Mark Zuckerberg created the sensational Facebook as a sophomore at Harvard University. Originally just for university students around the world, Facebook opened its doors to anyone thirteen years or older on September 26, 2006. Since then the social network has been criticized for issues related to privacy settings and has even admitted that some of the cookies on Facebook could be used to track users after they leave Facebook.

But beyond all of the issues that Facebook may have it is an invaluable tool for keeping in touch friends, wasting time, and sharing photos and links. Facebook has also developed into one of the best sites to stay entertained. Since 2006 there have been quizzes and games on Facebook but recently these games have exploded in quantity and popularity.

Facebook games are constantly changing, whether current features are being updated or new features are being added. The games that are most popular are also changing every year but the ones that in the top ten are almost always from similar types of games. Most people seem to enjoy classic games – like Tetris, Bejeweled, and Angry Birds (a newer classic) – but they also love games that include strategy and building something over time – like CityVille and FarmVille.

The number one game of 2012 is CityVille with 40.9 million users a month and 6.2 million users daily according to Inside Social Games. In the game the Facebook user is the mayor of a small town. As mayor the user must perform tasks to develop and level the city including construction and collecting rent. The user’s friends can also be employed to perform tasks within the town and help the user to level his or her city. With ninety levels, users need all of the help they can get. Although CityVille was launched in 2010 there have been similar games such as FarmVille that have been around even longer.

The second place in most popular Facebook games of 2012 is Zynga’s Texas HoldEm Poker. Although not an original Facebook creation, the game demonstrates that classic games of the real world do not have to disappear with the internet. With 35 million users in June 2012 alone and 6.9 million daily users, the classic game is, not surprisingly, one of the most commonly played games on Facebook. Inside Social Games claims that Texas HoldEm Poker has a monthly average of 36.7 million users.

Prior to the creation of Texas HoldEm Poker, Bejeweled, Tetris, and many others Facebook had MindJolt Games. Mind Jolt allowed Facebook users to play classic arcade, puzzle, strategy, and sports games that users could play alone or with friends.

In third place is the 2009 game FarmVille. Prior to FarmVille there was FarmTown which was essentially the same game with a different name. FarmVille had about 21.7 million users in June 2012 and has 4.6 million daily users. FarmVille has always been one of the most popular games on Facebook, making the top ten list every year since its inception. In the game users plant crops and trees and take care of animals on his or her own farm. Harvesting crops will get the user in game money that can be used for decorations and new crops. Users can also interact with their friends who can have neighboring farms and help each other with their farms.

In fourth place is the CastleVille is one of Facebook’s more recent games, released in November 2011, and is similar to the other -ville games but includes more strategy. In CastleVille the user rules a kingdom and can do a whole range of things that include making armor, building up a castle, planting crops, and making alliances. CastleVille boasts 5.4 million daily users and 21.1 million users in the month of June 2012 alone.

To learn more see Even More of the Best Facebook Games of 2012!

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About the author

Alexa Robinson
I am a student at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, FL studying Philosophy and History. I am also a foil fencer and am interested in politics, cinema, music, books, and environmental issues. Reporting from St. Petersburg, Florida.