Facebook brings HTML5 based Instant Games including PacMan to Messenger

Facebook not only wants you to chat with friends with interesting stickers but also challenge them in games via Messenger or News Feed.

The social media giant has launched an HTML5 based Instant Games feature that will let you play games through Messenger or in the News Feed. This means you don't have to download Facebook's recent Gameroom app, to play games. Instead 17 titles available including "Pac-Man" from Bandai Namco, Taito's "Space Invaders," Zynga's "Words with Friends" and King Digital's "Shuffle Cats Mini" will directly land on your Messenger platform or in News Feed.

"This new games experience allows people to easily discover, share, and play games without having to install new apps," said Facebook product manager Alissa Ju in a blog post announcing the initiative.

However, this is not the first time that Facebook is offering games inside Messenger. Remember the secret Basketball games?

Supporting iOS 8 or above, or Android 5.0 (“Lollipop”) or higher, you will see a new game controller icon will appear just below the box where users can type a message in Messenger. The games can be launched in group chat as well. Once a round is played, users can be challenged for a rematch, or you can post and share your scores via a shared leaderboard.

Those who don't want to play these games, fret not. You will not receive extensive requests from the users like it happens in Candy Crush. "The games are not designed to reward people for getting an increasing number of folks to play," said Leo Olebe, director of global games partnerships at Facebook.

Instant Games has been rolled out to 30 countries. Developers looking to join the experience of closed beta version can click " target="_blank">here.