The last time I presented you with my favorite free games, I strived to achieve collage-perfection. This time I tried something easier. Photo-manipulation, using the most advanced digital tools. You can see the results on the nice hand-crafted (ahem) pic, that's right above this paragraph. But, I digress. Nobody is here to read about my artistic and/or technical endeavors. You are all here for the games.
Well, the games that made it to this list, were carefully hand-picked in my rather picturesque cyber-garden. They are not shareware titles, trials or mods. They are all full free (100% legal) games, and each and every one of them has given me at least a few hours of clean-godly-gnomish fun. (America's Army is not included, and no matter how many of you moan, it will never be. I hate this game). Well, without further ado then, on to the list...
Well, the games that made it to this list, were carefully hand-picked in my rather picturesque cyber-garden. They are not shareware titles, trials or mods. They are all full free (100% legal) games, and each and every one of them has given me at least a few hours of clean-godly-gnomish fun. (America's Army is not included, and no matter how many of you moan, it will never be. I hate this game). Well, without further ado then, on to the list...
The Top of the Crop
Xenon 2000: A Xenon II update, by the Bitmap Brothers themselves. Joy, oh joy! Respects, bows and generally dances around. In a happy way. Oh, it's a classic shoot em'up if you must know.
SimCity: The original, society-altering, pseudo-scientific, but exquisite game (cyber-toy, more like it) for city planner wannabes, is at last free.
GunZ: That's one for my gore-minded friends. Go on, download, install and murder polygonal entities to your heart's delight.
Trackmania Nations: Race race-cars and have mindless fun. For free of course.
Zork I, II and III: The best adventure games ever, made it to the public domain, and there was much rejoicing. Brilliant. No screenshots provided. (They are text-adventures. Aaaah...)
Cholo: A beautiful and groundbreaking (it's an 8bit game remake) 3d action game. Requires some strategic thinking and should be avoided by epileptics. Obviously.
KKrieger: An impressive First Person Shooter in under 100kbs? Of course. Marvel at this creation by the demoscene's finest...
NetHack: By popular demand. The ultimate hack-n-slash time sink. Respect the addictive power of ASCII.
The Elder Scrolls: Arena: Apparently Oblivion's grandfather. An immense RPG, with basic but functional 3d graphics. Thank you, Bethesda.
Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe: The same. Also included are: Devil's Bridge expansion pack and H&D game editor.
Facade: The next step in AI development or the evolution of the Sims and cyber-voyeurs? No matter what you think, you really have a look at this innovative almost-gamy piece of software.
The List v.2 (TM)
....MMOGs
Planeshift: Nothing to do with planes or planets, Planeshift is a pretty standard fantasy-themed MMORPG. It's in 3d too!
Gunbound: An amazing-looking on-line game, that's actually fun and simple.
Urban Dead: The best free MMORPG. Web-based, popular, simple and humorous. Plus you can be the Zombie.
Wyvern: It's a MMORPG, it looks like a MUD and it's in beta. What is it? Wyvern, of course.
....Strategy & Wargames
MegaMek: Live the excitement and all-around sexy action of ...er... the BattleTech board game on your PC.
Invade Earth: A sci-fi version of Risk.
Chart Wars: Apparently a management game, that has something to do with music. And charts.
GameBiz: Like Chart Wars, only with games.
Bontago: Interesting, real-time, requiring abstract strategy and in 3d.
Dark Oberon: The best freeware 2d RTS around, featuring amazing clay stop-motion animation.
....Shooters
Nexuiz: A pretty decent deathmatch FPS. I must admit it was rather enjoyable.
Starsiege: Tribes: Calling this a shooter is an understatement, but I just don't feel like elaborating. An amazing game, and I guess you'll have to thank Vivendi.
Red Planet Arena: Another highly-polished FPS, but for free.
Alien Breed: Obliteration: At last. A 2d shooter and a remake/expansion/improvement of one of the better games on the Amiga. Classic.
....RPGs
Ultima IV: A remake.
Zelda Classic: Another remake.
Eternal Daughter: Not a remake.
Dungeoncrawl: Neither a remake, nor a novel idea.
....Adventures
The Black Cauldron and more Al Lowe games: Have a look at legendary Al Lowe's creation after he did Softporn and before doing Leisure Suit Larry.
Flight of the Amazon Queen (CD version): A classic 90's point and click adventure, with great humor. Quite a tough one too.
Betrayal at Krondor: Based on the works of R.E. Feist, this is an excellent adventure. By Sierra of course.
Space Quest 0: Replicated: A funny fan addition to the Space Quest saga.
Kings Quest I, II: Great VGA remakes of the classic Sierra games.
Spooks!: Short, gothic and fresh. Reviewed by me right here.
....Games in Space
Elite: The ueber classic space-trading game, available for free through your browser. Immense.
Battlecruiser Millennium: A very complex, but ultimately rewarding game. In space.
Babylon 5: I've found her: Simply brilliant. Perhaps the best space sim of our day, and it will cost you nothing. Nada. Nichts. Rien.
Wing Commander Privateer Remake: Self explanatory and very well done.
....Arcades
Zombie Farm: Destroy 3d zombies the old fashioned way.
One Must Fall 2097: Great 2d graphics and typical beat 'em up (one-on-one) action.
Beats of Rage: Nothing to do with the Beat generation, just a very well done Streets of Rage tribute.
Horace and the Spiders: Typical platform action from the Spectrum era. Nostalgic.
GL-117: A very-very arcadey flight simulator.
FlightGear: A rather more realistic flight simulator.
A game with a kitty: Beautiful 2d platform action with great visuals.
Little Fighter 2: Decent and with anime style.
Cave Story: Arcade-adventure-platform gameplay and retro visuals.
Rumble Box: Artsy 3d beat 'em up. Worth a look.
....Unique
Cloud: What can I say for this one? It's beautiful, innovative and very playable. Makes me wonder why I didn't include it in the Top of the Crop games. Really great.
[N]: Not unique in terms of gameplay, but with highly original visuals.
Klass of '99: Relive your school years and cry like a baby.
Ocular Ink: Plain weird. You get to control an eyeball...
....Casual Time Wasting Thingies (CTWTs)
Lemmingball Z: Quirky little game, that's got Lemmings in it.
Plasmapong: Pong with fancy graphics. Guaranteed to break the ice at parties.
Future Pinball: A work in progress it might be, but an impressive pinball game it is.
Grid Wars and other nice and short casual games.
FooBillard: 3d Billard would have been more appropriate, me thinks.
Oh, and ABA Games are offering a modest collection of interesting and mostly 3d freeware games.
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Related Gnome's Lair articles: Running old DOS games, Morrowind mods, Play retro games on Java, Telltale Texas Hold'em review
Related Tags: Free, free games, freeware, game, video games, entertainment, games, adventure, FPS, RTS, strategy, arcade, action, retro, Al Lowe
