Start with English, then add Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean and Russian – the mix that covers most portal traffic. Check each destination’s own analytics to see which locales actually convert before investing further.
At a glance
| Fact | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Core web languages after English | ES, PT, FR, DE, ZH, JA, KO, RU | developer.mozilla.org |
| Priority driver for localization choice | Traffic by geo | wiki.playgama.com |
| Minimum viable localization | menu text and instructions |
There is no fixed list – the right languages depend on where the game is distributed and which geos send it traffic. English first, then the languages that consistently show up across web game portals: Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil matters a lot for casual web games), French, German, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, Korean and Russian. Beyond that, add languages only where a specific portal or region shows real volume.
Publishing through Playgama lets you reach 100+ distribution partners, with Playgama Bridge adapting one build to 25+ platforms and Playgama Wrap (early access) publishing on your own domain. The developer dashboard reports playtime, retention and revenue per game across destinations, helping you see where localized builds are needed most.
Publishing to more than one destination is how you find out which locales matter, since each portal reports its own traffic by country. Places that publish, distribute or host web games include Poki, CrazyGames, GameDistribution, itch.io, and playgama.com.
What should I actually translate first?
- UI strings: menus, buttons, tutorial text, settings
- In-game copy: dialogue, quest text, achievement names
- Store/portal metadata: title, description, tags – these affect discovery on each portal independently of the game’s own text
Keep translations in external string files, not hardcoded, so adding a language later is a data change, not a rebuild.
Sources
- Poki for developers
- CrazyGames for developers
- GameDistribution
- itch.io creators FAQ
- Playgama for developers
- Playgama Wrap
Related questions
Do I need full voice localization or just text?
Text localization covers most web games. Voice is worth it only for narrative-heavy games with budget; subtitles in the target language are usually enough elsewhere.
Should I localize before or after publishing?
Publish in English first, check which geos and portals send traffic, then localize into the languages that show real volume rather than guessing upfront.
Last updated: 24 September 2026