Play a browser game with friends on the same Wi-Fi

Why same-Wi-Fi games don’t need codes

Everyone on one home or office network shares the same public internet address. A game server can use that to group players who are physically together. That’s how Tabzooka lists “Games on your Wi-Fi” without anyone typing a code or making an account.

Step by step: a same-Wi-Fi game in Tabzooka

1. Everyone installs Tabzooka from the Chrome Web Store and opens any normal website, or one of the built-in arenas.
2. One person opens the menu, goes to Play with friends and clicks Host on this Wi-Fi.
3. Everyone else on the same network sees the game under Games on your Wi-Fi and clicks Join.
4. Pick a room type: Co-op, Brawl, 1v1, or Teams with up to 3 a side.

Same-Wi-Fi games are free, for up to 6 players. Every extra player makes the run harder: more targets, higher score goals, faster lava and tougher creatures.

Playing from different computers in different places

When your friends aren’t on your network, a game needs a private room. In Tabzooka that’s an online room: create it, share the 5-letter code, and anyone with the code can join from anywhere. Online rooms come with Pro.

Which room type to choose

More on rooms and the relay on the multiplayer page.

What to play together

• Co-op Web Invasion is the crowd favourite: creatures crawl out of the page in waves, and every third wave is a boss, like the Deep Kraken that floods the page or the Bone Lich that raises zombies. More players bring more and tougher creatures.
• Floor Is Lava becomes a race: everyone climbs the same page, and the lava rises faster with a fuller room.
• Brawl on a busy news site is pure chaos, with everyone fighting while the page falls apart around you.
• Teams splits the room into Red and Blue, up to 3 a side. You pick your side from the room bar, and teammates can’t hurt each other.

Everyone plays on their own computer with their own hero. When someone starts a mode or a level, the whole room follows, so nobody gets left on a different screen.

If a game doesn’t show up on your Wi-Fi

Same-Wi-Fi matching works because everyone on one network shares a public internet address. A few things can break that:

• A VPN on one computer gives it a different public address, so it won’t see the game. Turn the VPN off, or use an online room instead.
• Guest networks are often separate from the main one. Make sure everyone joined the same network name.
• Hidden or paused tabs stop sending. Keep the game tab in front while you play.

When in doubt, an online room with a 5-letter code works from any network.

Playing at school, home or the office

The setup doesn’t care where you are: a classroom, a dorm, a LAN party or a break room all work the same way, as long as everyone is on the same network and using Chrome on a computer. Tabzooka doesn’t run on phones, because Chrome for iPhone and Android doesn’t support extensions. School and work computers sometimes block installing extensions, so check that first.

What the relay can see

Multiplayer goes through a small relay server that passes positions and actions between players in a room. It doesn’t receive the page you’re playing on. The full list of what it handles is in the privacy policy.

The bosses you’ll fight together

In co-op Web Invasion, every third wave brings one of 10 bosses, each with a melee attack, a ranged attack, a special, a defence, and a way to reach you when you hide:

1. Gummy Golem: punches, throws gummies and opens a portal next to you.
2. The Butcher: a meat hook that drags you in, and a rot cloud.
3. The Deep Kraken: floods the page so you float on the surface.
4. Bone Lich: homing skulls, raises zombies and teleports.
5. Grove Warden: roots that hold you in place, and burrows up under you.
6. Storm Drake: lightning breath and storm strikes.
7. Chrono Stalker: slowing time bolts and a bubble that freezes you.
8. Twin Wyrm: fire and ice breath from two heads.
9. Void Maw: a black hole that pulls everything in.
10. Horned Demon: fire rain and fire-gate portals.

Health never refills on its own, so a team that shares the heart dropped after each wave lasts longer. After the tenth boss they come round again, stronger.

More questions

Is it free to play together? Yes, on the same Wi-Fi: the free version includes same-Wi-Fi multiplayer for up to 6 players. Online rooms by code need Pro.

Does everyone need Pro to play a Pro mode? No. When someone starts a mode, the whole room plays it, including friends on the free version in a Wi-Fi game.

Running a game night

• Pick a host with a good spot on the Wi-Fi. Any player can host, so choose whoever has the steadiest connection.
• Start in Free Play so everyone learns the controls without pressure: A and D to run, W or Space to jump and jetpack, mouse to aim and fire.
• Move to Co-op Web Invasion once people are comfortable, and try to beat the first boss together.
• Finish with Brawl or Teams on a busy news site for the chaotic ending.
• Use the arenas if you’d rather not wreck a real site: the Server Farm is great for big combos, and the Sky Tower for a Floor Is Lava race.

Each person needs their own computer with Chrome, a mouse helps a lot, and headphones are a good idea if you’re all in one room.

Same Wi-Fi vs online rooms at a glance

Questions people ask