he holiday season has come and gone, and chances are if you are a gamer, you're financially spent. This time of year is always a wallet-killer for console and PC fans alike. Companies strategically position their big titles to debut within days of one another from the moment the Halloween sugar-rush ends until all the New Year's champagne has been drunk. So if you're a gamer that spent all your free time this holiday playing games and have since finished them all — what are you to do? Well, I am here to help you out. These days, you can find a plethora of free (and decent) games to play online if you know where to look. Since gamers are (apparently) notoriously lazy, I have gone ahead and done the legwork for you. Below are a few games, whether completely free or partially free, that you can play online without the need to smash Mr. Oinky.
(Keep in mind that some of these titles do provide additional content for a given price, but all of them can be played in their entirety for free.)
Navy Field ( www.navyfield.com)
Navy Field, termed an MMOTSG (Massively Multiplayer Tactics Simulation Game) and developed by SDEnternet, is a strategic, WWII-era naval combat game. The game has a minimal single player campaign, and is instead geared towards multiplayer that supports clans (called "fleets"). You start out the game commanding a lowly frigate of neutral loyalty and engage in online ship-to-ship battles. As you level up you can acquire ships of increasingly large size, from multi-gunned battleships to aircraft carriers. Navy Field has a good level of strategy and allows for a great deal of customization. You can change and upgrade everything from your ships' hulls, guns, communications, crews, and more. Once your reach a certain level you can enhance your crewmembers, assigning them specific roles and picking their countries of allegiance. A 2D isometric view displays colorful and detailed sprite graphics. If you are looking for a strategic game that will keep you occupied for some time at no cost, give Navy Field a look.
Rising Force Online (www.rf-onlinegame.com)
Rising Force Online, or RF Online, is an MMORPG published by Codemasters, once a pay-for-play title but now free. The game mixes sci-fi and fantasy, focusing on three distinct races struggling to control the galaxy of Novus. Each faction has a unique appearance and set of abilities. You can pick the robotic race known as the Bellato Union, the mystical elf-race known as the Holy Alliance Cora, or the destructive Accretian Empire. Gameplay is similar to any MMORPG on the market, with talent specialization, questing, and guild battles — with the kicker being that it's totally free. For those of you who are interested in MMORPGs but were never willing to pay the monthly charges, consider RF Online. What is more, if you need it, its community website has all the information you could need to get started in the whole MMO arena.
Maple Story (www.maplestory.com)
Maple Story, a game developed by NEXON, is a 2D side-scrolling MMORPG made available for play in multiple languages. You begin the game on Maple Island for the tutorials, and eventually you'll move onto Victoria Island where you'll choose from four familiar classes — Warrior, Magician, Bowman, or Thief. While this is a MMORPG, it is not presented in the same manner as more involved MMOs are. It is decidedly more childlike in its design, a whimsical game compared to more serious titles such as World of Warcraft. While on the outside it may appear to appeal to the younger gamer, Maple Story is worth playing with friends if you just feel like goofing around. Colorful sprite graphics with a multitude of equipment options make for a fun and carefree online experience.
KartRider (www.kart.nexon.net)
KartRider, another free title from NEXON, is an online kart racing game. KartRider has two different game modes, "Item Mode" and "Speed Mode." Item Mode is a chaotic race mode filled with unique items and weapons to be used against your opponents, while Speed Mode is a simple racing mode where drifting is the key to victory. Once you download and install the game you'll register a rider as your playable charcter, participate in training exercises to earn licenses, and move on to compete in online competitions. If you feel like spending a little actual cash you can upgrade your car with specialty parts and buy unique outfits for your driver. Much like Maple Story, KartRider is a simple game with cartoon-inspired graphics that is deep in customization.
PoxNora (www.poxnora.com)
PoxNora, developed by Octopi, is a turn-based tactical fantasy game where players summon beasts, cast spells, and activate artifacts to do battle with an opponent, similar to Magic: the Gathering. Like Magic, PoxNora is a collectible game where users customize "pox battlegroups" (think decks) for use in the game. Pox battlegroups consist of Champions, Spells, Relics, and Equipment, each intended for a specific purpose and effect. PoxNora's aim is to defend the shrine that belongs to you while trying to destroy your opponent's. You will start the game with a very basic and non-customizable battlegroup, but as you continue to play you'll earn experience to be applied in the upgrading of your runes. Extra content is available for purchase.
So, there's a quick list for you — not the entirety of games available to play online for free, but some of the more involved and complex games you can find. If none of these titles strike your fancy, a simple Google search for "free online games" is a good place to start. If paying $60 and up for a new Xbox 360 game or another $15 a month for your favorite MMORPG is becoming a bit financially taxing for you, then perhaps it is time you played a game on a college freshman's budget. And if you are a college freshman, then turn off your computer and get back to studying. Here's to a happy, and free, gaming new year.
