There are a staggering number of options and options for anyone who wants to play games online for free. From brainless side-scrolling games to immersive console experiences, non-gamers and longtime gamers alike can find something to love.
online casual games
The internet is awash with free, simple and time-killing games. From classic solitaire and brick-breaking games to Mario clones and small-scale shooters, there are free online games to suit everyone. Most are designed to fill a few minutes of inactivity with mindless fun. Some, like the Bejeweled and Asteroids clones, are so addictive that you might find yourself playing them for more than a moment here and there.
A simple Google search for “play games online for free” will bring you more pages than you could possibly need.
Intense online games
While the vast majority of free online games are quick and simple, some have the depth of a console game. Perhaps the best example is the Internet phenomenon Runescape, a fantasy role-playing game in the same vein as World of Warcraft. Although free games cannot compete with the graphics and features of subscription games, Runescape and similar games offer a surprisingly deep gaming experience. Players can dive for months into its complex leveling system and dozens of quests.
Social Networking Website Games
Both MySpace and Facebook, the leading social networking sites on the web, allow you to play games online for free. These games are usually less complex than their console counterparts. Most can be played indefinitely; instead of progressing level by level, players face daily challenges. The popular Facebook app FarmVille, for example, tasks players with taking care of their own farm and constantly generates new events to keep players engaged.
Most of these social networking games allow players to post updates on their progress to their “feed”, a great feature to encourage friendly competition.
PlayStation 3 and Wii games
Although you will have to pay for the game disc, playing online for Wii and PlayStation 3 is completely free. The Xbox 360, on the other hand, charges a fee to access its Xbox Live online service.
The two consoles are radically different in how they approach online play. The Wii’s online catalog remains consistent with the console’s mission of making games accessible to non-gamers. Most online Wii เว็บบอล games tend to be casual, friendly competition rather than intense showdowns. The PlayStation 3 is the console chosen by the most demanding public who wants to play online for free.
The non-existent price to play Wii and PlayStation 3 online has some drawbacks. Quite often, gamers will find that their games are plagued with glitches or time lags. PS3 and Wii networks lack the ease of use and connectivity features of Xbox Live, and are much more susceptible to tampering by cheats and thieves. Sony and Nintendo are much slower than Microsoft to update and improve their online infrastructure. Still, there is no cheaper console alternative for anyone who wants to play games online for free.