The Evolution of Online Gaming and the Internet
A retrospective from the 1990s to the 2010s
by Joyce Kim
1990s – Dial-Up & LAN
In the 1990s, online gaming was just emerging. Most users connected via dial-up modems, and multiplayer was done through LAN parties or early internet protocols.
Popular games: DOOM, Quake, StarCraft (local or modem connection).
Browser games were minimal, but early web forums and IRC chats fostered gaming communities.
2000s – Flash & MMORPGs
This decade saw the explosion of Flash games on sites like Newgrounds and Miniclip. MMORPGs like Runescape and World of Warcraft brought millions of players into persistent online worlds.
Better internet access meant online play was now the norm for PC and console games.
2010s – Mobile & Streaming
The rise of smartphones introduced games like Angry Birds and Clash of Clans. Platforms like Twitch and YouTube Gaming made watching games as common as playing them.
Cloud gaming and digital storefronts like Steam became the standard.
What’s your favorite 2000s game?
Thanks for sharing!
*This form is just for fun! It doesn’t collect real data :)
