Badass free games!

Camdog · Joined: 08 Aug 2003 Posts: 606

I've always been amazed how amateur, freeware game projects can often be so much more fun than their commercial counterparts. Here's some of the best stuff I've found over the years. Check them out, they're all well worth it!

Transcendence - A deep, lengthy space exploration game based around improving your ship with found devices as you progress. Plenty of sidequests and interesting backstory spice things up, and the game is totally moddable. Windows only.
Within a Deep Forest - A quirky and atmospheric sidescrolling adventure game. You play as a small ball, bouncing around different exotic locales, gaining new 'materials', which give your ball different physical properties such as more bounciness or weight. Amazing soundtrack. Windows only.
Cave Story - An amazing old-school sidescrolling shooter. Basically does everything right that can be done right in that genre. It's in Japanese, but there's an english patch that will translate it for you. Link goes to a page with instructions on how to get everything working easily. Mac or Windows.
The Ur Quan Masters - The freeware remake of the old commercial game Star Control 2. A space sim with lots of RPG elements, the gameplay revolves around the player returning from a science mission with an alien ship to find his race enslaved by an unknown race. The player must fly around space, gathering resources and recruiting other aliens in the fight for independence. Interesting story with branching paths and timed events, hilarious dialogue, and wonderful space dogfighting gameplay. Mac, Windows, Linux, and... BSD?

Anyone else care to share some freeware game finds?

Iblis · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 5:55 pm Post subject:

Guardian of Paradise (link is to the english translation page, which also has a link to the game download) - A Zelda-esque game, cut up monsters with a sword and solve unique puzzles using elemental magic. There are some pretty interesting design ideas in it and I highly recommend it.

I haven't played any of the ones you mentioned except Cave Story, but I'll try them out later.
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TwinHamster · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject:

Oh, so this is what Misteroo stuck into Arfrenhouse 6. Interesting. I'll have to try it out soon.

Jack · **the fool** Joined: 30 Jul 2004 Posts: 773

A pretty fun game (even though it's just a demo, full is only $10) is Survival Crisis Zero.

http://skasoftware.com/

It's an above view action game that takes place during a zombie apocalypse, or rather the end of the world. You can go around taking over territory, making friends/enemies, or just proceed the storyline.

I find it really fun to play on Hardcore mode, find a group of whatever side you're on (there's swat and rebellion that you can join up with), wait or sleep till night (which gets pretty freaky), and just sit around for a bit. things get hectic.
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Me · Posted: Sun Sep 17, 2006 8:36 pm Post subject:

Dwarf Fortress is a very interesting, highly in-depth, and insanely complex ASCII game wherein you take command of a group of dwarves who must build themselves a new home in the side of a mountain. It's somewhat slow-moving, and getting the hang of it takes some time. There's a Wiki set up full of tutorials and descriptions, so I recommend checking that out when you start.
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Linkmax · Posted: Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:13 pm Post subject:

Soldat is a unique side-view multiplayer action game. It takes the best from games like Liero, Worms, Quake and Counter-Strike and gives you fast action gameplay with tons of blood and flesh. Soldiers fight against each other on 2D battle arenas using a deadly military arsenal. This is what multiplayer was invented for.

My personal favorite Big grin

Leonhart · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 383 Location: Philippines

http://www.fullyramblomatic.com/games.htm has one of the best freeware games out there...
5 Days a Stranger and Trilby's Notes are must-downloads..
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TMC · Posted: Wed Sep 20, 2006 3:08 pm Post subject:

Dwarf Fortress is an awesome game - I've seen screenshots of it before and was impressed, but this time I actually downloaded it and am giving it a go. Lets hope I don't become totally addicted.
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MultiColoredWizard · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 4:23 pm Post subject:

when i want free fun games, i go download roms(and a few rom hacks).

cave story is awesome though.

Onlyoneinall · **Bug finder** Joined: 16 Jul 2005 Posts: 746