An idle game for your Chromebook, in the Chrome browser

Star-Spangled Tycoon is an idle tycoon game that runs in a web browser. Chromebooks use Chrome as their main browser, so the browser version is a natural fit. You open the play page, the game starts and there is nothing to install. The idle loop is simple: tap to earn, let your businesses work while you are away, then spend the money on new businesses and upgrades.

We have not tested the game on every Chromebook model, so we cannot promise a result on every machine. The game is a normal web page that runs in a modern version of Chrome. If it runs slowly on an older device, the game still works, but you may want to close other tabs. The game is built around occasional check-ins, so it does not need to run constantly in the foreground to keep earning.

The full game has 5 worlds and 50 businesses. Each business can be upgraded and given a manager, and later worlds add new mechanics. The theme is a parody of American politics, so you play a candidate trying to win an election, with a Cabinet of cartoon politicians along the way. Every character is fictional, and the jokes are aimed at politics in general.

The browser version is free and supported by ads at natural breaks. Some rewards are unlocked by watching a short ad. Progress is saved in the browser on that device, and the settings menu can export a save if you want a backup, which is worth doing if you sign into a different Chromebook or clear browser data. The iPhone and iPad app is free on the App Store. We do not currently publish an Android app, so Chromebooks with the Play Store should use the browser version.

If you have a Chromebook and a few spare minutes, the game is a light thing to try. Open it between classes or after work, see what your businesses earned, make a purchase and move on. Idle games reward short, regular visits, and that is the best way to see whether the rhythm suits you. Short visits fit around school or work, and the game does not need to stay open to keep your businesses earning. Nothing needs to be set up before the first visit. If you decide to keep playing, the settings menu can export your save, so a new Chromebook or a cleared browser does not have to mean starting over from zero.