List of commercial video games released as freeware

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 FLOSS games, and proprietary games re-released as FLOSS, see List of open source video games.

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
   Title    First Release Freeware release Genre Platform(s) Publisher Additional Information
3 in Three 1989 Puzzle Mac OS Cliff Johnson
Abuse 1996 Side-scrolling shoot 'em up DOS, Linux, Mac OS, Acorn Archimedes, AmigaOS 4, GP2X Wiz Electronic Arts, Red Hat, Bungie
Adventureland 1978 Adventure, Interactive Fiction TRS-80, Apple II series, Atari 8-bit, TI-99/4A, Commodore PET, Commodore 64, IBM-PC, Commodore VIC-20, ZX Spectrum, BBC Micro/Electron Scott Adams
Adventures of Maddog Williams in the Dungeons of Duridian, The 1992 Adventure Amiga, Atari ST, DOS Game Crafters
Adventures of Robbo 1994 2006[1] Puzzle DOS Epic Megagames
Adventures of Robby Roto!, The 1981 Maze (Puzzle) Arcade Bally Midway
Akalabeth: World of Doom, a.k.a "Ultima 0" 1979 role-playing video game Apple II, DOS California Pacific Computer Company
Alien Carnage, a.k.a Halloween Harry 1994 2007[2] Side-scrolling platformer DOS Apogee Software
Allegiance 2000 Space simulation/Real-time strategy/Action Windows Microsoft Research
Anacreon: Reconstruction 4021 1987 Strategy DOS Thinking Machine Associates Updated in 2004 by George Moromisato to run natively on Windows.
Antheads: It Came from the Desert 2 1990 Adventure Amiga, DOS, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Turbo Grafx 16 Cinemaware Expansion pack to It Came from the Desert.
Arctic Adventure 1991 2009[3] Platformer DOS Apogee Software
At the Carnival 1989 Puzzle Mac OS, DOS Cliff Johnson
Battle Chess 1988 1994 declared freeware to celebrate the success of its successor, Battle Chess II
Battlecruiser 3000AD 1996 space simulator Windows Derek Smart
Battlecruiser Millennium 2003 space simulator Windows Derek Smart
BC Kid 1992 platform game Amiga Factor 5
BC Racers 1993 racing game DOS Core Design
Beneath a Steel Sky 1994 2003[4] adventure Revolution Software released to support the ScummVM Project
Beyond Castle Wolfenstein 1984 stealth game Muse Software
Beyond the Titanic 1986 1998[5] text adventure game Apogee Software
Bio Menace 1993 2005[6] side-scrolling platform game Apogee Software
Blades of Exile 1997 role-playing video game Macintosh and Windows Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software
Boppin' 1994 2005 Puzzle Amiga, DOS Apogee Software
Castle Infinity 1996 2000 MMOG Windows Starwave
Castle of the Winds 1989 1998 role-playing video game Windows 3.x Epic Megagames
Caves of Thor 1989 2005 Adventure DOS Apogee Software
Championship Manager: Season 01/02 2001 2008 Sports Management Windows, Mac OS and Xbox Eidos Interactive
Clonk Endeavour 2004 2008 Platform Game/Real-time strategy Windows, Mac OS X, Linux RedWolf Design
Clyde's Adventure 1992 2005[7] Platform Game DOS Moonlite Software
Clyde's Revenge 1995 2005[8] Platform Game DOS Moonlite Software
Codename Gordon 2004 Sidescroller/Shooter Windows Nuclear Vision
Command & Conquer 1995 2007 Real-time strategy Windows, Mac OS Virgin Interactive
Command & Conquer: Red Alert 1996 2008 Real-time strategy Windows, Mac OS Virgin Interactive Made freeware in 2008 to promote the release of Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3.[9]
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun 1999 2010 Real-time strategy Windows Electronic Arts Made freeware (along with its expansion pack Firestorm) on February 12, 2010 to promote the release of Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight.
Cybersphere 1996 2006[10] Arkanoid-style game DOS Psycon Software
Cybersphere Plus 1997 2006[11] Arkanoid-style game DOS Psycon Software
Dark Ages 1991 2009[3] Platform Game DOS Apogee Software
Dark Horizons Lore: Invasion 2005 Mech simulation Linux, Windows, Mac OS GarageGames
Dark Sun: Shattered Lands 1993 role-playing video game DOS Strategic Simulations, Inc
Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager 1994 role-playing video game DOS Strategic Simulations, Inc
Death Rally 1996 2009 Racing Game DOS, Windows Apogee Software
Defender of the Crown 1986 Strategy Game DOS Cinemaware
Dink Smallwood 1997 1999 role-playing video game Windows, Linux, Mac OS Iridon Interactive
The Elder Scrolls: Arena 1994 2004 role-playing video game DOS 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.
The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall 1996 2009 role-playing video game DOS Bethesda Softworks Sequel to the aforementioned Arena. Released as freeware on July 9, 2009, to mark the 15th anniversary of the TES series.
Electro Man 1993 2006[12] Sidescroller DOS Created by xLand Games and published by Epic Megagames
Elite/Elite + 1984/1991 1999 Space trading and combat simulator BBC Micro, Acorn Electron, Apple II, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Tatung Einstein, IBM PC compatible, Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, Atari ST, Nintendo Entertainment System Acornsoft Freeware release in 1999 courtesy of game developer Ian Bell.
Enemy Nations 1997 2001 Real-Time Strategy Windows Windward Studios
Executioners 1992 Sidescroller/Fighting game DOS Bloodlust Software
F.E.A.R. Combat 2005 2006 First-person shooter, Horror Windows Monolith Productions Originally released as the multiplayer portion of F.E.A.R.
Fish Fillets 1998 2002 puzzle Linux, Mac OS X, Windows, and others Altar Games The original Fish Fillets 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 2004 Adventure Amiga, DOS Interactive Binary Illusions Released to support the ScummVM Project.
The Fool's Errand 1987 puzzle Mac OS, MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST Miles Computing
Full Spectrum Warrior 2004 2008 Tactical shooter Windows Pandemic Studios Released as a free ad-supported download.
Glider PRO 1991 Mac OS, Mac OS X Casady & Greene When Casady & Greene went bankrupt, the rights to the series reverted to the author, John Calhoun, who opted to give a few versions of the game away for free on his website.
God of Thunder 1993 Puzzle, action DOS Adept Software
Grand Theft Auto 1997 2004 Action Windows Rockstar Games Released as registerware freeware.
Grand Theft Auto 2 1999 2004 Action Windows Rockstar Games Released as registerware freeware.
Gridlee 1983 Arcade Videa
Gridrunner 1982 Scrolling shooter Atari 2600/VIC-20/ZX Spectrum/Commodore 64 Llamasoft
Ground Control 2000 2004 Real-time tactics Windows Massive Entertainment Registerware freeware released on July 1, 2004 to serve as promotion for its sequel, Ground Control II: Operation Exodus.
Hardwired (a pre-release version of Red Zone) 1994 Shooter Sega Mega Drive/Genesis Zyrinx
Heartlight PC 1994 2006[13] Puzzle game 8-bit Atari, DOS Janusc Pelc (Atari), Epic Megagames (DOS port)
Heroes of Newerth 2010 2011 Dota Windows, Mac OS X, Linux S2 Games
Heros: The Sanguine Seven 1993 2005 Platformer Jeffrey Fullerton Originally published in cooperation with Safari Software and Epic Megagames
Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe 1999 Illusion Softworks Released as freeware to serve as promotion for its sequel, Hidden & Dangerous 2.
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 1984 Infocom Made publicly available as a web-based game by the BBC.
Infantry Online 1999 2007 2D MMORPG Windows Sony Online Entertainment Similar to PlanetSide.
Iron Seed 1994 2007 Real-time strategy DOS Softdisk Released as freeware by the author to promote Iron Seed 2.
It Came From The Desert 1989 2007 Adventure Amiga, DOS, Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Turbo Grafx 16 Cinemaware
Jetpack 1993 Platformer DOS Software Creations (US)
Katakis 1987 side-scrolling shoot-em-up video game Amiga Factor 5
Ken's Labyrinth 1993 First-person shooter DOS Epic Megagames
Kiloblaster 1992 2008[14] Space shooter DOS Epic MegaGames
King of Chicago 1987 an action, adventure, and strategy game Cinemaware
Kroz 1987 2009[3] Adventure DOS Apogee Software
Kye 1992 2008[15] Puzzle Windows 3.x Colin Garbutt
Lode Runner Online: Mad Monks' Revenge 1995 side-scrolling video game Windows and Mac OS Sierra Entertainment Based on the concept presented by the classic game Lode Runner.
Lure of the Temptress 1992 [16] Graphic adventure Amiga, Atari ST, DOS Revolution Software
Mad TV 1991 management simulation game Rainbow Arts
Major Stryker 1993 2006 Scrolling shooter DOS Apogee Software
Marathon Trilogy 1994 2005 First-person shooter Mac OS, Windows and Linux Bungie
MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries 2002 2010 robotic simulation Windows FASA Interactive
Monuments of Mars 1990 2009[3] Platform DOS Apogee Software
No Gravity Space combat simulator Realtech VR
One Must Fall: 2097 1994 Fighting DOS Epic Megagames
onEscapee' 1997 2006 action-adventure game Windows and Amiga Invictus Games, Ltd.
Operation Carnage 1996 Shoot 'em up DOS Beaucomm Interactive Released as freeware by the developers, Midnight Synergy[17]
Out of the Park Baseball 1999 2002 baseball management simulation Windows, Mac OS X, Linux Out of the Park Developments.
Overkill 1992 2008[18] Vertical scrolling-shooter DOS Precision Software Publishing / Epic Megagames
Pharaoh's Tomb 1990 2009[3] Platform DOS Apogee Software
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy 2005 a third-person shooter game Midway Games Released through FilePlanet as ad-supported freeware.
Purge (video game) 2003 online first-person shooter game Windows Freeform Interactive.
Railroad Tycoon Deluxe 1993 a business simulator MicroProse
Riftspace' 2000 a space mercenary simulation Starwraith 3D Games,
Rocket Ranger 1988 action game Cinemaware
R-Type 1987 a side-scrolling shoot-em-up video game. Factor 5
Sango Fighter 1993 2009[19] Fighting DOS Panda Entertainment Released as freeware by current copyright holder Super Fighter Team
Savage: The Battle for Newerth 2004 a blend of FPS and RTS gameplay Windows, Linux, Mac OS X S2 Games.
Savage 2: A Tortured Soul 2008 2008 Windows, Linux, Mac OS X
S.D.I 1987 an action adventure game Cinemaware.
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 Driving DOS Bluemoon Interactive
Spheres of Chaos 1992 2007 shooter game Iain McLeod,
The Spirit Engine 2 2008 2010 a 2-D side-scrolling indie RPG
Stargunner 1996 2005[20] Side-scrolling shooter DOS 3D Realms
Starsiege: Tribes 1998 2004 first-person shooter Released as publicity for the release of Tribes: Vengeance. Dynamix/Sierra On-Line,
Star Control II 1992 2002 an adventure/action game mix Toys For Bob Released as The Ur-Quan Masters.
Star Fleet I: The War Begins 1985 [21] Strategy DOS Interstel
Star Fleet II: Krellan Commander 1989 [21] Strategy DOS Interstel
Star Legions 1992 [21] Strategy DOS Interstel
Star Wraith II 2000 space military simulation game Starwraith 3D Games,
Star Wraith III: Shadows of Orion 2000 a space military simulation featuring multiplayer capabilities. Starwraith 3D Games,
Star Wraith IV: Reviction 2000 Starwraith 3D Games,
Strange Adventures in Infinite Space 2002 2009 by Digital Eel,
Supaplex 1991 Boulder Dash-like puzzle game Michael Stopp and Philip Jespersen.
Supernova 1987 1998[22] Text adventure DOS Apogee Software
Super Fighter 1993 2001[23] Fighting DOS C&E, Inc. Released as freeware by current copyright holder Super Fighter Team
Super ZZT 1992 Adventure DOS Epic Megagames
S.W.I.N.E. 2001 2005 real-time tactics game StormRegion, Released as S.W.I.N.E. Free Christmas Edition.
Team Fortress 2 2007 2011 FPS Windows, Mac Valve Corporation
Teen Agent 1995 Graphic adventure DOS
Telengard 1982 Dungeon crawl DOS Daniel Lawrence
TerraFire 1997 2005[24] Space Shooter DOS ORT Software
Titans of Steel: Warring Suns 2003 2008 Battletech-style turn based strategy game
Total Extreme Wrestling 2005 2005 2009 booking simulator Greydog Software.
Traffic Department 2192 1994 2007[25] Top-down shooter DOS Epic MegaGames
Treasure Island Dizzy 1987 puzzle game Oliver twins
Tribes 2 2001 2004 first-person shooter Windows and Linux Dynamix/Sierra On-Line, Released as publicity for the release of Tribes: Vengeance.
Trivia Whiz 1988 trivia game Apogee Software.
Turboraketti II 1993 cavern-flying game Amiga Heikki Kosola.
Tyrian 1995 2004 Scrolling shooter DOS Epic MegaGames
Universal Combat 2004 2008 space simulator Derek Smart
Vantage Master Online 1998 2002 tactical RPG Nihon Falcom
Warzone 2100 1999 2004 Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, AmigaOS 4, PlayStation Pumpkin Studios
Wild Metal Country 1999 2004 Rockstar Games
Wings 1990 flying game Cinemaware.
Wings 1996 cavern-flying game Miika Virpioja.
Word Whiz 1988 2009 Trivia DOS Apogee Software
Xargon 1993 2008[26] Platform game DOS Epic MegaGames
Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport 1995 2006[27] Fighting game DOS Apogee Software
Zero Tolerance 1994 first person shooter game Sega Mega Drive/Genesis by Technopop.
ZZT 1991 Adventure DOS Epic Megagames

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.

References

  1. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Adventures_of_Robbo.html
  2. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/2007/05/alien_carnage_freeware.html
  3. ^ a b c d e http://www.3drealms.com/news/2009/03/several_old_games_released_as_freeware.html
  4. ^ http://www.revolution.co.uk/_display.php?id=16
  5. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/1998/03/beyond_the_tita.html
  6. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/2005/12/bio_menace_released_as_freewar.html
  7. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Clyde's_Adventure.html
  8. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Clyde's_Revenge.html
  9. ^ 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 2009-06-11. 
  10. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Cybersphere.html
  11. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Cybersphere_Plus.html
  12. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Electro_Man.html
  13. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Heartlight_PC.html
  14. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Kiloblaster.html
  15. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Kye.html
  16. ^ http://www.revolution.co.uk/_display.php?id=10
  17. ^ http://www.midnightsynergy.com/ancient.htm
  18. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Overkill.html
  19. ^ http://www.sangofighter.com/download.htm
  20. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/2005/06/stargunner_rele.html
  21. ^ a b c http://www.symbioticsoftware.net/starfleet/downloads.htm
  22. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/1998/03/supernova_relea.html
  23. ^ http://www.superfighter.net/download.htm
  24. ^ http://www.ortsoftware.com/tfhist.html
  25. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Traffic_Department_2192.html
  26. ^ http://www.classicdosgames.com/game/Xargon.html
  27. ^ http://www.3drealms.com/news/2006/04/the_apogee_legacy_16.html
  28. ^ Area 51 Free Full Game
  29. ^ a b c d e General Liberated Games FAQ
  30. ^ Full Games: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Free Full Game (Ad Supported) - Demo Movie Patch Download Section - GamersHell.com
  31. ^ Rise & Fall: Civilizations At War Free Full Game
  32. ^ "Hollywood Monsters 2 ya está en las tiendas de toda España" (in spanish). FX Interactive. http://www.fxinteractive.com/noticias/ghm2-sp.html. 
  33. ^ "Lunga vita all’avventura! Hollywood Monsters 2 è già qui" (in italian). FX Interactive. http://www.fxinteractive.com/noticias/chm2-ita.html. 
  34. ^ The Suffering Free Full Game
  35. ^ "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Free Full Game (Ad Supported)". GamersHell.com. http://www.gamershell.com/download_20866.shtml. Retrieved 18 March 2009. "You will need an Ubi.com account and you must live in the U.S. to play the game" 

External links

Types of PC games available at no cost