Since Facebook's launch in 2004, it has grown into a social networking beast despite the addition of other social sites along the way like Twitter. There didn't appear to be a suitable rival in sight, but when Google launched its own social network back in June called Google+, many wondered if it would be the next Facebook. 

Despite Google+'s rapid growth, having achieved 10 million users a little over two weeks since is launch and 20 million visitors about a week later, its lack of apps and games has really set it apart from Facebook, and according to some, has even hindered the potential growth of the site. For instance, Ken Rutkowski, founder and president of Metal International, has predicted that games could make Facebook the biggest bank by 2015.

But all of that is about to change, since Google announced yesterday that it is adding games to Google+. Users will soon see a "Games" button at the top of their stream, which allows them to browse recently added games, game updates from their circles and game invites. 

Some of the initial games that will be available at launch will be "Bejeweled Blitz," "Bubble Island," "Angry Birds," "City of Wonder," "Dragon Age Legends," "Collapse! Blast," "Crime City," "Diamond Dash," "Monster World," "Dragons of Atlantis," "Edge World," "Flood-It!," "Zombie Lane," "Zynga Poker," "Wild Ones," and "Sudoku."

Google+ is also welcoming game developer submissions in order to expand the available game options on the site. 

"With the Google+ project, we want to bring the nuance and richness of real-life sharing to the web," said Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President of Engineering for Google. "But sharing is about more than just conversations. The experiences we have together are just as important to our relationships. We want to make playing games online just as fun, and just as meaningful, as playing in real life."

For those of you who saw games and apps as a nuisance on Facebook and dread the thought of seeing it on Google+ too, Google assures that the games option will not overrun your social experience. As the Official Google Blog put it, "games in Google+ are there when you want them and gone when you don't." They can be easily ignored, allowing your stream to continue focusing on conversations with your circles. But if you ever feel that you want to join in, the game button awaits you at the top of your stream.

Starting yesterday, Google plans to gradually present new games in Google+, and says they will be fully available "soon."