# Nice freeware games **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 18, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522 "2007-06-18T23:24:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2007, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/1 "2007-06-18T23:24:38Z")
I’m looking for some nice freeware games for my son (age 9) platformers are good, puzzle games also. Not first person shooters or anything graphically demanding, as this system won’t take it. Windows PC preferrable, but by all means suggest games for other platforms, as I hope this thread will address more than just my personal requirements. Any suggestions? ---
**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:** [June 18, 2007, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/2 "2007-06-18T23:31:18Z")
I think you’re looking for [Café](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=422078&highlight=free+games) [Society](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=402978&highlight=transcendence). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/3 "2007-06-19T01:01:23Z")
What is the processor and graphics card if you know it? It gives us a general idea what the system can play. Dah! I think you are capable of giving the video processor. I just realized to whom I was addressing the question. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/4 "2007-06-19T03:00:21Z")
[Blitwise](http://www.blitwise.com/) has some nice games. I play Pocket Tanks all the time. The site lets you download a free demo game which is fully functional. They charge for the deluxe versions which have expansions to the basic version. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/5 "2007-06-19T08:53:44Z")
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord] What is the processor and graphics card if you know it? It gives us a general idea what the system can play. Dah! I think you are capable of giving the video processor. I just realized to whom I was addressing the question. [/QUOTE] It’s only an Athlon 2000 with a very generic S3 video card - no proper hardware acceleration or anything, so scrollers and platform games are OK, complex FPS games tend not to run well (but I don’t like them anyway) ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/6 "2007-06-19T10:59:59Z")
Check out the [Experimental Gameplay Project](http://www.experimentalgameplay.com/). All freeware games, some strange, some a bit violent, some extremely cool. Also, Fun-Motion’s [List of Physics Games](http://www.fun-motion.com/list-of-physics-games/) contains a bunch of great games, a number of which are also freeware, and all of which incorporate the use of physics in the gameplay, which makes them fun and intuitive. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/7 "2007-06-19T13:31:30Z")
What OS are you running? I set up an old cast off to run off WIN 3.1/DOS for just this sort of thing. You don’t even need to pay for the OS anymore. Alex-Soft has approximately 1 ton(ne) of old PC & WIN3.1 games. They even have the original text **Zork** , I believe. I don’t have a linky, but last week I also found **Star Control II** in both the original PC format AND the 3D0 code reworked to WIN XP format (this is totally schweet, by the way) so you don’t need to run it under DOSBox. Master of Magic (fantasy/strategy) is also available without too much looking. And highly addictive. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/8 "2007-06-19T13:39:52Z")
The machine is dual-boot XP home and Ubuntu 6.something ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/9 "2007-06-19T14:03:59Z")
> **[Free PC Game Downloads - New Games Every Day at Download-Free-Games.com](https://www.download-free-games.com/download/cat/freeware)** > > Free games for your PC, with new games added daily. Play hundreds of popular games, including Match-3, Puzzle, Hidden Object, Time Management, Strategy, Arcade games and more. Try: Kings Quest Beneath A Steal Sky Many of the game companies have released the earlier versions of their games series for freeware now. Some of those earlier games have demo’s that play farther than I would play too, so they’re good enough to kill a few hours, and play again in a month. I ran across a game in Linux that had a goldfish and a larger fish that you have to maneuver though caves. It’s about figuring out how to move stuff in a logical way to get to the next room. I wish I could remember the name. Maybe somebody reading this will know. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/10 "2007-06-19T14:11:01Z")
Rockstar have the first two Grand Theft Auto games available for free download [here.](http://www.rockstargames.com/classics/) ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/11 "2007-06-19T14:15:57Z")
Nine years old? You could try [NeoPets](http://www.neopets.com). They have a couple hundred little Flash games, all of which are free. And playing games earns points, with which you can “buy” virtual stuff on the site, such as food for your neopet or decorations for your neohome. ---
**Author:** ![ebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@ebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ebb)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/12 "2007-06-19T14:56:55Z")
Look through the site [www.jayisgames.com](http://www.jayisgames.com). It’s a daily review of free games, mostly Flash or Shockwave (playable in your web browser) but also some downloadable stuff. Look for the tag “kidsafe” to find games that are good for kids. The reviews are usually spot-on, and the site makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/13 "2007-06-19T22:27:20Z")
One I played in college that I never finished: [Excelsior: Phase One](http://www.nwlink.com/~dberke/ex1.htm). It _was_ freeware, but was bought by a small firm and is now share-ware. It’s one heck of a great game–so good in fact, I downloaded it again a few weeks ago and started playing again. It’s one of them knight in armor games. Written well, and a very good puzzle. Tripler Hey, I like the old DOS games. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/14 "2007-06-19T22:44:45Z")
[QUOTE=Tripler] One I played in college that I never finished: [Excelsior: Phase One](http://www.nwlink.com/~dberke/ex1.htm). It _was_ freeware, but was bought by a small firm and is now share-ware. It’s one heck of a great game–so good in fact, I downloaded it again a few weeks ago and started playing again. It’s one of them knight in armor games. Written well, and a very good puzzle. [/QUOTE] That game’s a dead ringer for the original Ultima games. Might be a little involved for a 9-year-old though. ---
**Author:** ![Aioua](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@Aioua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aioua)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/15 "2007-06-19T23:45:30Z")
You want a platformer?[You want N.](http://www.harveycartel.org/metanet/n.html) Quite possibly the best platformer ever made. Little ninja, running through the maze collecting gold, trying not to get killed by robots. Fantastic physics. Just amazing. Oh, and wall jumps. The game is just perfect. 100 episodes of 5 levels each are built right into the game, along with a nice level editor, and there are tons of user levels available for download. I would pay good money for this game, but its free. You can’t beat free. You must try this game. ---
**Author:** ![Dunawake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dunawake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunawake)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2007, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/16 "2007-06-19T23:47:13Z")
[Warning Forever](http://www18.big.or.jp/~hikoza/Prod/index_e.html) is fun little shooting game that goes on forever, with progressively more complicated and difficult bosses. Totally free, and pretty cool graphics too. ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/17 "2007-06-20T05:55:20Z")
[FreeCiv](http://freeciv.wikia.com/wiki/Download) is an open source version of the Sid Meier Civilisation games and should work on pretty much anything. It’s more a strategy game than a reflex clickfest which I always find more satisfying. ---
**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:** [June 20, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/18 "2007-06-20T18:29:12Z")
I’m a big fan of Continuum: > **[SubSpace (video game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SubSpace_(computer_game))** > > SubSpace is a 2D space shooter video game created in 1995 and released in 1997 by Virgin Interactive which was a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Online Game of the Year Award in 1998. SubSpace incorporates quasi-realistic zero-friction physics into a massively multiplayer online game. > The game is no longer operated by VIE; instead, fans and players of the game provide servers and technical updates. > The action is viewed from above, which presents challenges very diff... Its a top-down team-based spaceship shooter game…I like the Extreme Games zone best - teams of 12 trying to locate, capture, and guard all 30 flags in the arena. Its takes a lot of team coordination, different roles, etc. Easy to learn, hard to master. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/19 "2007-06-20T18:33:13Z")
I’ve been playing a ton of [Dungeon Runners](http://www.dungeonrunners.com/) lately. It’s basically 3D Diablo, and the best part is that it’s free. If you pay $5.00 a month, you get stacking potions and the better magic items, but I’m having a blast just playing through it for free. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522/20 "2007-06-20T20:13:44Z")
Some people are missing the limited graphics point. The following is about the link. [QUOTE=joemama24\_98] I’m a big fan of Continuum: > **[SubSpace (video game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SubSpace_(computer_game))** > > SubSpace is a 2D space shooter video game created in 1995 and released in 1997 by Virgin Interactive which was a finalist for the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences Online Game of the Year Award in 1998. SubSpace incorporates quasi-realistic zero-friction physics into a massively multiplayer online game. The game is no longer operated by VIE; instead, fans and players of the game provide servers and technical updates. The action is viewed from above, which presents challenges very different ... Its a top-down team-based spaceship shooter game…I like the Extreme Games zone best - teams of 12 trying to locate, capture, and guard all 30 flags in the arena. Its takes a lot of team coordination, different roles, etc. Easy to learn, hard to master. [/QUOTE] This is for that link. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. Please search for SubSpace (computer game in Wikipedia to check for alternative titles or spellings. ``` * Start the SubSpace (computer game article or add a request for it. * Search for "SubSpace (computer game" in existing articles. * Look for other pages within Wikipedia that link to this title. ``` [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nice-freeware-games/408522.md?page=2)