io games in your browser: Tankado and Magnado
An arena, growing and not getting swallowed: Polarzinho explains what an io game is and introduces Polar’s two.
By Polarzinho ·
An io game is the one where you drop into an arena, start small, collect things to grow and try not to get swallowed by whoever grew first. The name comes from the .io web address of the first games in the genre, made famous by Agar.io.
Polar Games has two games in this style, both right in the browser: Tankado, with tanks, and Magnado, with magnets. Here is how each one works, plus a few tips at the end.
What is an io game?
Quick matches, a shared arena and one simple rule: the more you collect, the bigger and stronger you get, and the bigger the target on your back. No levels, no story: the arena is the game.
- Jump in and play in seconds, nothing to install.
- You grow by collecting pieces scattered around the map.
- Rivals grow too, so positioning and timing matter more than reflexes.
1. Tankado: the tank io game
You drive a toy tank around a tiled arena. Break shapes for XP, spend points on Armor, Cannon and Engine, and watch every upgrade appear on your tank as it gets bigger with each level. At level 10 and 20 you choose a class, and every 5 levels you get a perk.
Weapon crates give special powers like homing missiles, lightning, a tornado or a rare airstrike. There is an online mode and a mode against bots.
PolarzinhoI grabbed the airstrike once and felt like I owned the arena. It lasted exactly until a red tank came up behind me.
2. Magnado: the magnet io game
Here you are a horseshoe magnet on a workshop tray. Nuts, bolts and washers add to your mass and make your magnet stronger. Press the button and you release a pulse that pushes rivals away, but each pulse costs some of the metal you collected.
There is an online arena and a mode against bots. The fun is deciding when to spend metal to make room.
PolarzinhoI used to pulse all the time and finished every match the size of a washer. A pulse is an investment, not a panic button.
Tips to survive an io game
- Early on, just collect. Fighting while small wastes XP.
- In Tankado, holding the middle zone pays off, but only move in once your tank has some upgrades.
- In Tankado, spend your upgrade points right away.
- In Magnado, save metal for an emergency pulse.
- Lost? Jump back in. io matches are short and the next one starts from zero.
Frequently asked questions
What does "io" mean in io games?
It comes from the .io domain used by the first games in the genre, like Agar.io. Today it names a style of arena game.
Do I need to download Tankado or Magnado?
No. Both run right in the browser, on a computer or a phone.
Can I play alone?
Yes. Both have a mode against bots, besides the online mode.
To the arena
Pick tank or magnet and jump into the arena. If you like quick matches with friends, there is also a list of games to play with friends on the blog.