What to test before publishing a browser game
A browser game can load a page successfully and still fail once a player starts interacting. Before linking a game from an Arcade catalog, test the actual play experience on the devices and browsers you intend to support.
Confirm the game really starts
Open the exact URL that visitors will use, including any subfolder path. Wait for the title screen or first playable scene, and watch for missing images, endless loading indicators, or failed network requests. A successful HTTP response only confirms that a server returned something; it does not prove the game initialized.
Test a complete short session
Try the intended keyboard, mouse, touch, pause, restart, and menu controls. Check that buttons respond once, focus does not get trapped, and the game can return to a known state after pausing or losing. For touch screens, make sure controls are large enough to use without covering essential gameplay.
Check screen sizes and orientation
Test a typical desktop window and a narrow mobile viewport. Look for clipped menus, tiny text, hidden controls, and a play area that extends beyond the screen. If the game supports only certain orientations, explain that before the player starts rather than surprising them mid-session.
Check images, audio, and file paths
Relative paths can behave differently when a game is hosted below `/games/name/` instead of at the domain root. Test sprites, backgrounds, fonts, sound effects, and music from the deployed-style path. Confirm that audio starts only in response to an appropriate user action where browser autoplay restrictions apply.
Make the Play link honest
Keep a game marked as testing or coming soon until the full flow works. Provide a clear way back to the Arcade, avoid misleading download buttons, and do not put ads where players could mistake them for game controls. After deployment, test the public URL again; a local success does not guarantee that production paths and headers are correct.