Playing games from a USB flash drive can be a convenient and portable way to enjoy gaming on different computers without the need for installations.
Best Portable Games in 2023
Here are some of the best free portable games that you can run directly from a USB flash drive:
Get 2048 for Windows
2048 is a deceptively simple yet highly addictive puzzle game that has taken the gaming world by storm. The objective is to slide numbered tiles on a 4×4 grid and combine identical numbers to create higher numbers.
The goal is to reach the elusive 2048 tile. Sounds easy, right? Well, as the grid fills up and moves become limited, strategic planning becomes crucial.
Players must carefully plan their moves to avoid getting stuck and continuously strive for higher tile combinations. With its minimalist design and challenging gameplay, 2048 is perfect for short bursts of fun during breaks or commutes. Download Here
Cave Story for Windows
Step into the shoes of Quote, a robot who awakens in a mysterious cave with no memory of his past, in the enthralling world of Cave Story.
Developed by a single creator, Daisuke “Pixel” Amaya, this indie platformer is a labor of love that delivers an immersive experience. The game blends classic platforming action with a captivating storyline, quirky characters, and stunning pixel art.
As you explore the vast underground world, you’ll encounter challenging enemies, solve puzzles, and discover the secrets of the cave. With multiple endings and various weapons to collect, Cave Story offers an unforgettable adventure that showcases the best of retro-inspired gaming.
OpenTTD
Are you a fan of transportation and economic simulations? Look no further than OpenTTD (Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe).
This open-source game allows you to build and manage your transport empire, from trains and buses to ships and airplanes. The goal is to create an efficient transportation network that connects cities and industries, facilitating the movement of goods and passengers.
You’ll need to consider factors like terrain, vehicle types, and competitor AI while expanding your business. With its modding support and active community, OpenTTD continues to evolve, providing players with endless hours of strategic gameplay and creative freedom.
Hedgewars
Get ready for some adorable mayhem with Hedgewars, a free and open-source turn-based strategy game heavily inspired by the popular Worms series.
In Hedgewars, players take control of cute hedgehogs armed with various weapons, engaging in fierce battles on destructible environments.
The game offers a plethora of unique and humorous weapons, ranging from explosive sheep to banana bombs.
With its local and online multiplayer modes, you can challenge your friends to epic hedgehog showdowns, creating unforgettable moments filled with laughter and unexpected tactics.
SuperTuxKart
If you’re a fan of kart racing games like Mario Kart, SuperTuxKart will surely steal your heart. Featuring a cast of lovable characters, this open-source racing game takes you on a thrilling ride across whimsical tracks and vibrant environments. Race against AI opponents or compete with friends in multiplayer mode.
The game includes various power-ups and hazards, ensuring fast-paced and unpredictable races. With its cross-platform support, you can easily carry SuperTuxKart on your USB flash drive and enjoy thrilling kart racing wherever you go.
MegaGlest
For fans of real-time strategy (RTS) games, MegaGlest offers an exciting experience with multiple factions and customizable maps. In this open-source game, players must gather resources, build bases, train armies, and engage in epic battles against AI or other players.
Each faction has its unique units and strengths, adding strategic depth to the gameplay. With a strong modding community, MegaGlest provides ample opportunities to enhance and extend your gaming experience.
Whether you prefer to crush your foes with massive armies or employ cunning tactics, MegaGlest offers a delightful and engaging RTS adventure.
Dead Cells
Dead Cells combines the adrenaline-pumping action of a roguelike with the fluidity of a metroidvania. This critically acclaimed game offers a challenging and rewarding experience as you explore procedurally generated levels filled with enemies, traps, and secrets.
The combat is fast-paced and satisfying, requiring precise timing and quick reflexes. As you defeat enemies, you collect cells to upgrade your character and unlock new abilities.
However, death is inevitable, and you’ll restart from the beginning, but with newfound knowledge and experience to tackle the challenges ahead. With its stunning pixel art and addictive gameplay, Dead Cells provides a truly enjoyable portable gaming experience.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a breathtaking platform-adventure game that continues the heartwarming journey of Ori, a guardian spirit.
This visually stunning game showcases a richly detailed world with mesmerizing art and fluid animations. Players must navigate through intricately designed environments, solve puzzles, and overcome challenging obstacles.
The game’s emotional storytelling, evocative soundtrack, and heartwarming characters combine to create an unforgettable gaming experience.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps is a gem among portable games, offering a captivating and emotional journey that will leave players touched and enchanted.
Cuphead
Cuphead is a visually captivating and challenging run-and-gun platformer inspired by 1930s cartoons. The game features hand-drawn animations and a jazzy soundtrack that perfectly captures the vintage cartoon aesthetic.
Players control Cuphead or his brother Mugman, embarking on a series of boss battles against unique and imaginative foes. The gameplay is known for its difficulty, requiring precise timing and pattern recognition.
Each boss fight is a visual spectacle, and victory is deeply satisfying. Cuphead’s blend of artistic flair and challenging gameplay makes it a must-play for fans of unique and challenging portable games.
Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight is an atmospheric and beautifully crafted metroidvania game that plunges players into a hauntingly enchanting world. As the titular Hollow Knight, you explore a sprawling underground kingdom filled with secrets, dangers, and memorable characters.
The game’s hand-drawn art style and haunting soundtrack contribute to its immersive atmosphere. As you delve deeper into the mysterious world, you’ll encounter challenging foes and uncover the kingdom’s dark history.
Hollow Knight offers deep exploration, challenging combat, and a rich narrative, making it a standout title in the metroidvania genre.
Enter the Gungeon
Enter the Gungeon is an exhilarating and fast-paced rogue-like game that combines bullet hell mechanics with dungeon crawling elements.
In this action-packed title, players choose from a variety of quirky characters and dive into procedurally generated levels, battling hordes of enemies and challenging bosses.
Each floor is filled with inventive firearms, ensuring that gunplay remains a central focus of the gameplay.
Enter the Gungeon’s clever humor, addictive gameplay, and countless weapon combinations make it an irresistible choice for players seeking a challenging and rewarding portable gaming experience.
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth is another roguelike gem that has garnered a devoted following for its dark and bizarrely engaging gameplay. Players take on the role of Isaac, a young boy escaping his deranged mother’s attempts to sacrifice him.
The game’s dungeons are procedurally generated, providing a fresh experience with each playthrough.
Players must navigate through challenging rooms, defeat grotesque enemies, and uncover various power-ups and items to enhance Isaac’s abilities.
The game’s twisted narrative and unique art style make The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth a must-play for those seeking a darker and more unconventional portable gaming adventure.
Don’t Starve
Don’t Starve is a survival and exploration game set in a mysterious and dangerous wilderness. Players control Wilson, a scientist who finds himself in a strange and eerie world.
To survive, players must gather resources, craft tools, and build shelters while managing their hunger, sanity, and health. The game’s distinctive hand-drawn art style and haunting soundtrack add to its atmosphere of eerie beauty.
With its ever-changing world and challenging gameplay, Don’t Starve offers a captivating portable gaming experience that keeps players coming back for more.
Darkest Dungeon
Darkest Dungeon is a challenging and atmospheric RPG that immerses players in the horrors of the Lovecraftian world. As the heir to a cursed estate, players recruit and manage a team of flawed and vulnerable heroes, sending them on perilous quests through dark dungeons.
The game’s innovative stress mechanic adds a psychological layer to the gameplay, as heroes must contend with their fears and traumas.
With its gothic art style, intense combat, and strategic depth, Darkest Dungeon is an unforgettable portable gaming experience that tests players’ resolve and decision-making skills.
15. Risk of Rain 2: Risk of Rain 2 is a co-op rogue-like game that delivers relentless action and excitement. Players team up to survive against waves of relentless enemies on procedurally generated alien worlds.
The game features diverse characters, each with unique abilities, and a wide array of items that drastically alter gameplay.
The longer players survive, the more challenging the game becomes, with enemies growing stronger and deadlier. Risk of Rain 2’s fast-paced combat and cooperative gameplay make it an excellent choice for players seeking thrilling and dynamic portable gaming experiences.
Raft
Raft is a survival game with a unique premise—you find yourself stranded on a tiny wooden raft in the middle of an endless ocean.
To survive, players must gather resources, expand their raft, and fend off hunger, thirst, and the constant threat of sharks. As you explore the vast ocean, you may come across islands and other survivors’ wreckage.
The game’s crafting and building mechanics encourage creativity, allowing you to design and expand your raft as you see fit.
Raft’s immersive gameplay and the ever-present danger of the open sea make it a captivating and engaging portable gaming adventure.
Golf With Your Friends
Golf With Your Friends is a delightful mini-golf game that lives up to its name—it’s best played with friends! Enjoy multiplayer fun as you and your friends putt your way through creative and challenging mini-golf courses.
The game’s fun and lighthearted atmosphere, combined with a wide range of themed courses, keeps players entertained and engaged.
Whether you’re competing for the lowest score or trying to sabotage your friends’ shots, Golf With Your Friends guarantees hours of laughter and camaraderie.
Human: Fall Flat
Human: Fall Flat is a physics-based puzzle and exploration game that offers endless opportunities for hilarious moments and creative solutions.
Players control a customizable “wobbly” character, Bob, as he navigates through surreal dreamscapes.
The game’s physics engine allows players to interact with the environment in amusing ways, manipulating objects, and attempting to solve puzzles.
Whether you’re solving challenges solo or teaming up with friends in multiplayer, Human: Fall Flat’s open-ended gameplay and whimsical physics make it an entertaining and laughter-inducing portable gaming experience.
Moonlighter
Moonlighter is a charming action RPG with a twist—it combines traditional dungeon crawling with managing a shop. Players control Will, a daring shopkeeper by day and a courageous adventurer by night.
During the day, players run a shop, setting prices for their items and managing customer demands. At night, players delve into dungeons, battling monsters and collecting valuable loot.
The game’s engaging loop of adventuring and shopkeeping, along with its beautiful pixel art style, captivates players and immerses them in the enchanting world of Moonlighter.
Papers, Please:
Papers, Please is an indie puzzle simulation game that puts players in the role of an immigration officer in the fictional country of Arstotzka. Your job is to inspect documents and decide who can enter the country and who gets denied.
The game’s moral dilemmas and tough decisions force players to weigh compassion against following strict protocols. As the game progresses, the stakes become higher, and players must balance the needs of their family with the demands of their job.
Papers, Please’s thought-provoking gameplay and immersive storytelling make it a standout title among portable games.
Broforce
Broforce is an explosive and over-the-top action platformer that pays homage to classic action movies and pop culture icons.
Players control a variety of “bros,” each inspired by famous action heroes, as they battle through hordes of enemies.
The game’s destructible environments and chaotic gameplay lead to thrilling and unpredictable moments.
Broforce also features local and online multiplayer, allowing you and your friends to team up as an elite squad of action movie heroes. If you’re looking for