# Good Free Computer Games? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603 "2000-11-17T16:18:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/1 "2000-11-17T16:18:34Z")
I’m just starting my first study-free three day weekend in recent memory. Since I intend to thoroughly waste it, who can point me in the direction of some good yet free downloadable computer games? I’m looking for specific suggestions here. While I’m most fond of games in the RPG/adventure genre, a good shoot-'em-up might just suit the bill. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/2 "2000-11-17T16:24:04Z")
Many old games abandoned by their manufacturers are to be found at [http://www.theunderdogs.org](http://www.theunderdogs.org) Hundreds of great titles. Have at it. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/3 "2000-11-17T16:33:24Z")
Get yourself an NES emulator. Got to NESticle to download all you need. ---
**Author:** ![Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Trout\_Mask\_Replica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trout_Mask_Replica)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/4 "2000-11-17T17:42:16Z")
Thanks to [MAME](http://www.mame.net), I can now play Spy Hunter again after all these years. ---
**Author:** ![andyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8491ac/32.png) [@andyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andyman)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/5 "2000-11-17T17:48:17Z")
There are also emulators for most of the other console games out there. I downloaded the Sega Genesis one last week, and for the first time in years I’m playing Phantasy Star IV! It’s SO cool! > **[The Emulator Zone - Your Source for Emulation!](https://www.emulator-zone.com/)** > > The Emulator Zone is your source for the latest emulators for classic video game consoles and home computers. [http://www.emux.com/english/emulators/sega-genesis.phtml](http://www.emux.com/english/emulators/sega-genesis.phtml) These are just a couple. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/6 "2000-11-17T17:57:58Z")
I don’t know if this is a good place for this question but … I just checked out that Underdogs site. Very cool. I found an old game that I love - Stunt Island. In fact I still have the disks, I managed to load it on my new Windows ME system, but I can’t seem to free up the conventional memory it demands. Does anyone know how to squeeze conventional mem out of Windows ME in order to play old DOS games? ---
**Author:** ![muppetsoup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/aca169/32.png) [@muppetsoup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muppetsoup)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/7 "2000-11-17T18:03:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jack Batty \* > \*\*I don’t know if this is a good place for this question but … > > I just checked out that Underdogs site. Very cool. I found an old game that I love - Stunt Island. In fact I still have the disks, I managed to load it on my new Windows ME system, but I can’t seem to free up the conventional memory it demands. > > Does anyone know how to squeeze conventional mem out of Windows ME in order to play old DOS games? \*\* WinMe doesn’t have real mode dos anymore, but there should be some files you can modify that emulate autoexec.bat and config.sys for backwards compatibility purposes. I don’t have an Me box around or i’d be more specific. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/8 "2000-11-17T18:16:43Z")
[url=“[http://www.nethack.org](http://www.nethack.org)”]Nethack\*\* Of course, a three-day weekend isn’t going to suffice. ---
**Author:** ![HalberMensch242](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecb155/32.png) [@HalberMensch242](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HalberMensch242)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/9 "2000-11-17T19:10:38Z")
Check out Subspace…a really neat 2-d mutli-player game. [http://www.subspacehq.com](http://www.subspacehq.com) ---
**Author:** ![Suo\_Na](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/898d66/32.png) [@Suo\_Na](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suo_Na)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/10 "2000-11-17T22:19:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by obfusciatrist \* > **[Nethack](http://www.nethack.org)** > > Of course, a three-day weekend isn’t going to suffice. \*\* I second obfusciatrist’s suggestion. Beware, though, you will be hooked for life. ---
**Author:** ![Mojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mojo)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2000, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/11 "2000-11-17T22:22:21Z")
[http://dowload.cnet.com/downloads/0-10042-108-45696](http://dowload.cnet.com/downloads/0-10042-108-45696) -Dope Wars [Edited by slythe on 11-20-2000 at 09:00 PM] ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/12 "2000-11-18T04:33:37Z")
May I suggest Demonstar from [http://www.download.com](http://www.download.com) ? Good old fashioned top-to-bottom scrolling shoot-em-up. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/13 "2000-11-18T07:07:04Z")
**RickJay** , [gush] May I just say that between this underdogs link, and your posts concerning Canadian politics, you have to be one of my favorite posters on this board. [/gush] ---
**Author:** ![teabag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9e8a1a/32.png) [@teabag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teabag)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/14 "2000-11-18T17:09:18Z")
[http://www.snood.com](http://www.snood.com) This is an extrmemly addictive shareware game…three days probably won’t be enought to complete all 50 levels though. Watch out for level 27, it’s a bitch 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/15 "2000-11-18T18:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Suo Na \* > \*\*I second obfusciatrist’s suggestion. Beware, though, you will be hooked for life. \*\* Nah, you won’t. Eventually you WILL figure out the controls. ---
**Author:** ![tygre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c4cdca/32.png) [@tygre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tygre)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/16 "2000-11-18T18:28:15Z")
Try this site: [http://www.tripletsrus.com/80s/80s\_games/arcade.htm](http://www.tripletsrus.com/80s/80s_games/arcade.htm) You gotta get MAME though - it rocks! –tygre ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/17 "2000-11-18T19:12:01Z")
My husband was entranced by Dink Smallwood which you can get at: [http://www.rtsoft.com/dink/pages/home.htm](http://www.rtsoft.com/dink/pages/home.htm) The game is a nasty version of games like Zelda. ---
**Author:** ![Wandering\_Pilgrim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f19dbf/32.png) [@Wandering\_Pilgrim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wandering_Pilgrim)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/18 "2000-11-18T19:32:11Z")
I good site to download free games is [http://www.3dfiles.com](http://www.3dfiles.com)…lots of good demos and other cool stuff. ---
**Author:** ![KJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b2d939/32.png) [@KJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KJ)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/19 "2000-11-18T23:23:50Z")
You can get… - **Emulators** (I know a lot about emulation - in fact, I’ve hacked a few games and changed the graphics and stuff. It’s fun): Get good emulators at [http://www.zophar.net/](http://www.zophar.net/) . - **Guggoids** or **ICR** (both are rather incomplete)…MY GAMES! PLUGPLUGPLUGPLUGPLUG!!! And they are and always will be totally freeware! [Go! Nownownow! Ahahahahaha](http://www.stas.net/kinkajoy/)_cough_ _hack_ - **Doom shareware**. Whatever happened to the concept of shareware anyway? Well, you can get Doom shareware [here](http://www.doomworld.com/files/shareware.shtml), if you’re into that type of game. - Anything from [dosgames.com](http://www.dosgames.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2000, 10:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603/20 "2000-11-19T10:39:03Z")
Nethack? You kids with your fancy net . . . I used to play plain old hack on an IBM XT, with a green monotone screen. And I LIKED it! Check out the game section of [http://www.theunderdogs.org](http://www.theunderdogs.org). They have full versions of a lot of older games, a suprising number of which are offically free for download (System Shock 1!!) and may thus be downloaded guilt-free. – “Man, I love Pac-Man!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-free-computer-games/41603.md?page=2)