Recommend a free game!

[Safe-Keeper]

With all the great and promising free games out there, I thought it'd be a good idea to make a thread where we suggest such titles to each others. "Free" games can be both games that are freeware, and the ones that are currently in open beta, but which will become payware later.
Only, please do not flood this thread with suggestions. Let's keep it to one game per post, and do write a few words about why you think it's a great game :03:.

I assume everyone here knows about this already, but if you don't, War Thunder (http://warthunder.com/nord/play4free?r=glispa35_CD5854_) should definitely be given a try. It's a free game even though you can also choose to pay money for faster accumulation of XP, "premium planes" and whatnot. I want to stress, though, that it's not a "pay to win" game -- you'll be put on servers with people on the same level as you, so it's not as if you can buy a high-level plane and use it to dominate a server full of biplanes.

Currently, WT supports only planes, with tanker gameplay in closed beta and plans to add playable ships. You can choose yourself if you want "fun" arcade gameplay with simple controls and planes and pilots that don't obey the laws of nature (you can handle a whooping 10 Gs, for example:O:), but even on simple mode it has pretty

In short: WT is incredibly fun, it's downright beautiful, and it's highly promising. Mastering the arcade mode alone can take countless hours, and when you have, you still have the historical/realistic modes to hop into, not to mention tanker/ship captain gameplay.

If you loved Battlefield 1942, you should get this game:up:.

[AVGWarhawk]

World of Tanks is made by the same folks that created War Thunder. Same premise. It is a lot of fun as well.

http://worldoftanks.com/

[Rilder]

World of Tanks is made by the same folks that created War Thunder. Same premise. It is a lot of fun as well.

http://worldoftanks.com/

Err, Warthunder is not made by the same people as World of Tanks. Wargaming's plane game is World of Warplanes. http://worldofwarplanes.com/ (Which I personally prefer to Warthunder mainly due to the fact that playing WoWP can get free XP that can be used in World of Tanks, not to mention that I've had some very very poor experiences with Warthunder players when trying to have a discussion about WoWP.)

As aside, since were mentioning wargaming, hopefully soon http://worldofwarships.com/ will move into open beta since I think its just going to be amazing.

[Oberon]

Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe (OTTD)

The old Transport Tycoon but in open source, with the ability to load mods into it such as new models and maps.
Hours of my life and of others lives (HunterICX for one) have been sunk into this game both offline and online (multiplayer is supported and relatively stable) and the file sizes are very small and the graphics are quite low so you can slap it on your favourite laptop and take it anywhere you want to.
Easy to learn, tricky to fully master, a lot of fun, especially if you have anything of a passing interest in trains, buses, ships or planes.

[Lord_magerius]

Open RA

An open source version of Command and Conquer: Red Alert, it also includes Tiberian Dawn and Dune 2. Pretty solid version of an old classic, the only difference is a much better UI and no campaign, on the plus side though it does support multiplayer. Also included is a map editor to make your own maps and scenarios.
They plan to add Tiberian sun to future releases too which is nice, definitely one to get if you're a fan of the old C&C series.

http://openra.res0l.net/

[AVGWarhawk]

Err, Warthunder is not made by the same people as World of Tanks. Wargaming's plane game is World of Warplanes. http://worldofwarplanes.com/ (Which I personally prefer to Warthunder mainly due to the fact that playing WoWP can get free XP that can be used in World of Tanks, not to mention that I've had some very very poor experiences with Warthunder players when trying to have a discussion about WoWP.)

As aside, since were mentioning wargaming, hopefully soon http://worldofwarships.com/ will move into open beta since I think its just going to be amazing.

Both games seem very similar in presentation and how each works. I'm still under the impression that both are made/produces by Wargaming.net :hmmm:

At any rate, a good free game!

[Oberon]

Both games seem very similar in presentation and how each works. I'm still under the impression that both are made/produces by Wargaming.net :hmmm:

At any rate, a good free game!

Nope, World of Tanks/Planes/Ships is by Wargaming.net. Warthunder is by Gaijin Entertainment.

[AVGWarhawk]

Nope, World of Tanks/Planes/Ships is by Wargaming.net. Warthunder is by Gaijin Entertainment.

Ah ok, there is the distinction. Thanks!

[Skybird]

Free Hockey.

http://www.learn4good.com/games/sports/icehockey.htm

[Safe-Keeper]

Massive's Ground Control (http://www.fileplanet.com/156136/150000/fileinfo/Ground-Control-%5BFree-Game%5D). The debut game of the studio behind World in Conflict (which is a very similar experience) and the upcoming Tom Clancy's The Division, Ground Control is a real-time tactics game that was revolutionary in how it made full use of the 3D technology of the time: the landscape, terrain features and buildings in the game actually blocks line of fire and line of sight, so you can do things like put tanks in defilade on top of hills or hide infantry between trees or in ravines. Even light and shadow has an effect, in that units in shadow are harder to detect.

Ground Control has a whooping 30 single-player missions across two campaigns, where you take control of an ever-growing army of customizable units (which carry over and gain experience from mission to mission), and the challenge lies in having to put together the right force for the mission as much as tactics and strategy. Do you deploy an infantry or tank squad? If you choose infantry, will the squad have a portable radar with them or medi-kits; mortars or anti-tank missiles?

Though it looks fairly dated on the surface today, and some of the missions have a "rushed"/"empty" feel to them, Ground Control has an awesome musical score and unbelievably good-looking visual effects, which when combined with the free-moving camera makes large battles and armies on the move look just as impressive today as when the game came out. The plot isn't the best, but it does have its twists and turns, and it is downright chilling at times.

If you liked World in Conflict, you should definitely give this predessecor a try:up:.