With digital distribution growing in popularity, games that can be played for free are becoming more and more popular and widespread. You can find free games for almost any genre you like, all completely legal. Follow this guide to find free games to suit your tastes, and get paid as quickly as possible.
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Method 1 of 3: Playing Games That Can Be Played For Free
Step 1. Look for a service that provides free-to-play games
Free-to-play games are games that you don't need to buy and can be legally played for free. These games usually require you to create an account in order for you to play them. Most free-to-play games have an online shop where you can buy items and bonuses in that game using real money.
- These free-to-play games are available for just about any genre you can imagine, from first person shooters (FPS - war games), to racing games, online RPGs, puzzle games, and more.
- Some companies offer their games directly from the company's website. Others are available through digital distribution platforms such as Steam.
- EA has a large selection of free-to-play games on their site and available through their distribution platform Origin.
Step 2. Use a search engine to find the type of game you want
Enter the genre into a search engine along with the words "free-to-play" and search for the results. Check the reviews to make sure it's a fun game, as many free games are designed to rake in cash through the cash shop. Some of the most popular free-to-play games include:
- League of Legends
- Team Fortress 2
- DOTA 2
- Runescape
- World of Tanks
- Planetside 2
- Path of Exile
Step 3. Make sure that the game can run on your system
Check the recommended system requirements and compare them to your computer. This will save you time if you download a game that ends up not working on your computer.
Step 4. Download the game
There are two main types of free-to-play games: games that are played in a web browser without having to download, and games that have to be downloaded and installed on a computer like normal programs. If it needs to be downloaded, you will be given a file to install on your computer.
If you're using Steam, you'll need to create a free Steam account and download the Steam software. Then you will download the game using Steam, and launch it from the Steam program
Step 5. Install the game
Each game has a different installation process, but in general you can leave the installation options in their default settings. If you are using a digital distribution program, the installation will be done automatically once the download is complete.
Step 6. Run the game
If you're using a digital distribution program, find the game in your library and run it directly from that distribution program. If the game is installed like a normal program, you can search for it in the Start menu.
Method 2 of 3: Searching for Abandonware
Step 1. Open an abandonware site
Abandonware is a game once released by a now defunct company. Most of these games are legal and free, although some games operate in a legal gray area due to the fact that someone may still hold the copyright. Popular sites include:
- Home of the Underdogs
- My Abandonware
- Abandonia
- XTC Abandonware
Step 2. Search for the game you want to download
Most abandonware sites categorize their libraries by genre and release date. Look in your favorite genre and find the game you want to try.
Check out old reviews to see how to replay the game when it was released
Step 3. Download and install the game
Most sites will provide instructions for installing the game on modern operating systems, as well as instructions for bypassing key checks on old CDs.
Step 4. Look for the fix needed to run the game
Modern operating systems may not run the game properly. Often, older games don't run well on widescreen monitors, or with modern graphics cards. The Abandonware site may provide information on how to fix this problem, but you may also need to find that specific fix yourself.
Use an internet search with the title of the game and the specific problem you are having. Often you will find forums containing fixes submitted by community members
Method 3 of 3: Downloading Flash Games
Step 1. Visit your favorite Flash game site
Flash game sites provide a huge collection of flash games that you can play in your browser. You can download this game so you can play it without internet connection. Some of the popular sites include:
- Addictinggames.com
- Newgrounds.com
- Flashgames.com
Step 2. Open the game you want to download
For easy downloading, use the free Firefox web browser to open the site.
Step 3. Right click on the background of the site
Make sure that you click on the background of the site and not on the game itself.
Step 4. Select View Page Info
This will open a window containing all the information about the site.
Step 5. Click the Media tab
A list will appear containing all the objects that are on that website. Sort the list by Type.
Step 6. Find the game file
Flash games are labeled as "Objects" and have a.swf extension. Scroll through the list until you find that flash game. The game file usually has a name similar to the game's title.
Step 7. Click Save As
Highlight a game in the list and click Save As. The game file will be saved to your hard drive in the downloads folder as usual.
Step 8. Open the game
Right-click on the downloaded file and click Open With. Select Firefox from the list of programs that appears, or if it's not there, look for Firefox on your computer. The game will open in a new Firefox window.
For more information, read this article
Tips
- To increase Internet security, keep an anti-virus scanner running on your computer at all times. Games that don't run when an anti-malware program is activated are suspect and should be avoided.
- Apart from games that you can download, there are also free games that can be played directly in an Internet browser such as Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Chrome. These browser games have many of the same features, but are much more accessible.
