List of full blown games that were either made free by developers/publishers or they are released as “free to play” from the start. The list also includes total conversions or spiritual successors to certain games which are basically the same as commercial versions, but they aren’t those games (Black Mesa, Scorched3D, Azteca, Royal Gems, Voxelstein etc). The whole idea of this list is to get loads of fun from proper games at no cost.
If you know any other game that is not yet listed or if you find a dead link here, please let me know and I’ll add or fix it.
LIST:
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Dawn
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download (both discs) | Instructions
Links 2: NOD Disc | GDI Disc | Gold XP Patch
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download (both discs) | CounterStrike Addon | Instructions
Links 2: Soviet Disc | Allies Disc
Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun
Graphics: Isometric 3D (Voxel)
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download | Download 2 | Instructions
Hidden & Dangerous Deluxe
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First/third person shooter with strategy elements
Links: Download
Ground Control
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download
Zombie Shooter
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Shoot em up
Links: Download
Zombie Shooter 2
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Shoot em up
Links: Download
Alien Shooter
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Shoot em up
Links: Download
Alien Shooter 2
Graphics: Isometric 2D
Genre: Shoot em up
Links: Download
Quake Live
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only + bots)
Links: Download
S.W.I.N.E.
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download
Warzone 2100
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
F.E.A.R. Combat
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person shooter
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Area 51
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
The Suffering
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First/third person survival horror
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Full Spectrum Warrior
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person tactical shooter/strategy
Links: Download
PRISM: Guard Shield
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download
Dark Salvation
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download 1 | Download 2 | Download 3
Rise & Fall: Civilizations at War
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Real-time strategy
Links: Download
Virtual Skipper 5
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Sailing simulator
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Abuse
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Side scrolling shooter
Links: Download
Allegiance
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person space combat simulator (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Penumbra (Tech Demo)
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person survival horror
Links: Download
Beneath a Steel Sky
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Point and click adventure
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Death Rally
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Arcade top down racing game
Links: Download
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download 1 | Download 2 | Download 3
Grand Theft Auto
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Top down action game
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Grand Theft Auto 2
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Top down action game
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
TrackMania Nations Forever
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Racing
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Cry of Fear
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person psychological horror
Links: Download
Black Mesa (Half-Life 1 HD)
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Back to the Future: The Game – Episode 1
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Point and click adventure
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Sam & Max: Abe Lincoln Must Die!
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Point and click adventure
Links: Download 1 | Download 2 | Download 3
Broken Sword 2.5: The Return of the Templars
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Point and click adventure
Links: Download | Download 2
America’s Army
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download
Nexuiz Classic
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only + bots)
Links: Download
Voxelstein 3D
Graphics: 3D (Voxel)
Genre: First person shooter
Links: Download 1 | Download 2
Scorched3D
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Turn based strategy
Links: Download
Hawken
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Mech first person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Alien Hallway
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Tower defense
Links: Download
Tyrian 2000
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Top down scrolling shoot em up
Links: Download
Championship Manager 2001/2002
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Manager
Links: Download | Download 2 | Patch Download 1 | Patch Download 2 | Patch Download 3
Tribes Next
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only + bots)
Links: Download
Tribes: Ascend
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Tabletop Defense
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Tower defense
Links: Download
Azteca (Zuma clone)
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Action puzzle
Links: Download
Royal Gems (Bejeweled clone)
Graphics: 2D
Genre: Action puzzle
Links: Download
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Graphics: 3D
Genre: MMO RPG (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Team Fortress 2
Graphics: 3D (Cel shaded)
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
DOTA 2
Graphics: 3D
Genre: MMO RPG (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
War of the Roses
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person action MMO (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Planetside 2
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter MMO (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Gotham City Impostors
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person MMO (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Blacklight: Retribution
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
APB Reloaded
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter MMO (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Fallen Earth
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter MMO (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
RIFT
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person MMO RPG (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Mechwarrior Online
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Mech first/third person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Ghost Recon Online
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Warframe
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person action (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
ARMA II (ARMA 2)
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Project: Blackout
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Urban Terror
Graphics: 3D
Genre: First person shooter (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Alien Swarm
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Top down 4 player co-op (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
World of Tanks
Graphics: 3D
Genre: Third person tank game (multiplayer only)
Links: Download
Angry Sheep Blog 
Oh wow, Hidden & Dangerous… Nice!
You’ve missed some of the best ones (imho): Death Rally, Sim City, Championship Manager 01/02, Wolfenstein, GTA 1 and 2, Tyrian.
Download links you say?… Yeah, you’ll have to google them… 😛
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I thought Dune II was freeware too, but can’t find any more info about it… So its probably not 🙂
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I’d prefer if you post the links. I was looking for Wolf3D, but couldn’t find it. All the references were leading to Bethesda webpage which now owns id Software, but there was no game. Forgot the GTA1 and GTA2…
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Wolfenstein: http://www.3drealms.com/wolf3d/index.html
CM 01/02: http://www.fmscout.com/a-championship-manager-0102-free-download.html
Tyrian (also on GOG): http://www.camanis.net/
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There is also:
Ur-Quan Masters (now in HD): Start Control 2 for modern computers.
http://sourceforge.net/projects/urquanmastershd/
Also Virtual Skipper 5 can be downloaded at http://www.virtualskipper.com/
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Is the Urquan masters like a ful game or just a mod for the original game or something?
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Its the full game, completely standalone. It actauly used the source from the 3DO version of Star Control 2 with permission and the game is fully functional.
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I just remembered if you like Ur-Quan Masters there is also:
Transcendence(2D Singleplayer) which takes a lot of inspiration from Star Control and is completely free with a paid addon if needed. The addon is not needed to play the game.
http://transcendence.kronosaur.com/
Then there is a 3D Survival game called Stranded 2 Completely free and fun to play
http://www.stranded.unrealsoftware.de/
Also Stranded 3 is on the way but with no official release date. (http://stranded3.com/) which hopes to boost gameplay, graphics and more and hopefully will be free or low cost.
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http://www.epicbundle.com/article/steam-game-for-free-afterfall-insanity
Scroll down the page and you’ll see a regularly updated list of free steam keys.
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It’s amazing how many good games are available for free.
I suppose it can only get better as time goes on.
Thanks for great list list & links.
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a lot of those links are useless now,you might need to update this topic.
e.g:Shacknews is one site that no longer works.
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Yeah, I’m quite busy with a lot of things going on at once and the existence of Infinifactory isn’t helping. Hours fly by like crazy when I’m playing that game.
I’ll try to update the links as soon as possible…
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There is a huge amount of old DOS games available in the Web Archive
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos_games
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Wow! I can’t believe I found this post just now! Thanks for this comprehensive list of free games! I see some which can be considered classic, gonna try them out some time. But for now, I’ll start with the horror genre. 😀
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Btw Dead Space isn’t free (anymore?), so you can remove that one when you update this post.
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The gamershell links all seem to be dead.
Also Ghost Recon Online was shut down, along with Gotham City Imposters being delisted. Alien Swarm Reactive Drop has more features than the normal one too.
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