Create your own unblocked games site using free GitHub Pages hosting. Learn how to choose legal games, set up a repository, publish on GitHub Pages, connect a custom domain and optimise for SEO.
Many unblocked‑games websites depend on free static hosting services and simple HTML5 games. GitHub Pages is a popular option because it hosts static websites directly from a repository and supports custom domains pages.github.com. HTML5 games consist of standard web files (HTML, CSS and JavaScript), so they can be hosted like any other website. This guide explains how to build a legal unblocked‑games site on GitHub Pages, from choosing games to publishing your site and adding a custom domain.
Select legally shareable games – Only host games you have the right to distribute. Many open‑source or public‑domain HTML5 games are available on GitHub or itch.io. Avoid pirated games or copyrighted titles without permission. Hosting illegal content can lead to takedown requests.
Organise files – Each game should reside in its own folder containing an index.html file along with any assets (images, sprites, scripts, etc.). Use clear, descriptive names for folders (e.g., /gravity-runner/ instead of /game1/). Later, these folders will be linked on your site.
Create a homepage – Build a main index.html file that links to each game. Include concise descriptions and thumbnails to help visitors decide what to play. Use semantic headings and paragraphs for better accessibility and SEO.
Sign up and log in – If you don’t already have a GitHub account, sign up at github.com.
Create a repository – Click “New repository” and choose a descriptive name (e.g., unblocked-games-site). Public repositories are free. You can host your site from any branch or folder, but many users create a dedicated branch (commonly gh-pages).
Add your game files – Upload the index.html homepage and each game folder. GitHub Pages will look for an entry file named index.html or README.mddocs.github.com. Commit your changes.
Enable GitHub Pages – In your repository’s Settings tab, scroll to Pages. Under Source, choose the branch and folder that contain your site (for example, the main branch /root). Click Save. GitHub will publish your site to a URL like https://yourusername.github.io/unblocked-games-site/.
GitHub Pages hosts websites directly from repositories without a back‑end pages.github.com, making it ideal for static HTML5 game send3r.com.
Create a navigation menu – Use lists or a sidebar to link to each game. Internal linking helps players navigate and makes it easier for search engines to crawl all pages.
Optimise game pages – Each game’s index.html should include:
A <title> tag that mentions the game name and “unblocked” (e.g., Rooftop Snipers Unblocked).
An <h1> heading repeating the game name.
A short description, controls and instructions. Unique text improves SEO and helps user.
Compressed images with descriptive alt attributes to improve performance and accessibility.
Mobile responsiveness – Many visitors play unblocked games on Chromebooks or tablets. Use responsive CSS (media queries and flexible layouts) to ensure your site looks good on different screen sizes.
GitHub Pages assigns a default URL (yourusername.github.io) but you can point a custom domain to your site. According to GitHub’s documentation, you can set up or update DNS records and repository settings to point your default domain to a custom domain docs.github.com. Here’s how:
Buy a domain – Purchase a domain name from a registrar (e.g., Namecheap, Google Domains).
Add a DNS record – In your registrar’s control panel, create a CNAME record pointing your domain (e.g., play.example.com) to your GitHub Pages URL (yourusername.github.io). The blog article on hosting HTML5 games notes that you can create subdomains for each game (e.g., rogers.enclavegames.com) and point them to the GitHub Pages address.
Create a CNAME file – In your repository’s root folder, add a plain‑text file named CNAME containing your custom domain (play.example.com). Commit and push the changes. GitHub will update the site to use your domain.
Wait for DNS propagation – It may take several hours for your DNS changes to propagate. Once complete, visiting your domain will load your GitHub Pages site.
Use descriptive titles and meta descriptions – Each page should have a unique <title> tag and a meta description around 150 characters. Include relevant keywords such as “unblocked games,” “free browser games,” and specific game names.
Optimise page speed – Compress images, minify CSS/JS files and avoid unnecessary libraries. Faster sites provide a better user experience and may rank higher.
Add a sitemap – Generate an XML sitemap listing all game pages using a tool such as xml‑sitemaps.com and submit it to Google Search Console to aid indexing.
Respect copyright – Only host games that are open‑source or used with permission. Avoid circumventing school filters or encouraging users to bypass network restrictions. Provide clear DMCA contact information.
Promote your site – Share on social media, join forums and collaborate with game developers. Avoid spammy link‑building; focus on quality backlinks.
Monitor traffic – Use Google Analytics or an alternative to track visits, popular games and user behaviour. Update content based on trends.
Add new games regularly – Keep the library fresh by adding new legal games. Update the homepage to highlight recent additions.
Handle errors and feedback – Provide a contact page or form for feedback. Create a custom 404 page to gracefully handle broken links or removed games.
Backup your repository – Regularly clone or export your repository to ensure you have a local copy of your games and site content.
Building an unblocked‑games website with GitHub Pages is straightforward because HTML5 games are just static web files that can be hosted directly from a repositor. By carefully selecting legal games, structuring your site with clear navigation, using SEO best practices and optionally adding a custom domain, you can create a polished gaming portal that works on school networks and browsers. Maintain your site by adding new games, monitoring performance and complying with copyright laws.