Phaser & Next.js: Build Browser Games

Building interactive browser games no longer requires complex engines or heavyweight desktop tools. If you already work with JavaScript and Next.js, combining Phaser with a modern React-based framework is one of the easiest ways to create fast, engaging 2D browser games.

In this guide, you’ll learn what Phaser is, why it works so well with Next.js, and how to embed a fully functional game inside your website.

What Is Phaser?

Phaser is a free, open-source HTML5 game framework designed for building fast and flexible 2D games that run directly in the browser. It handles rendering using WebGL or Canvas and provides built-in systems for animation, physics, input handling, asset loading, and sound.

Because Phaser runs entirely in the browser, it’s widely used for browser games, educational projects, interactive websites, and game prototypes. It’s especially popular among web developers who want full control using JavaScript.

Why Use Phaser With Next.js?

While Phaser works perfectly on its own, pairing it with Next.js gives you the best of both worlds: a powerful game engine combined with a modern frontend framework.

1. Clean routing and page structure for your game
2. Easy integration with existing React components
3. SEO-friendly pages alongside interactive content
4. Scalable architecture for larger projects

Phaser handles the game logic inside a canvas element, while Next.js manages layout, navigation, and the surrounding UI.

Getting Started: Installing Phaser

This example assumes you already have a working Next.js project. To install Phaser, run the following command inside your project directory:

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npm install phaser
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# or
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yarn add phaser

Creating a Phaser Game Component

In Next.js App Router projects, Phaser should run only on the client. We do this by creating a client component that initializes the game when the page loads.

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'use client';
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import { useEffect, useRef } from 'react';
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import Phaser from 'phaser';
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export default function PhaserGame() {
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  const gameRef = useRef(null);
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  useEffect(() => {
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    const config = {
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      type: Phaser.AUTO,
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      width: 800,
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      height: 600,
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      parent: gameRef.current,
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      scene: {
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        preload,
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        create,
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        update,
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      },
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    };
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    let game = new Phaser.Game(config);
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    function preload() {
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      this.load.image('logo', '/logo.png');
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    }
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    function create() {
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      this.add.image(400, 300, 'logo');
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    }
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    function update() {
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      // Game loop logic
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    }
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    return () => {
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      game.destroy(true);
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      game = null;
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    };
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  }, []);
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  return <div ref={gameRef}></div>;
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}

This component mounts a Phaser game inside a React component, loads an image, displays it on the screen, and cleans up correctly when the component unmounts.

Using the Game Inside a Next.js Page

Once the component is ready, you can render it like any other React component inside a page.

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import PhaserGame from '@/components/PhaserGame';
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export default function GamePage() {
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  return (
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    <main>
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      <h1>My Phaser Game</h1>
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      <PhaserGame />
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    </main>
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  );
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}

Your Phaser game now lives within your Next.js site and can coexist with navigation, layouts, and other UI components.

Final Thoughts

Phaser and Next.js work surprisingly well together. If you’re a web developer interested in game development, this setup lets you build interactive browser games without leaving the JavaScript ecosystem.

Whether you’re creating a small demo or an educational game, Phaser provides the tools, while Next.js gives you structure, performance, and scalability.