Yahoo Games
| Company type | Segment of Yahoo! |
|---|---|
| Industry | Online gaming |
| Founded | March 31, 1998 |
| Defunct | May 13, 2016 |
| Fate | Ceased operations (2016); Relaunched (2023) |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States (relaunch), previously global |
| Owner | Yahoo! |
| Website | games |
Yahoo! Games was a segment of the Yahoo! website that debuted on March 31, 1998, enabling users to engage in games either individually or with others. The majority of Yahoo! Games ceased operations on March 31, 2014, with the final services ending on February 9, 2016. Yahoo! attributed the shutdown to "evolving technology support and heightened security demands." The company confirmed the full discontinuation of the games platform by May 13, 2016. Nevertheless, Yahoo! Games continues to operate on Yahoo! Japan, alongside Yahoo! Auctions.
Features
The games were mostly delivered as Java applets or Flash applications; a portion required local installation, sometimes accompanied by TryMedia Adware. The site also featured Yahoo! Video Games, which provided news coverage, previews, and reviews of proprietary titles, as well as Yahoo! Games on Demand, offering free trial versions and paid downloads of complete PC games.
An All Star membership option granted users benefits such as the removal of pop-up advertisements; however, this status did not include access to downloadable games without installation.
Yahoo! Games originated from Yahoo!'s acquisition of ClassicGames.com—created by entrepreneur Joel Comm and developer Eron Jokipii—in 1997. The Yahoo! Video Games section developed from the acquisition of Games Domain in 2003. By May 14, 2016, the platform hosted over 1,400 games, predominantly developed by third parties.
Board games
Playable online (PO), Downloadable (D), Mobile (M), Skill-based (S)
- Backgammon PO
- Bingo PO
- Catan D
- Checkers PO
- Chess PO
- Chessmaster Challenge D
- Chester S
- Chinese Checkers PO
- Dominos PO, M
- Dots PO
- Emperor's mahjong D
- Go PO
- JigWords D, PO
- Jigsaw: Great Art D
- Jigsaw: Landscapes D
- Jigsaw: Medley D
- Jigsaw: Pet D
- Car Games
- Literati PO
- Luxor Mahjong D
- Mah Jong PO
- Mah Jong Adventures D
- Mah Jong Garden D
- Mah Jong Jade Expedition D
- Mah Jong Medly D, PO
- Mah Jong Towers Eternity D, PO
- Mah-Jomino D
- Mahjong Escape D, PO
- Mahjong Match D
- Mahjong Treasure S
- Mahjong Fortuna S
- Midas Mahjong S
- Monopoly 3 D
- Naval Command PO
- Poker Pop D, PO
- Reversi PO
- Saints and Sinners Bingo D, PO
- Sudoko: Latin Squares D
- Super Mah Jong D
- Word Slinger D
Until its closure in March 2014, Yahoo! Games hosted a well-known Internet chess server. In 2004, James Eade identified Yahoo! Chess as the premier online chess platform due to its continuous activity. Unlike many contemporary servers, Yahoo! Chess did not enforce regulations regarding player behavior or the use of chess engines.
Card games
Available formats: Playable Online (PO), Downloadable (D), Mobile (M), Skill-based (S)
- All-in-One Solitaire, PO
- Addiction Solitaire, D, PO
- Aloha Solitaire, D, PO
- Aloha TriPeaks, D, PO
- Ancient 4 in 1 GamePak, D
- Ancient Hearts and Spades, D
- Ancient Tri-Jong, D
- Ancient Tripeaks, D
- Blackjack, PO
- Canasta, PO
- Contract Bridge, PO
- Cribbage, PO
- Deuces Wild Video Poker, PO
- Double Down Video Poker, PO
- Euchre, PO
- Five Card Deluxe, D, PO
- Freecell Solitaire, D, PO
- Gin, PO
- Go Fish, PO
- Golf Solitaire, D, PO
- Go-Stop, PO, S
- Hearts, PO, M
- Hold 'Em Poker, PO
- Honey Combo, S
- Hotel Solitaire, D
- Klondike Solitaire, D, PO
- Pinochle, PO
- Poker Superstars II, D, PO
- Pyramid, S
- Pyramids, PO, M
- Sheepshead, PO
- Solitaire 13, D, PO
- Spades, PO
- Super Solitaire, D
- Tornado 21, PO, M
- Turbо Solitaire, D, PO
Other games
Available formats: Playable Online (PO), Downloadable (D), Mobile (M), Skill-based (S)
- Mushroomer, PO
- Pac-Man, D
- Pool, PO
- [ [TextTwist] ], D, PO
- Tradewinds series: Tradewinds (D); Tradewinds 2 & Legends (D, PO)
- Word Racer, PO
- Yahoo! Graffiti, PO
- Yahoo! Towers, PO
- Treasure Hunt 2D, PO
In popular culture
The British rock group Half Man Half Biscuit created a song titled "Bad Losers on Yahoo! Chess," featured on their 2008 album CSI:Ambleside. This piece references an imaginary player and makes nods to the chess computer Deep Blue.
Relaunch
In September 2023, Yahoo reintroduced the Yahoo! Games platform exclusively for users in the United States. The updated service highlights timeless games such as Jigsaw puzzles, Mahjong, Solitaire, and Word games. This initiative aims to attract casual gamers and reestablish Yahoo's footprint in the online gaming industry.
See also
Bibliography
- Eade, James (2004). The Chess Player's Bible: Illustrated Strategies for Staying Ahead of the Game.
- http://www.usgamer.net/articles/yahoo-games-shutting-down-in-may-ending-a-major-piece-of-game-history