Roku is one of the best streaming devices you can connect to your TV to stream your favorite movies and TV shows. But Roku doesn’t stop just with that; it also provides you with live TV. Even there are a lot of gaming channels you can add to play games on your Roku. However, you won’t find triple-A tier games with high graphics. It provides you with light-hearted games like board games or Galaga. You can get some of the best Puzzle Games, Board Games, and many more on your Roku. However, you need to choose the best games for a better experience on Roku.
How to Play Games on Roku
You can use the steps below to add a channel to play games on your Roku.
[1] Press the Home button on Remote.
Note: Make sure that your Roku is connected to a wifi network.
[2] Select Streaming Channels on the left pane.
[3] Select Games from the Channel store.
[4] Now select the game of your choice and choose Add Channel.
Once you have installed the game of your choice, it will be visible on your homepage. You can now use the Roku remote’s directional keys to play games.
Top 15 Best Games that you can Play on Roku
We have divided the games into the different genre to which each game belong. They are distributed to Puzzle, Arcade, and Board.
Puzzle Games
Tiles
Tiles is a Puzzle-solving game. In the application, you can both play as well as create puzzles. The motive of the game is to go from green tile to red tile while stepping on every tile on the way and not backtracking. You can also share levels for others to complete too. The game can be installed free of cost.
Pink Panther Time Traveler
This game is inspired by the famous pop-culture phenomenon Pink Panther, and it is a slide-puzzle game themed at different periods of time. The animation style is classic and clean. You get about 200+ levels to play, including daily challenges. The background also changes on each level with sleek illustrations.
Word Soup
Word Soup is a spin-off of the classic word search concept. In this game, you will have to connect letters to make words. The connected words then disappear, and a new set of words fall from the above. Although the applications cannot be played in multiplayer or online mode, each level is different and makes the game interesting.
Mah Jongg
Mah Jongg is a popular tile-based game that was developed in China. Mahjong Solitaire has the same base with 144 tiles sets that traditional Mahjong users use. Although the basic outlook is the same, the game rules are different. Instead of getting the best hand, this game aims to stack all the similar-looking tiles together. The Roku version of the game has 5 layouts including a classic turtle.
Arcade Games
Arcade Games are the section where you get the most variety of games. From classics like Galaga to refreshed versions like Pathogen 2, you will get a lot of options in this genre.
Pac-Man Championship Edition
One of the old-school classics, Pac-man is one of the most coveted arcade games. Created by the original creators of Pac-Man, Bandai Namco comes with a refreshed version of Pac-Man. This refresh of the OG Pac-Man brings better graphics and a whole new set of features. You get a larger maze, chompin’ combos, and so much more. If you want Pac-Man Championship Edition on your Roku, you will have to pay a one-time payment of $4.99.
Galaga
Galaga is another one of the timeless classic arcade games developed by Bandai Namco. If you are into Space-Invaders, you will love Galaga. In these games, waves of invaders will be attacking you while you will have to attack and defend yourself. There are over 250 distinct levels with various waves and types of attacks the invaders will unleash. The game will cost you a one-time fee of $4.99.
Air Hockey
This game is the software version of one of the most popular games Air Hockey. You will have tons of fun playing this game. You can either play as Single Player or in 4-player mode. The animation is smooth, and your goal is to hit the puck toward the opponent’s goal. The game is completely free to play, but to keep the game free, it is filled with ads. However, if you decide to get the Ads-free version, it will cost you $0.99 per month.
Snake
The game Snake has been around since 1976 when it was called by getting the name Blockade. This game’s rise to fame came much later when it was released in the Nokia 6110in 1997. Everyone loved this simple game where you will have to keep eating dots to grow longer. The only restriction is to avoid the walls and the snake’s own tail. The game is free of cost to download and play on your Roku device.
Pathogen 2
Pathogen 2 is a game heavily inspired by one of the oldest Arcades to ever launch Asteroids. Although the game is very similar, there are a few changes. Instead of rocks from a spacecraft, you will be fitting germs from a microscopic ship inside a human body. The concept is great, and so is the graphics. You can get this game on Roku Channel Store for free.
Retaliate
The game is a spin-off version of Galaga, an arcade classic. The game takes some interesting takes from Galaga, like infinite ammo and being a space shooter. This game reverses that, and you start with nothing and will have to earn your shields and ammo. This game is connected to the internet, so there is even a worldwide leaderboard. Unlike the Roku version of Galaga, this game is completely free to play too.
Board Games
This is a section where we discuss some of the games inspired by popular board games and which you can play from your Roku devices.
Chess Live
Chess Live is a full-fetched game for Roku. You can play against the computer if you want to. But the application also lets you play against online players live. The game lets in on some critical stats like replays of old games, in-game notations, and an in-app scheduler with which you can schedule games on time which is convenient for you. The game is completely free of cost to download and play.
Checkers
Checkers is one of the classic board games which has been brought to this digital form which you can play with the help of a TV screen. The intent of this game is to capture all the pieces on the enemy side. The interface and the animation of this game are great. The application is free of cost and can be downloaded and installed on most Roku devices.
Trivia TV
Trivia TV is one of the digital iterations of popular game trivia. If you have good way with general knowledge, you will love this game. Trivia TV has over 5000 questions which come under 4 distinct categories. You can play the game alone on a computer. The game also has a multiplayer feature where you either create teams and play with people of the same house, or you can play against the global cloud of Roku users who play this game online.
Sudoku
Sudoku is one of the most widely loved brain teaser games that you can play. The game is a logic-based game in which you will have to place numbers from 1 to 9 on a 9×9 grid. The Roku version has a neat UI and some clean animations making the game more appalling. This game is a good way to flex your brain muscles.
FAQ
No, GTA is unsupported in all Roku models.
No, you can’t find the Xbox app on the Roku Channel Store.