List of commercial games released as freeware
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Commercial 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.
For games that were originally released as freeware, see list of freeware games. For open source games, see list of open source games.
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[edit] Freely redistributable games
The following formerly paid games have been made available as freeware, and are freely redistributable software:
- Akalabeth (1979), a.k.a "Ultima 0", an RPG by Lord British.
- Allegiance (2000), a multiplayer space shooter/ RPG by Microsoft Research.
- Battlecruiser 3000AD (1996), a space simulation game by Derek Smart.
- Battlecruiser Millennium (2003), a space simulation game by Derek Smart.
- 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.
- Bio Menace (1993), a side-scrolling platform game by Apogee Software, released as freeware in December, 2005.
- Boppin' (1994), a puzzle game published by Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2005.
- Castle of the Winds (1989), a tile based RPG for Windows 3.x, written by SaadaSoft.
- Castle Infinity (1996), a MMOG by Starwave.
- Caves of Thor (1989), a maze game by Apogee Software.
- Defender of the Crown (1986), a strategy game by Cinemaware.
- Dink Smallwood (1997), an RPG by RTsoft, released as freeware on 17 October 1999.
- Elite (1987), 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 game by Windward Studios.
- F.E.A.R. Combat (2006), the multiplayer portion of F.E.A.R., by Monolith Productions.
- Flight of the Amazon Queen (1995), an adventure game by Interactive Binary Illusions, released to support the ScummVM Project.
- Freespace 2 (1999), a space combat sim published by Interplay.
- God of Thunder, a puzzle game by Adept Software.
- Gridlee (1983), an arcade game by Videa.
- Hardwired (a pre-release version of Red Zone) (1994), a shooter by Zyrinx for the Sega Genesis.
- Hidden and Dangerous Deluxe (1999), a game by Illusion Softworks, released for free as promotion for the sequel Hidden & Dangerous 2.
- Jetpack, a platform game by Adept Software.
- Ken's Labyrinth (1993), a first-person shooter by Ken Silverman.
- King of Chicago (1987), an action adventure strategy game by Cinemaware.
- Lure of the Temptress (1992), an adventure game by Revolution Software.
- Major Stryker (1993), a scrolling-shooter game by Apogee Software, released as freeware in March 2006.
- Marathon Trilogy, a series of first-person shooter games by Bungie.
- Netstorm (1997), a real time strategy game by Titanic Entertainment/Activision, released as freeware in 2002.
- One Must Fall: 2097 (1994), classic fighting game by Diversions Entertaintment, declared freeware on February 10, 1999.
- Railroad Tycoon Deluxe (1991), an economic simulation game by MicroProse.
- Savage: The Battle for Newerth (2004), a blend of FPS and RTS gameplay by S2 Games.
- S.D.I (1987), an action adventure game by Cinemaware.
- Shadowbane (2003), a fantasy MMORPG by Ubisoft, released as freeware in 2006.
- Stargunner (1996), a scrolling shooter game by Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2005.
- Starsiege: Tribes (1998), a first-person shooter game by Dynamix/Sierra On-Line, released as freeware in May 2004 as publicity for the release of Tribes: Vengeance.
- Supernova (1987), a text adventure game by Apogee Software, re-released as freeware in March, 1998.
- 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.
- The Adventures of Robby Roto! (1981), an arcade game by Bally Midway.
- The Elder Scrolls: Arena (1994), an RPG 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.
- Tribes 2 (2001), a first-person shooter game 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.
- Tyrian (1999), a space shooter by Epic MegaGames, released as freeware by its author Jason Emery in 2004.
- Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985), an RPG by Lord British.
- Wings (1990), a flying game by Cinemaware.
- Word Whiz (1988), a trivia game by Apogee Software.
- Xenophage: Alien Bloodsport (1995), a fighting game by Argo Games/Apogee Software, released as freeware in 2006.
- Zero Tolerance (1994), a Sega Mega Drive/Genesis first person shooter game by Technopop.
[edit] Non freely redistributable games
The following formerly paid games have been made available for free download as freeware, but may be only be downloaded from certain websites and with the explicit permission of the copyright owner. As such, they are not freely redistributable software, and may stop being available if the owner decides to do so.
- Grand Theft Auto (1998), by Rockstar Games, released as registerware freeware.
- Grand Theft Auto 2 (1999), by Rockstar Games, released as registerware freeware.
- Ground Control (2000), RTS game produced by Sierra Entertainment.
- Wild Metal Country (1999), by Rockstar Games, released for free as registerware freeware in 2004.
- ZZT (1991) by Epic Megagames.
[edit] Games no longer distributed
The following are commercial games which were re-released as freeware, but are not freely redistributable software. They were only available as freeware as a download from their owners' website for a limited time, but could not be redistributed. As the owners are no longer offering them to be downloaded, and they are not selling them either, there is no legal way to get them. See details at Liberated Games.
- B-17 Flying Fortress (1992), a flight simulation game by MicroProse.
- Betrayal at Krondor (1993), a role-playing game by Sierra.
- Caesar (1993), a city-building game by Sierra.
- Gateway (1992), an adventure game by Legend Entertainment.
- Red Baron 3D (1998), a flight game by Sierra.
- Zork I, Zork II, Zork III, and Zork: The Undiscovered Underground, text adventure games by Activision.
[edit] See also
Wikibooks has a book on the topic of
[edit] External links
- Liberated Games — A site which features games which has 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.
