5 Free Games

August 05, 2010

Sure, you’re doing homework and writing resumes, updating documents and keeping in touch (and maybe using Facebook… we won’t hold it against you) on the library’s or your home computer.  But just in case productivity is starting to lag, here are a few free games you can look into when writer’s block kicks in.
 
Some of these games may require downloading the game (which is a no-go on library branch computers, but available from other Internet computers), and some may have upgrade services available (which knocks them out of the free category, if you opt for those upgrades).  Please consider before using these games, any parental guidance warnings that may be issued.

Runes of Magic MMORPG

Very interactive online presence, but definitely encourages users to buy “extras,” through the online portal.  Seems kind of like World of Warcraft (which is decidedly not free).

League of Legends MMORPG

Note:  This game has a TEEN rating for blood and Fantasy Violence.  Received great reviews and recipient of a number of awards in the gaming community (and the trailer looks kind of awesome, especially for a free Internet game).

FreeCiv

An open source quick-and-easy adaptation of Sid Meier’s well-known game, Civilization.  If you’ve played any of the Civ games, or thought about it, this might be worth giving a shot.

Word Whomp
 
Create words of varying complexity (based primarily on length of word) out of the letters provided.  An excellent time-killer, though in typical puzzle game fashion, frustrating when you see what those last three words you just couldn’t think of in time really were.

Solitaire

How could we NOT include this classic stand-by?  If Solitaire is not already on your computer, here is an online version that does not require Flash or Java plug-ins.