Top 5 Games like Fantage – Best Alternatives in 2018

What is Fantage?

Fantage is a family-friendly, social multiplayer Flash game. In this game, users create a character, chat with friends, play games, collect pets, and complete missions! This sort of format is pretty standard, and belongs to a broader category of social browser-based games for kids. Fantage isn’t exactly the most popular choice around, but it’s still a solid pick for someone looking for an online gaming experience that is fun, colorful, and safe. Are you looking for a game that is similar to Fantage in 2017? It’s a great game, and it’s a nice premise, but it does definitely execute a few things kind of poorly. If you do happen to be looking for an alternative, you’re in luck. In this article, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best games like Fantage. Hopefully by the end of it, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

5. Gaia Online

Stylistically, Gaia Online looks a lot like Fantage. The first time that I saw a screenshot for Fantage, I was immediately reminded of this other online game. In Gaia Online, players create an avatar who is able to participate in discussion on message boards, or in Gaia’s Flash-based virtual world. Now, the majority of this game is heavily anime-inspired. (After all, this website did initially start out as an anime-centered message board.) This means that the art style is sort of over-the-top, which may not be for everyone. Still, this game has a lot of different fun games and places to hang out, which makes it equal parts addictive and enjoyable.

However, as much as I like Gaia Online, there are a couple of reasons why it lands itself so low on this list. To begin with, the average user in this game is a lot older than the users on Fantage. Most users are probably in their teens, and older. This means that some conversation may not be entirely appropriate for someone who is transitioning from one game to another. The game is pretty well-moderated, so it’s not that bad, but it is still something that is worth keeping in mind. One of the biggest draws of Fantage is how secure and kid-friendly it is. If that is something that is important to you, I think you should probably consider other options. If you don’t mind, then I highly recommend this game as a perfect “graduation” for an older kid who is leaving Fantage.

4. Poptropica

One of the most praised features of Fantage is the ability to complete missions. If you’re someone who enjoys the sense of accomplishment that you feel when you complete one of their missions, then I think Poptropica is the perfect game for you. In this game, players create a character who explores an island and goes on all kinds of different adventures. These adventures are really story-driven, and the majority of gameplay involves platformer-style running around and solving puzzles. This game was partially written and developed by Jeff Kinney, author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, so you can anticipate writing that’s entertaining, and that never takes itself too seriously.

Poptropica is a great game, and it’s probably my personal favorite on this list. However, when we’re comparing it to a game like Fantage, it falls short in a couple of spots. This game’s primary draw is the missions, and those missions are predominantly meant to be completed alone. This means that the game often feels more like a single-player game than a multiplayer game. People are less inclined to chat with strangers– they’re too focused on completing their next objective. Basically, this isn’t the easiest game to make friends in, which I think puts it at a massive disadvantage to the other games on list. However, I think it still deserves a nod for being a game that manages to be so compelling for all ages.

3. Animal Jam

Is it okay to let your child play video games? If you’re a parent who happens to be reading this article in search of a Fantage alternative for your child, I’m sure you have wondered this before. While playing online games are a nice stress relief for most people, there are definitely more beneficial things that they could be doing instead. Would you rather your child read a book, or would you rather they play a video game? I think that Animal Jam is a really cool compromise between those two options. Developed by National Geographic, this is a game that combines fun, action-RPG driven gameplay with education. It’s been growing more and more popular over the years, and I think that it has a chance to become one of the most popular browser-based games for kids out there.

Animal Jam is a very compelling game, and I think that it has a lot to offer aside from being educational. It has a very active player community that, as I mentioned, only grows larger by the day. Its core gameplay is very similar to the core gameplay of Fantage, with players creating an avatar and being able to earn currency, which can go towards furniture or accessories. I don’t think that the transition between Animal Jam and Fantage would be too jarring from that standpoint, but I do think that some of the gameplay may be a little hard to get a grasp of. A lot of Animal Jam’s actual missions involve playing action-RPG style games which, while cool, may be overly confusing for young players who are new to the genre. Fantage is a more realistic game, which means you don’t often participate in those kinds of missions. I guess if you want to be introduced to the genre, this is a good pick. Otherwise, I think that some of the other games on this list are much more similar to Fantage. If you’re interested in taking a look at some other games like Animal Jam, I wrote another article, like this one, on some of the best games like Animal Jam. Feel free to check it out.

2. Club Penguin

It feels beyond weird to have a list of best family-friendly multiplayer games that doesn’t have Club Penguin sitting pretty on top. After all, this game is one of the most popular browser-based games out there. However, I there are a couple of key factors that compelled me to place this at second instead of first. Before I get into that, though, let me talk a little bit about Club Penguin. In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last ten years, this is a game where users create a penguin avatar who waddles around an island in search for adventure. You’re able to complete point-and-click style missions, play a variety of different mini-games, and make friends. The game was acquired by Disney some time ago, so the game is well-supported and is updated quite frequently.

However, I think it’s worth mentioning that, while this game could definitely be fun for all ages, it attracts a much younger crowd. I like to think of Club Penguin as the opposite of Gaia Online. While one is a little too old, I think that Club Penguin is a little too young. Although you can definitely find much younger people on Fantage, I think the average user is between the ages of 9 and 12. For some people belonging to that age group, Club Penguin may seem more childish. Even though the game has maintained its insane popularity over the years, I still think that it’s perceived as a game that is more for young children. Although I guess one could argue that this game and the next game on the list could be swapped depending on your opinion, but I personally believe that the next game on this list is more similar to Fantage in terms of having a broad appeal, while still being aimed primarily at tweens. (If you would like to learn about some other games that are similar to Club Penguin, I suggest you check out this other article that I wrote, on the top five best games like Club Penguin.)

1. OurWorld

I think that this pick may end up being a little unpopular, but I stand by it. OurWorld is a game that I think matches Fantage pound-for-pound in terms of style, tone, popularity, and gameplay. It feels similar, without compromising its own unique features. If you’re someone who is coming to OurWorld from Fantage, I think that the transition should feel really natural. You’re not transformed into an anthropomorphic animal, you’re not an anime character, you’re not trying to solve mysteries. You’re just a regular person, walking around a regular city, playing games and making friends. This game is, by far, the “safest” pick for number one, in that right.

OurWorld is a really great game, though, and I think it’s a disservice to the development studio behind it to say that it has only earned this top spot by being a conventional game. Avatar customization goes deep without being overly complicated. There are plenty of different kinds of games to entertain yourself with, from poker to match-three. The game also features different missions that players are able to accomplish. The game is primarily marketed to tweens, but I think that it can be enjoyed by younger and older gamers, as well. I like to think of this game as an amalgam of every other game on this list, taking all of their best and most appealing features and putting it into a single game. It’s fun, it has a broad appeal, and it’s easy to get into.  If you’re looking for a Fantage alternative, I think that I have to recommend OurWorld above all else.

That’s my personal list of the top five best games like Fantage in 2017. Did I forget about one of your favorites? Feel free to leave a comment in the comment selection below and talk about what your favorite browser-based multiplayer games are.