Gaming Signal: I Can Has Free Games?

I Can Has Free Games?

While there is some ability to acquire games "freely", this is an area that is not recommended since it both deprives the developer of income and also runs the risk of infecting machines with viruses and malware. Therefore, it is always a treat to get full games for free, and in this case we have several different options.

First up is the massively multiplayer market. This market is full of free game options, and more are added all the time. Now there is a qualifier on the free element to these MMOs, and that is that some advanced features or unlocks are available only via purchases through an online store. Anarchy Online has been free for some time now and is one of the very few science fiction based MMOs. Now one would expect that only older titles to be available in this format, but that is not the case. Newer titles like like Archlord and Sword of the New World have both given up collecting monthly access fees and gone the free route. Admittedly, these are not World of Warcraft, but they do offer the experience of an MMO. The final game that is loosely titled an MMO is Dungeon Runners, and we have touched on that before.

The next area for free games is encompassed by older titles that are now being made available by either GameTap or by downloading from another service. The GameTap route has a set of free games and they update part of that list every week (usually on Thursday). The games are accessed through a local game browser that integrates some ad support to help offset to the costs. They also have a subscription model that gives players access to a very large library of titles from a variety of platforms.

Now these "other services" include games directly from the publisher like the release of Command and Conquer which is now celebrating its 12th Anniversary. Mechcommander Gold and Mechcommander 2 are both available for free from Mechcommander.org. Finally Ubisoft made several of its titles (mix of old and new) available on FilePlanet and can be downloaded with a free account. The current list of titles include Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, Farcry, and Raving Rabbids.

So remember that gaming is available no matter how much you spend on it. The key is to get out there and game.