# Free online multiplayer games? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761 "2003-02-22T11:06:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/21 "2003-02-23T08:07:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Aslan2 \* > \*\*I would actually buy the battlechest, but I’m assuming that it’s american so it’s something like 80 dollars canadian plus shipping. \*\* Try your local software stores. If they don’t have the Battlechest they should at least have the separate parts. ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/22 "2003-02-23T10:24:26Z")
Yeah. I think it’s 40 bucks for the game, and 60 bucks for the originial diablo, diablo 2 the expansion and a comic book. ---
**Author:** ![Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Aslan\_of\_Narnia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aslan_of_Narnia)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/23 "2003-02-23T10:26:07Z")
Yeah. I think it’s 40 bucks for the game, and 60 bucks for the originial diablo, diablo 2 the expansion and a comic book. I think I’ll start a new thred then… See if it would be a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Disciple\_of\_Alf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/958977/32.png) [@Disciple\_of\_Alf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disciple_of_Alf)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/24 "2003-02-23T16:09:33Z")
A game I just started playing yesterday that I think is pretty fun can be found at [http://www.dransik.com/](http://www.dransik.com/) I’d describe it as runescapish, with plenty of different skills for you to advance, but I think the advancement is more satisfying. There are lots of different trade skills you can choose from, including baking, blacksmithing, farming, woodworking and a few others. I’ve been looking around for a long time for a free mmorpg that was fun to play, and to be honest, this is the first. The game’s in open beta, so it’s free for now (aside from the download, which is something like 45 megs I think). I don’t know when it might go to p2p, but I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/25 "2003-02-23T19:21:40Z")
What kind of games are you looking for? If you want just ‘fun’ games, then check out **Psychobabble** at [www.popcap.com](http://www.popcap.com). Very addictive. ---
**Author:** ![raisinbread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8491ac/32.png) [@raisinbread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raisinbread)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/26 "2003-02-23T20:28:33Z")
I will assume that you are looking for free multiplayer roleplaying games. A quick search of [color=“blue”]Google came up with [a few sites](http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=free+mmorpg&btnG=Google+Search) that claim to be free. If you don’t care about graphics then there are MUDs. Multi User Dimensions (or Dungeons) with variations such as MUSH, MUSE, MOO and more. They cover a wide range of genres and many support non-rpg kinds of games like Boggle or Scrabble. I am unable to offer any others because it would violate the TOS of the Straight Dope Message Boards.[/color] ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/27 "2003-02-25T02:20:02Z")
Um…you guys are forgetting the best free multiplayer 1st person shooter… Army Operations [www.americasarmy.com](http://www.americasarmy.com) ---
**Author:** ![rexnervous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@rexnervous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rexnervous)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/28 "2003-02-25T04:11:10Z")
The most addicting game I’ve come across lately is a full-fledged space sim called [Ferion](http://www.ferion.com). It’s a turn-based game (1 real-time hour = 1 turn) that is anything you could ask for for a free\* game. Exploration, economics/trading, science/research, population control, resource development and, most importantly, warfare and alliances. Ultimately, it is a battle game. The warfare includes virtually unlimited ship design. Each game is called an arena, and each arena lasts from 4 - 7 weeks. You can give order queues so things happen without you having to be logged on. Multiple arenas are run at one time. It’s a text-based game, but with lots of graphics to it. It’s also not that well-known, and almost everyone involved is nice and helpful. There are a couple drawbacks: 1. It’s addictive 2. It can be quite complicated, and a little difficult to understand first time out. 3. Regardless of the ability to make order queues, if you’re not able to log in at least a few times per day you won’t win. You may still have fun, but you won’t win. 4. The game is evolving. This is a good thing, but the manuals are now somewhat out of date. You have to learn by asking in-game, or at the forums. So - it may not be your cup of tea, but if you’re looking for something more involving than the latest version of Tetris, give it a whirl. If you want to read other reviews of it, [read these.](http://www.mpogd.com/games/rating/rating.asp?ID=370) \*NOTE: the game is not entirely free. In order to release the higher-level technologies, you must purchase a $5 key. However, you can play indefinitely without it - and only purchase a key in those arenas that you are doing well in. You’ll get 8 - 10 days of free fun per arena before it even becomes viable to purchase a key, and again, you can keep playing without it. ---
**Author:** ![kasuo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8c91f0/32.png) [@kasuo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kasuo)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/29 "2003-02-25T04:15:46Z")
[http://www.barponline.com/](http://www.barponline.com/) [http://www.graalonline.com/](http://www.graalonline.com/) ---
**Author:** ![joemama24\_98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@joemama24\_98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joemama24_98)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761/30 "2003-02-25T04:33:20Z")
My all time favorite game: Subspace/Continuum: [http://www.subspace.net](http://www.subspace.net) If you d/l it, enter the Extreme Games zone, but first check out their site for the general rules of the game under the Newbie Guide: [http://www.extreme-games.net](http://www.extreme-games.net) It may take a few hours of play to get the idea and learn how to effectively fly, but trust me, you will be hooked. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/free-online-multiplayer-games/156761.md?page=1)