List of commercial video games released as freeware

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Commercial video games released as freeware are games that, in their original license, were not considered freeware, but were re-released at a later date with a freeware license, sometimes as publicity for a forthcoming sequel or compilation release.

Some of the following games are not freely redistributable software, as they have only been made available as a free download as freeware, but may only be downloaded from certain websites and with the explicit permission of the copyright owner. Consult the software license agreement.

For games that were originally released as freeware, see List of freeware video games. For open source games, and commercial games re-released as open source, see List of open source video games.

[edit] Available games

The following formerly paid games have been made available as freeware, and are still in that status:

Contents
0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

[edit] 0–9

• 3 in Three (1989), a puzzle game for Mac OS by Cliff Johnson

[edit] A

• Abe Lincoln Must Die! (2007), the fourth part in the Sam & Max episodic series by Telltale Games, released as freeware on November 5, 2007.
• Abuse (1996), a side-scrolling shooter.
• Adventureland (1978), an adventure game by Scott Adams.
• The Adventures of Maddog Williams in the Dungeons of Duridian (1992), an adventure game for Atari ST and PC by Game Crafters
• The Adventures of Robby Roto! (1981), an arcade game by Bally Midway.
• Akalabeth (1979), a.k.a "Ultima 0", a role-playing game by Richard Garriott.
• Alien Carnage (1994), a.k.a Halloween Harry, a side-scrolling platform game published by Apogee Software.
• Allegiance (2000), a multiplayer space shooter / RTS by Microsoft Research.
• Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021 (1987), a strategy dos game by George Moromisato.
• Antheads: It Came from the Desert 2 (1990) is a adventure game expansion pack to It Came from the Desert released as freeware by the author Cinemaware.
• Arctic Adventure (1991), a platform game by Apogee Software, re-released as freeware on March 2009.
• Area 51 (2005), a first person shooter by Midway Games. Its free (ad-supported) release is sponsored by the US Air Force.
• At the Carnival (1989), puzzle game for Apple Macintosh and MS-DOS by Cliff Johnson

[edit] B

• Battle Chess (1988), declared freeware in 1994 to celebrate the success of its successor, Battle Chess II.
• Battlecruiser 3000AD (1996), a space simulator by Derek Smart.
• Battlecruiser Millennium (2003), a space simulator by Derek Smart.
• BC Kid (1992), a platform game by Factor 5.
• BC Racers (1993), a racing game by Core Design.
• Beneath a Steel Sky (1994), an adventure game by Revolution Software, released to support the ScummVM Project.
• Beyond the Titanic (1986), a text adventure game by Apogee Software, re-released as freeware in March 1998.
• Beyond Castle Wolfenstein (1984), a stealth game by Muse Software
• Bio Menace (1993), a side-scrolling platform game by Apogee Software, released as freeware in December 2005.
• Blades of Exile (1997), a role-playing game for Apple Macintosh and Windows by Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software.
• Boppin' (1994), a puzzle game published by Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2005.

[edit] C

• Castle of the Winds (1989), a tile-based RPG for Windows 3.x, written by SaadaSoft.
• Castle Infinity (1996), an MMOG by Starwave.
• Caves of Thor (1989), a maze game by Apogee Software.
• Championship Manager: Season 01/02 (2001) a soccer management game by Sports Interactive and Eidos
• Clonk Endeavour (2004), an action strategy game by RedWolf Design released as freeware on 19 May 2008.
• Clyde's Adventure (1992), a platform game DOS game by Moonlite Software.
• Clyde's Revenge (1995), a platform game DOS game by Moonlite Software.
• Command & Conquer (1995), a real-time strategy game by Westwood Studios.
• Command & Conquer: Red Alert (1996), a real-time strategy game by Westwood Studios. Made freeware in 2008 to promote the release of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.^[1]
• Cybersphere (1996), arcade game for DOS and Amiga by Clay Hellman.

[edit] D

• Dark Ages (1991), a platform game by Apogee Software. Re-released as freeware on March 2009.
• Dark Sun: Shattered Lands (1993), a computer role-playing game by SSI available on the "Dark Sun Online: The Age of Heroes" site, which is an unfinished remake of the original Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
• Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager (1993), a computer role-playing game by SSI available on the "Dark Sun Online: The Age of Heroes" site, which is an unfinished remake of the original Dark Sun Online: Crimson Sands.
• Defender of the Crown (1986), a strategy game by Cinemaware.
• Dink Smallwood (1997), an RPG by RTsoft, released as freeware on 17 October 1999.

[edit] E

• The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994), a role-playing game by Bethesda Softworks, floppy disk version released as freeware in 2004 to mark the 10th anniversary of the TES series, and as publicity release prior to the 4th installment, Oblivion.
• Elite (1984), space trading game by Acornsoft, freeware release in 1999 courtesy of game developer Ian Bell.
• Elite + (1991), space trading game by Acornsoft, freeware release in 1999 courtesy of game developer Ian Bell.
• Enemy Nations (1997), a real-time strategy by Windward Studios.

[edit] F

• F.E.A.R. Combat (2006), the multiplayer portion of F.E.A.R., by Monolith Productions.
• Fish Fillets (1998), a puzzle game by Altar Games which was released under the GPL in 2002. Subsequently the Fish Fillets NG project has recoded the engine to enable multi-platform release.
• Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995), an adventure game by Interactive Binary Illusions, released to support the ScummVM Project.
• The Fool's Errand (1987), a puzzle game by Cliff Johnson
• Full Spectrum Warrior (2004), a tactical shooter by Pandemic Studios released as a free ad-supported download as of September 29th, 2008.

[edit] G

• Glider and Glider PRO.
• God of Thunder, a puzzle game by Adept Software.
• Grand Theft Auto (1998), by Rockstar Games, released as registerware freeware.
• Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999), by Rockstar Games, released as registerware freeware.
• Gridlee (1983) is an arcade game by Videa.
• Ground Control (2000), a futuristic real-time tactics game produced by Massive Entertainment, registerware freeware released on July 1, 2004 to serve as promotion for its sequel, Ground Control II: Operation Exodus.

[edit] H

• Hardwired (a pre-release version of Red Zone) (1994), a shooter by Zyrinx for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.
• Heros: The Sanguine Seven (1993) released free by the author in 2005.
• Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe (1999), a game by Illusion Softworks, released as freeware to serve as promotion for its sequel, Hidden & Dangerous 2.
• Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1984), a game by Infocom, made publicly available as a web-based game by the BBC.

[edit] I

• Infantry (1999), a 2D MMORPG similar to PlanetSide. Released as freeware in 2007.
• Iron Seed (1994), a real-time strategy game released as freeware by the author to promote Iron Seed 2.
• It Came From The Desert (1989), an adventure game released as freeware by the author Cinemaware.

[edit] J

• Jetpack (1993), a platform game by Adept Software.

[edit] K

• Katakis (1987), an Amiga side-scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game by Factor 5.
• Ken's Labyrinth (1993), a first-person shooter by Ken Silverman.
• Kiloblaster (1992), a game by Epic MegaGames, released as freeware on 4 August 2008.
• King of Chicago (1987), an action, adventure, and strategy game by Cinemaware.
• Kroz (1987), an action game by Apogee Software. Re-released as freeware on March 2009.
• Kye (1992), a puzzle game by Colin Garbutt.

[edit] L

• Lode Runner Online: Mad Monks' Revenge, a side-scrolling arcade game by Sierra Entertainment, based on the concept presented by the classic game Lode Runner (malfunctions on Win2000, WinXP and greater).
• Lure of the Temptress (1992), an adventure game by Revolution Software.

[edit] M

• Mad TV (1991), a management simulation game by Rainbow Arts.
• Major Stryker (1993), a scrolling-shooter game by Apogee Software, released as freeware on March 2006.
• Marathon Trilogy, a series of first-person shooters by Bungie.
• Monuments of Mars (1990), a platform game by Apogee Software. Re-released as freeware on March 2009.

[edit] N

• No Gravity (1998), a Space combat simulator game by Realtech VR.

[edit] O

• One Must Fall: 2097 (1994), a fighting game by Diversions Entertainment, declared freeware on February 10, 1999.
• onEscapee (1997), an action-adventure game by Invictus Games, Ltd., released as freeware on January 26, 2006.

[edit] P

• Pharaoh's Tomb (1990), a platform game by Apogee Software. Re-released as freeware on March 2009.
• Purge (video game) (2003), a Windows online first-person shooter game by Freeform Interactive.

[edit] R

• Railroad Tycoon Deluxe (1993), a business simulator by MicroProse.
• Riftspace (2000) by Starwraith 3D Games, a space mercenary simulation built after the ideologies of Elite.
• Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War (2006), a real-time strategy/third-person shooter by Stainless Steel Studios and Midway Games. Re-released as ad-supported freeware, sponsored by the US Air Force.
• Rocket Ranger (1988), action game by Cinemaware
• R-Type (1987), a side-scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game. The Amiga version (1989) is freely downloadable at Factor 5's website.

[edit] S

• Savage: The Battle for Newerth (2004), a blend of FPS and RTS gameplay by S2 Games.
• Savage 2: A Tortured Soul (2008), the sequel to Savage: The Battle for Newerth, re-released as freeware December 9, 2008.
• S.D.I (1987), an action adventure game by Cinemaware.
• Shadowbane (2003), a fantasy MMORPG by Ubisoft, released as freeware in 2006.
• SimCity (1989), a City-building game, was released under the GPLv3 for the One Laptop per Child project, and as Micropolis to the general public (the original title of the game).
• SkyRoads (1993), a platform puzzle game by Bluemoon Interactive.
• Spheres of Chaos (1992), a shooter game by Iain McLeod, released as freeware in October 2007.
• Star Control II (1992), an adventure/action game mix released under the GPL by Toys For Bob under its subtitle The Ur-Quan Masters ten years later.
• Stargunner (1996) is a scrolling shooter by Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2005.
• Starsiege: Tribes (1998), a first-person shooter by Dynamix/Sierra On-Line, released as freeware in May 2004 as publicity for the release of Tribes: Vengeance.
• Star Wraith II (2000) by Starwraith 3D Games, a space military simulation game, released as freeware as a publicity stunt for its successor, Star Wraith III: Shadows of Orion.
• Star Wraith III: Shadows of Orion (2000) by Starwraith 3D Games, a space military simulation featuring multiplayer capabilities.
• Star Wraith IV: Reviction (2000) by Starwraith 3D Games, the sequel to Star Wraith III and has a similar concept.
• SubSpace (1997), a 2D top-down space shooter game with massive multiplayer capabilities originally released by Virgin Interactive
• The Suffering (2005), an horror third/first person shooter developed by Surreal Software and published by Midway Games. It has been released free but ad-supported in September 2008.
• Supaplex (1991), a Boulder Dash-like puzzle game by Michael Stopp and Philip Jespersen.
• Supernova (1987) is a text adventure game by Apogee Software, re-released as freeware in March 1998.
• Super ZZT (1992) is a MS-DOS game by Tim Sweeney and Allen Pilgrim.
• S.W.I.N.E. (2001), a real-time tactics game by StormRegion, released as freeware (S.W.I.N.E. Free Christmas Edition) in 2005.

[edit] T

• Telengard (1982), dungeon crawl computer game by Daniel Lawrence.
• TerraFire (1997), action game computer game by ORT Software.
• Titans of Steel: Warring Suns (2003), a Battletech-style turn based strategy game released free on February 14, 2008.
• Traffic Department 2192 (1994), a top-down shooter by Epic MegaGames, released as freeware by its author, John Pallett-Plowright, in 2007.
• Treasure Island Dizzy (1987), a puzzle game by Oliver twins.
• Tribes 2 (2001), a first-person shooter by Dynamix/Sierra On-Line, free download release in 2004 as publicity for the release of Tribes: Vengeance.
• Trivia Whiz (1988), a trivia game by Apogee Software.
• Turboraketti II (1993), an Amiga cavern-flying game by Heikki Kosola.
• Tyrian/Tyrian 2.0/Tyrian 2000 (1995, 1996, 1999), a space shooter by Epic MegaGames, released as freeware by its author, Jason Emery, in 2004.

[edit] U

• Universal Combat (2004), a space simulator by Derek Smart, released as freeware on January 2, 2008.

[edit] V

• Vantage Master Online (1998), a tactical RPG by Nihon Falcom, released as freeware in 2002.

[edit] W

• Wild Metal Country (1999), by Rockstar Games, released as registerware freeware in 2004.
• Wings (1990), a flying game by Cinemaware.
• Wings (1996), a cavern-flying game by Miika Virpioja.
• Word Whiz (1988), a trivia game by Apogee Software.

[edit] X

• Xargon (1993), a platform game by Epic MegaGames, released as freeware on 4 August 2008.
• Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport (1995), a fighting game by Argo Games/Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2006.

[edit] Z

• Zero Tolerance (1994), a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis first person shooter game by Technopop.
• ZZT (1991) by Epic Megagames.

[edit] Games no longer distributed

The following are commercial games that were re-released as freeware but were not freely redistributable software. They were only available as freeware for a limited time, but could not be redistributed, so they are no longer freely available.

• B-17 Flying Fortress (1992), a flight simulator by MicroProse.^[2]
• Betrayal at Krondor (1993), a role-playing game by Dynamix.^[2]
• Caesar (1993), a city-building game by Sierra.^[2]
• Far Cry (2004), first-person shooter computer game developed by Crytek. Ubisoft had released the game in a four-day promotion as ad-supported freeware on FilePlanet.
• Gateway (1992), an adventure game by Legend Entertainment.
• Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003), third-person action adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal. Ubisoft released the game as ad-supported freeware on FilePlanet for a limited time.^[3]
• Rayman Raving Rabbids (2006), a video game in the popular Rayman series, developed by Ubisoft Montpellier. Ubisoft had released the PC version of the game in a four-day promotion as ad-supported freeware on FilePlanet.
• Red Baron 3D (1998), a flight game by Sierra.^[2]
• Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon (2001), a tactical shooter by Ubisoft. Released in an ad-supported free download version in 2007 for a limited time; available to US residents only.^[4]
• Zork I, Zork II, Zork III, and Zork: The Undiscovered Underground, text adventure games by Infocom.^[2]

[edit] References

1. ^ Michael Klappenbach (September 1, 2008). "Command & Conquer Red Alert Released as Freeware". about.com. http://compactiongames.about.com/b/2008/09/01/command-conquer-red-alert-released-as-freeware.htm. Retrieved on 2009-06-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e} General Liberated Games FAQ
3. ^ Full Games: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Free Full Game (Ad Supported) - Demo Movie Patch Download Section - GamersHell.com
4. ^ "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Free Full Game (Ad Supported)". GamersHell.com. http://www.gamershell.com/download_20866.shtml. Retrieved on 18 March 2009. "You will need an Ubi.com account and you must live in the U.S. to play the game" 

[edit] External links

• Liberated Games — A site which features games which have been freed (liberated) by its copyright owners, in some form.
• Remain In Play — Features commercial games that have been released as freeware by their copyright owners.
• World of Spectrum — Large archive of legal ZX Spectrum downloads, with various permissions including some from Spectrum hardware copyright holder Amstrad.

v • d • e Types of computer games available at no cost Commercial games released as freeware • Free first-person shooters • Freeware games • Open source games