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101 Free Games 2010
Even more of the best games money can't buy.

By Scott Sharkey

Times are tough, sure. Nobody got a raise and ain't nobody complaining on account of well, they still have a job and would like to keep the thing. Belts tighten and we start cutting down on luxuries. On the up side, videogaming doesn't have to be one of them. There are great big sparkling piles of distractions out there. Worlds to conquer, castles to defend, and aliens to explode, and they all cost exactly zip. Maybe not all of them will perfectly suit your taste, but with 101 to pick from you're sure to find something that'll keep you busily avoiding anything resembling work. Actually, I think I just figured out what happened to the economy.

In fact, there are considerably more than 101 games here, especially if you count the lists from 2009, 2008, 2007, and 2006. By the time you're done with those we should be ready for 2011.

  • Strategy
  • WTF
  • Puzzle
  • Platform
  • Shmup
  • Adventure/RPG
Action/Arcade


See Also



Comments (43)

  • replicawatches06
  • replicawatches

    Posted: 6 days ago by  replicawatches06

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  • Joeq1159
  • I love that

    Posted: Feb 19, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Joeq1159

    Don't Shit Your Pants is considered an adventure game. So good

  • Insanity_Prelude
  • man, way to bring the spoilers though.

    Posted: Feb 16, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Insanity_Prelude

    Oh, wait, no you didn't. I just didn't think to check the 2009 list. Eheheheh...

  • Insanity_Prelude
  • No such thing as too many free games.

    Posted: Feb 15, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Insanity_Prelude

    You forgot Eversion. http://zarat.us/tra/offline-games/eversion.html

  • GFWDarren
  • Dear Miserable Bastard (aka Sharkey):

    Posted: Feb 11, 2010 12:00AM PST by  GFWDarren

    Great list, man. Doing the Indies proud -- as always. See ya at the bar (or something).

    -Darren

  • ddot216
  • FREE games - REAL rewards?

    Posted: Feb 11, 2010 12:00AM PST by  ddot216

    hey folks im new to online gaming but been hearing about so much fun some of my friends have been having i thought i'd look into it a bit. but, im def not into paying to waste time gaming as its bad enough that im jerking off at work wasting time as it is lol...with that being said, time is money too, so im wondering are there any truly free games with real tangible rewards out there that i can play online? i figure my time spent should be worth at least a popcorn coupon or a movie pass or something to these big advertisers lol...help me out 

  • kentdoggydog
  • Santa Fu is pretty damn rad

    Posted: Feb 08, 2010 12:00AM PST by  kentdoggydog

    But I can't decide if it is better than Jek Porkins and Ponda Baba Save Halloween.  You be the judge:

    http://www.i-mockery.com/minimocks/starween/

  • orangeEWOK
  • Great work!

    Posted: Feb 08, 2010 12:00AM PST by  orangeEWOK

    Every Day the Same Dream and Vox Populi Vox Dei had to be my favorites out of the bunch and Captain Forever is an all around favorite of mine.  I do wish though that VVVVVV was free but the demo is entertaining enough to keep me interested until a possible price drop.

    Thanks a lot Sharkey!

  • Matthew_X
  • blasting agent

    Posted: Feb 08, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Matthew_X

    links to tuper tario trothers.

  • zalderach
  • Chaser

    Posted: Feb 08, 2010 12:00AM PST by  zalderach

    The chaser link is broken.

  • UMSmeese
  • Great List

    Posted: Feb 08, 2010 12:00AM PST by  UMSmeese

    I've played a couple of these and they have all been awesome. By the way, Everyday The Same Dream's ending had me genuinely freaked-out. Beautiful stuff. Thanks again Sharkey.

  • Uhdrill
  • Who is driving? Bear is driving? How can this be?

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Uhdrill

    Awesome Clerks Unsensored reference! Anyone who has not seen the 6 animated episodes of Clerks go find them now! Awesome commentary on the DVDs as well as with all Kevin Smith projects.

  • Uhdrill
  • Elements Card Game

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Uhdrill

    WOW! This is one addictive and deep CCG. Already have played over 300 games and just scratching the surface as far as decks I want to build. One tip, the fastest way to make money is by playing the random PVP option. These decks are mostly pretty difficult though, so try to buy up some good cards first. Also, green (life) is a fun and competetive deck to start with.

  • Mr_Requiem
  • Fantastic!

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Mr_Requiem

    Great list! I really liked the "WTF" section. Some really unique stuff there haha.

    Gotta say I really enjoyed "Today I Die" and "Tuper Tario Tros"

  • enker
  • Blasting Agent

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  enker

    ...links to Tuper Tario Tros.

  • goodclockwork
  • Argentina.

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  goodclockwork

    Doubt you actually read these. I certainly wouldn't. But, one thing: the adjective you're looking for is Argentine. Jorge Luis Borges, the Argentine fabulist, wrote mystery stories in Argentinian Spanish from his Argentinian desk, built by an Argentine carpenter from Buenos Aires.

  • whatsarobot
  • Stuff like this is why I love 1up

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  whatsarobot

    Thanks for the list - I've emailed this link to a bunch of my friends, and am looking forward to settling down and moseying through these games.

  • paulunga
  • Re: Re: Stuff

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  paulunga

    No, I'm counting in internet years. 8 months is fucking ancient on the internet since everyone with an internet access has ADD.

     

    Apparently that also works in RL, what with Obama being the worst president ever and everyone already forgetting the last fuckwad that was in charge. Sorry, turning a post about (mostly) browser games into a political debate is almost as ridiculous as complaining about getting free shit.

  • In_the_VoiD
  • Icycle

    Posted: Feb 07, 2010 12:00AM PST by  In_the_VoiD

    I found myself laughing out loud while playing it; it was the first game I played out of the whole list, so hopefully I can find some more gems.

  • Bluur
  • My God!

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Bluur

    It's full of stars!!!

  • TSB
  • Lose/Lose made me laugh

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  TSB

    I couldn't even install it cause NOD32 sees it as a trojan. Symantec even has it on their threat list. That made me laugh pretty hard.

     

    A few of these other games are pretty interesting though. Had a few of these already.

  • solidsharkey
  • Re: Igneous, Tiny Crawl

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  solidsharkey

    Fixed those, too. Thanks, Ani and Oryx.

  • dictatortot
  • I'm going to be playing

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  dictatortot

    Canabalt for a long long time.

  • animateria
  • Awesome list! But incorrect link for Igneous.

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  animateria

    So far I've played a couple of them and every single one was enjoyable.

    But yeah, the link for Igneous goes to Dragon Age Journeys.

    Not that it's hard to just search it online, but hey.

    Edit: Opera Omnia needs a different download link.

    http://www.increpare.com/2009/02/opera-omnia/

  • solidsharkey
  • Re: Stuff

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  solidsharkey

    Re: VicisSubsisto

    Thanks for catching that. I generally try not to tell friends that their newborns are transdimensional hellspiders. Especially Mielke, who is much larger than I am. That was, however, the funniest editorial mistake I've ever made and it hurt me a little to fix it.

     

    Re: Paulunga

    This is a yearly list and very nearly all of the entries are less than twelve months old. So no, you did not play most of them a long time ago unless you're counting in dog years.

     

    Re: Steelydale

    I'm sure my ego would have been utterly destroyed by now if you didn't write like a pissed off monkey with a head injury. Also, if you're in any actual danger of accidentally buying things on the internet you really shouldn't be allowed to have credit cards.

     

    Re: Everyone else

    Thanks for reading/replying, and here's hoping nobody's boss notices any kind of consistent productivity drop. Then again, maybe if we all spend the next week doing nothing but playing weird flash games they'll think it's a movement and try giving us raises. Yeah.

  • Nintendoian666
  • vangaurd

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Nintendoian666

    is it just me or is it impossible find a dl link for that game?

  • SteelydaleAZ
  • Re: Solid Sharkey

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  SteelydaleAZ

    Though you may have edited it now.. it was NOT labeled at as a demo.  And I nearly ordered it for $15 sight unseen.

    As for cry moar: I cry about the plight of young supposed authors who rehash lists of best ofs to try and replace any sort of original thought.  However.. I suspect it may be due to them becoming something more akin to a human food additive than a human.  Here is a top 5 list for you: Celery, Spinach, Apples, Tomatoes, Lettuce.

  • Hellslinger1
  • Favorite time of the year.

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Hellslinger1

    Shit loads of awesome free games.

  • ZachTheImpaler
  • Time Still

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  ZachTheImpaler

    This game is like cocaine in a digital format

  • tastyrice
  • Where are all the guns?

    Posted: Feb 06, 2010 12:00AM PST by  tastyrice

    No free FPS's this year?

  • paulunga
  • Those are kind of old...

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  paulunga

    I already played most of those a long time ago. This entry feels a bit weaker than the last one. Oh well, "never look a gift horse in the mouth".

  • VicisSubsisto
  • I found an error...

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  VicisSubsisto

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MonB0VILf9o

    should probably be replaced with

    http://sourceforge.net/projects/hellspider/

    I don't think Myu is a transdimensional hellspider. Be cool if she was, though.

  • RedSwirl
  • Sequel to Dear Esther

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  RedSwirl

    If you liked Dear Esther, the same team behind that made a sort of followup called Korsakovia which feels a little bit more like an actual game in the vein of a Silent Hill.

  • jnune09
  • I've Been Waiting for This.

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  jnune09

    Thanks Sharky, can't wait to look through these gems. I'm going to make sure I bookmark this, and comment when I try some.

  • ss_goku4
  • Don't $h17 your pants

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  ss_goku4

    "Take off pants" "kill"  LMAO

    Great list, I gotta try more of these. 

  • solidsharkey
  • Re: Steelydale

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  solidsharkey

    Yes, there are a few demos on the list on account of the free portions are substantial and I found them to be damn good. They're labeled as such, and the list contains more than 101 games. Cry moar.

  • SteelydaleAZ
  • Free means free, damnit

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  SteelydaleAZ

    So I checked your list, and even went with your advice for 'Light of Altair'.  Free my ass.  Either download or CD it costs $14.95 (plus shipping, if you get cd)!

    Mind you.. those are using YOUR links!

    ??????????

  • CruncherNumb
  • To Go

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  CruncherNumb

    These are all pretty excellent titles, but what's really needed is a way to take them all on the go.  For this reason I've been looking to purchase an ultra portable pc such as the OQO, but the controls in such devices are lacking.  Something more like a Windows variant of the OpenPandora - http://www.open-pandora.org - project would be perfect!!!

  • ZachTheImpaler
  • This list is amazing

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  ZachTheImpaler

    It makes me wih I had a job just so I could dick around with these games. Queens is my favorite so far.

  • Sethster
  • Great List!

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  Sethster

    Here's to hoping the web browser games aren't blocked at work!

  • radiantgamer
  • Sweet!

    Posted: Feb 05, 2010 12:00AM PST by  radiantgamer

    My favorite 1up feature each year. This'll have me busy for a few weeks now. Thank you Mr. Sharkey!

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