Free Games (Not Time Limited)

[ZedClampet]

Thought maybe we needed a thread to post games that are always free (please don't post games with pay-to-win features).

This first game has an article on PC Gamer today. It's one of the top rated games of all time on Steam and it's completely free:

The Murder of Sonic the Hedgehog on Steam

Sonic the Hedgehog...was murdered!? Get to the bottom of the mystery in this brand-new adventure!

store.steampowered.com

Edit: Should this just be for completely free games where you can't buy anything at all, or should we include fair free-to-play games? My original thought was to use it for completely free games.

 

[Pifanjr]

Can't have a thread about free games without including Dwarf Fortress, probably the most ambitious game ever made (and not even close to being done) and entirely free, though you can also buy the Steam version with improved graphics and UI.

The next biggest free game I'm aware of is OpenTTD, based on the original Transport Tycoon game by Chris Sawyer.

Then there are NetHack and Angband (and its many variants), based on Rogue, the game which the term roguelike refers to. Angband and a bunch of its variants can be played in a browser here: https://angband.live/

There's also the roguelikes Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup, which has a similar fantasy setting, and Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead, which has a post-apocalyptic setting, neither of which I have played, but both are fairly well known.

One that isn't on any of the lists I saw is Liero, a 2D arena shooter, like a real-time Worms.

Then there's TrackMania Nations Forever, a racing game with crazy tracks that's all about setting the best time on each track.

Also on Steam there's Alien Swarm, a top-down shooter with up to 4 player coop.

Two other games I've heard of but haven't played are The Battle for Wesnoth, a turn based strategy game, and Freeciv, a game based on the older Civilization games.

Edit: Should this just be for completely free games where you can't buy anything at all, or should we include fair free-to-play games? My original thought was to use it for completely free games.

I would limit it to completely free games, because it is subjective as to what is considered "fair".

 

[Brian Boru]

The best free PC games in 2021

A curated selection of our favorite free games right now.

www.pcgamer.com

The best free PC games

Our frequently updated selection of the best free games right now.

www.pcgamer.com

The best free games on Steam

Nothing but the best free Steam games you can play right now, conveniently divided into singleplayer and multiplayer categories.

www.pcgamer.com

Here are all the free games you can grab right now

Want some free games? We can help.

www.pcgamer.com

GOG—link hides DLCs and games you own, you can change those and other filters. Most of them are demos and prologues—so useful way to see those too—which you'll need to skip past.

Freeciv

Yep, +1
Zero-K inspired by Total Annihilation
OpenRA inspired by Red Alert

Some of the original Command and Conquer games are free now, if you don't want to buy the remaster.

 

[ZedClampet]

POOSTALL Royale on Steam

APRIL FOOLS 2023ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ Don't let the title fool you, this isn't a battle royale game. Maybe this isn't even a game at all... well, just download now and figure it out!

store.steampowered.com

An April Fools free game by the Postal people.

Just one game at a time for me. No sense in burning through them all at once.

 

[Frindis]

Great idea and I think completely free games work best, but both could work hand in hand also. The only thing I'm personally not a fan of is games that have "fair" time-limited (or completely) free DLCs, but have you pay for the base game. It is not really free, free.

 

[Zloth]

Oh, there's a link to No One Lives Forever in the PC Gamer list! (And The Dark Mod and the early Elder Scrolls games, which I was going to list.)

 

[Pifanjr]

The Starcraft entry in the PCGamer article reminded me of Starcraft: Mass Recall, the mod that remakes the entire first game (and DLC) in the engine of Starcraft 2. It's available for free as well, since Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty can be downloaded for free.

I did a quick check and there seems to be a bunch more singleplayer campaign mods, as well as a ton of multiplayer ones of course.

 

[ZedClampet]

Dr. Langeskov, The Tiger, and The Terribly Cursed Emerald: A Whirlwind Heist on Steam

A 15 minute heist game by Crows Crows Crows & Directed by William Pugh (The Stanley Parable). Slip into the soft-soled shoes of the mastermind responsible for the greatest heist- oh god I can’t do this any more, i’m joining the strike. good luck writing the steam description. -tina

store.steampowered.com

Very short, very funny.

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Another one I've played and thought was worthwhile. A little disturbing

By the way, I'm not checking links to lists of games for duplicates. If it's completely free, I'll link directly to the game from here.

 

[ZedClampet]

Site Error

store.steampowered.com

I played this for 15 minutes a few years ago and even made a note about it which simply says, "Welp." I no longer know what I meant by that

Serena on Steam

How long has it been? A man sits in a distant getaway cabin waiting for his wife Serena. Where is she? Things in the cabin evoke memories, and the husband comes to a disturbing realization... This short point-and-click adventure is the result of a massive collaborative effort between dozens of...

store.steampowered.com

This one I remember even though I didn't leave extensive notes as I did on the first game. It's a light horror game, sort of a point & click thing. It left a decent impression on me, and I still remember the ending.

 

[ZedClampet]

Pineapple on pizza on Steam

Can a video game convey a flavor?

store.steampowered.com

Short free comedy game with 98 percent positive reviews

 

[Brian Boru]

Switch to pepperoni?

 

[ZedClampet]

Switch to pepperoni?

That's odd. I downloaded and played it right before I posted it. Steam must have been having server problems when you tried.

 

[Pifanjr]

Sling cards to save the planet in this free ecological strategy game

The real-time card game has you finding a path to survive climate change

www.pcgamer.com

 

[Pifanjr]

Check out free retro-RPG Moonring, made by an industry vet and Fable designer in classic Ultima style

Dene Carter was a designer on Dungeon Keeper, Fable—and some real classics from the old days.

www.pcgamer.com

 

[ZedClampet]

Not sure why it lists it as online multiplayer. You can play it solo, too.

Pyroworks on Steam

Pyroworks is a free-to-play online multiplayer game containing fireworks from real-life companies from all over the globe. You can choose to make your own show, cause destruction and chaos or simulate new years. Don't miss out on playing with your friends - the most fun part.

store.steampowered.com

Just released. I've had some significant fun with this. If you like fireworks, give it a try. After a brief tutorial, you can create your own fireworks shows. It has simulated real fireworks from real firework companies, and there are a ton to choose from. It's even fun just to go through them one at a time and see what they do.

Game is completely free.

 

[ZedClampet]

10:16 on Steam

To get to heaven, you must climb the Nine Circles of Hell. But you might never make it to the depths.

store.steampowered.com

Choose your own adventure visual novel with an interesting art style.

 

[ZedClampet]

Completely free horror games for Halloween!

Port of Call on Steam

Imagine waking up on a small dock with no recollection of who you are or how you got there. The first person you find is a grumpy, old man who enlists you to work on his ferry boat which seems to have materialized behind you.

store.steampowered.com

Blameless on Steam

Blameless is a mysterious first-person adventure with primary focus on puzzle solving and short story. The player will appear in a role of an architect trying to investigate strange happenings, after discovering evidence of an act of violence.

store.steampowered.com

SCP: Containment Breach Remastered on Steam

SCP - Containment Breach is a free survival horror game based on the works of the SCP Foundation community. Your goal is to escape an SCP Foundation containment site doing whatever it takes to do so. Avoid tons of obstacles on your way to freedom.

store.steampowered.com

Doorways: Old Prototype on Steam

An immersive and twisted adventure created before the official development of the Doorways saga

store.steampowered.com

Medusa's Labyrinth on Steam

Medusa’s Labyrinth is a very short mythological first-person horror game set in ancient Greece. It takes myths and legends that have stayed with us for over 2000 years and mix them together with modern gameplay. The game let's you explore murky catacombs and follow along a classic, tragic story.

store.steampowered.com

Fingerbones on Steam

A short psychological horror game that focuses on storytelling and mystery, where you explore a mysterious abandoned building and find notes that paint a disturbing picture. Please read description before playing.

store.steampowered.com

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Serena on Steam

How long has it been? A man sits in a distant getaway cabin waiting for his wife Serena. Where is she? Things in the cabin evoke memories, and the husband comes to a disturbing realization... This short point-and-click adventure is the result of a massive collaborative effort between dozens of...

store.steampowered.com

Passing Pineview Forest on Steam

Passing Pineview Forest is a free mini-prequel set in the universe of Pineview Drive. Behind the abandoned house on Pineview Drive lies ominous Pineview Forest...

store.steampowered.com

The Forgotten Ones on Steam

Losing his parents during the holocaust to a mad man of a doctor. You're to play as Grobuskna Vladinov, 20 years after the incident that changed his life dramatically. Grobuskna receives an unknown phone call that'll start a journey that'll twist your mind...

store.steampowered.com

All Is Dust on Steam

All Is Dust is a first-person horror game for PC and Oculus Rift. Experience the terror of a dust storm in the 1930s and unravel the mystery surrounding your decaying farm.

store.steampowered.com

Cry of Fear on Steam

Cry of Fear is a psychological single-player and co-op horror game set in a deserted town filled with horrific creatures and nightmarish delusions. You play as a young man desperately searching for answers in the cold Scandinavian night, finding his way through the city as he slowly descends...

store.steampowered.com

 

[ZedClampet]

Vivaland: Dream House on Steam

Dream House is Vivaland's Build Mode, where you can create your dream home from scratch. Play solo or with friends in co-op mode.

store.steampowered.com

@Brian Boru A couple of years ago you wishlisted a game that I think was called Home Builder. Not sure what it was about it that intrigued you, but I came across this today that lets you build and do interior design. It's a free game that is actually just a part of another game that will come out later this year. They just separated out the building and decorating for people to goof around with.

I've just finished playing with it, and it's pretty good if you are interested in this sort of thing. It's not on the scale of what you would get from something like House Flipper 2, but it's definitely workable and has some nice features.

There's no registration or anything required. Just download and play.

 

[Brian Boru]

Home Builder

Hmm, don't recall that—maybe someone else?

Vivaland looks nice tho, downloaded for a spin—thanks for the thought

House Builder popped up as related, maybe you might like the demo—altho reviews are mixed.

 

[ZedClampet]

Hmm, don't recall that—maybe someone else?

Vivaland looks nice tho, downloaded for a spin—thanks for the thought

House Builder popped up as related, maybe you might like the demo—altho reviews are mixed.

I thought it was you. Maybe not. I almost certainly have the name of the game wrong. It's been years. Not sure why I thought of it.