With digital distribution increasing in popularity, free-to-play games have become increasingly popular. You can find free games for any genre of your interest, all legally. Follow this guide to find a free game that suits your taste and is usable in the shortest time possible.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Play Free-to-Play
Step 1. Find a service that hosts free-to-play games
These are games that you don't have to buy and that you can legally play for free. They generally require you to create an account in order to play. Most free-to-play games can be found in online stores where you can purchase game accessories and bonuses for real money.
- There are free-to-play games available for almost every genre imaginable, from first-person shooters, to races, role-playing, puzzles, and others.
- Some companies offer their game directly from their company's website. Others are available through digital distribution platforms, such as Steam.
- EA has a great selection of free-to-play games on their site and available through their Origin distribution platform.
Step 2. Use search engines to find the type of game you want
Just enter the words "free-to-play" into the search engine and browse the results. Check the reviews to make sure the game is fun, as many free games are designed to make money through cash shops. Some of the more 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 the game can run on your operating system
Check the recommended system requirements and compare them with those of your computer. You will save time if you avoid downloading a game that would end up not working on your computer.
Step 4. Download the game
There are two main types of free-to-play games: those that are played in a web browser without downloading them and those that are downloaded and installed like a typical program. If you need to download it, you will be given a file to install on your computer.
If you are using Steam, you need to create a free account and download the Steam specific software. You will then download the game via Steam and launch it from that program
Step 5. Install the game
The installation process is different for each game, but in general you can leave the default installation options. If you are using a digital distribution program, the installation takes place automatically after the download is complete.
Step 6. Run the game
If you are using a digital distribution program, find the game in your library and run it directly from the distribution program. If the game was installed as a typical program, you will be able to find it in the Start menu.
Method 2 of 3: Searching for Abandonware
Step 1. Go to an abandonware site:
these are games that have been published by a company that is now non-existent. Most of these games are free, from a legal point of view, although some work in an area on the edge of legality, as some may still own the rights. Among the most popular sites:
- Home of the Underdogs
- My Abandonware
- Abandonia
- XTC Abandonware
Step 2. Find the game you want to download
Most abandonware sites categorize their libraries based on genre and release date. Go to your favorite genre and look for a game you want to try.
Read the old reviews to see how the game worked when it was released
Step 3. Download and install the game
Most sites will give you instructions for installing games on modern operating systems, as well as instructions for circumventing the old key CD checks.
Step 4. Try to get all corrections needed to run the game
Modern operating systems may not be able to run games correctly. Older games often don't work properly with widescreen monitors or modern graphics cards. The abandonware sites can provide information on how to fix these problems, but you may need to look for specific fixes yourself.
Do a web search with the game title and the specific problem you are experiencing. You will often find forums with corrections posted by community members
Method 3 of 3: Downloading Flash Games
Step 1. Visit your favorite Flash games site
Flash game websites host a large collection of them that you can play in your browser. You can download these games so you can use them even without an internet connection. Popular sites include:
- Addictinggames.com
- Newgrounds.com
- Flashgames.com
Step 2. Open the game you want to download
For an easier download, use the free Firefox browser to open the site.
Step 3. Right click on the site background
Make sure you click on the background of the site and not the actual game.
Step 4. Select View Page Information
A window will open containing all the information about that web page.
Step 5. Select the Media tab
A list will be displayed containing all the objects on the web page. Sort the list by type.
Step 6. Find the game file
Flash games are listed as "Objects" and have the extension *.swf. Scroll through the list until you find the Flash game. It will usually have a name similar to the game title.
Step 7. Click Save As
Highlight the game in the list and click Save As. The game file will be saved on your hard drive in your usual Downloads folder.
Step 8. Open the game
Right-click on the downloaded file and click Open with. Select Firefox from the list of programs or, if it is not listed, search for it on your computer. The game will open in a new Firefox window.
For more detailed information, read an article on how to download online games
Advice
- For added internet security, always keep an anti-virus scanner running on your computer. Games that fail while an anti-malware program is running can be suspicious and should be avoided.
- In addition to the games you can download, there are also others that can be played directly within an Internet browser, such as Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Chrome. These browser games have many common features, but accessing them is much easier.
