take the internet by storm back in April 2015. Developer and publisher Valadares created a trend with Agar.io thanks to a simplistic but unforgettable gameplay style. In essence, it’s a free-to-play twist on the classic fish-eating game Feeding Frenzy.

In Agar.io, you begin as a very small cell that absorbs other small cells surrounding it to grow larger as time progresses. Your main goal is to avoid cells much larger than you. If you get too close, you’ll be absorbed, and that’s game over. A tip to get big fast is to eat other players who are around your cell’s size but slightly smaller. Be careful, though; if you think you’re bigger but are wrong, you’ll just get absorbed immediately.

5. Stabfish.io

If you like Agar.io, Stabfish.io is essentially a cuter and yet somehow darker version of that. Created by developer DragonWhites in 2020, the game offers tons of customisation – from bodies to hats – for your Stabfish to earn, which makes it hugely popular to this day. There is also a multiplayer version, Stabfish2.io, which allows you to play with friends rather than just matched players.

Using your mouse to move around the screen, you begin your journey as a Narwhal, using your horn to skewer other players. The bodies of your victims remain displayed on your horn as you navigate the playing field, trying to gobble up pellets and food which increase your point score, all while avoiding becoming a decoration for another player.

4. Diep.io

Diep.io is an MMO-styled io game by Brazilian developer Matheus Valadares. This game first hit the browser in 2016 and has since gained a reputation for its out-of-the-ordinary gameplay compared to other io games. Currently, Google Play reports that the game has over 10 million mobile downloads as of 2023.

What makes Diep.io different is the fact that there’s more than just claiming territory. While playing, you’re actively gaining upgrades, shooting other tanks, and destroying shapes that may stand in your way. There’s also an experience point system where players can grind to get to higher skill levels. This upgrade system sets it apart from other io games, which focus mostly on the divide-and-conquer gameplay loop.

3. Brutal.io

Taking inspiration from games like Agar.io, Brutal.io sees you in control of a small car towing a big and very dangerous weapon: the flail. You drive around the field, gobbling up pellets in order to grow your flail, using it to take out other players. You can swing your car around to lash out at other players who get too close or fling it into the playing field in order to take out players from a distance.

Created by independent developer Andre Almeida in 2017, Brutal.io is a mainstay within the io sphere with its neon color palette and availablity of upgrades which can give you a leg up, boosting your ranking.

2. Hole.io

Hole.io, created by French studio Voodoo, sees you playing as, well, a hole. At first you’re small and fast, but only able to gobble up small pieces of furniture and people, but you’re soon given far too much power as you grow in size and are able to consume entire city blocks into the black hole that is your mouth.

First released back in 2018 on Android and iOS, at around the same time as a game called Donut County which shares the same type of mechanics, the game quickly gained popularity within the io games sphere and it’s still available to play today. There are many different levels that keep the game feeling fresh every time and there’s a certain amount of panic that occurs when a hole even a little bigger than you comes too close, mainly because they can eat you and earn all of your earned points.

1. Slither.io

Slither.io first hit screens back in March 2016 and was an immediate success. Slither.io’s developer, Steve Howse, created the game after being inspired by Agar.io. Although the games are almost identical in gameplay, Slither.io combines Agar.io’s gameplay loop with that of the classic game Snake.

In Slither.io, you’re a snake (surprising, right?) eating small pellets to grow in length and size. Your goal is to get as large as possible among about 50 other players within your server. Unlike Snake, you can crossover yourself without causing a game over. But, if another player crosses you, you’re done for— as your snake will turn into a large amount of pellets for that player to devour. A popular tactic players use within Slither.io is to surround a smaller snake and slowly “constrict” it until it accidentally allows you to crash into it. By combining two classics in one, Slither.io definitely deserves its first-place spot.