Good FREE indie PC games

[Spore]

I thought it would be fun after seeing a thread on one game to make a thread about a bunch of free indie games you guys found. I'll start with the obvious.

Cave Story


A game that if you haven't played, should do so very quick. That game is Cave Story. You are a robot or somethin' named Quote on a journey that eventually leads you to saving the people on a floating island from an evil doctor planning to take it over. It is a pretty typical story as far as they go. It is a tad more complex than that as they throw a girl in and a secret ending level with backstory but that's the gist.
http://agtp.romhack.net/images/projects/cavestory/0.png
The game is a 2d sidescrolling adventure. You wield a small multitude of weapons and you get more as you progress. The weapons in a way branch off as you progress as some will never be obtainable if you don't do a certain task at a given point of the game but of course doing that offers up other weapondry. But as most games go, you have to follow the story perfectly to get the ultimate weapon; the Spur.
http://www.gamehippo.com/screenshots_label_1/2107_1.png
The game has 3 different endings and if you do the hardest ending, the game will set you back many hours your first time. Oh and I almost forgot! The music in this game is superb and after you beat it you will find yourself humming the wonderous tunes in your bed for hours as you dream about the very game. This game is hailed as pretty much the pinnacle of indie one man free games go and it is a great time killer for anybody. Download and play if you haven't already will ya!
Links
English Home Page (http://www.miraigamer.net/cavestory/)
PC Game Download (http://homepage2.nifty.com/rochet/storage/dou_1006.zip)
Mac Game Download (http://www.nakiwo.com/files/doukutsu0_0_7.dmg)
PC Japanese to English Patch (http://agtp.romhack.net/download.php?id=cavestory)
Mac Japanese to English Patch (http://www.wctc.net/~luvmimac/cavestory/DoukutsuEnglishPatchMacUniversal.tar.gz)




Knytt and Knytt Stories

Another one of my favorites is both Knytt and Knytt Stories. They are two brilliantly simple yet beautiful 2d adventure games. There are many stories in Knytt. Every level is really its own story. The graphics and the music is constantly setting moods within you uncommon in even today's commercial games. If somebody were to print out a whole level from either game (every level is huge) and hang it as a wall it would serve as modern art with retro flare.
http://img.hrej.cz/05/bce29a3ed4ed080ac3ec031fc31e5a.jpg
This game has an almost Metroid like feel to it. You collect something and find that with its power, you can reach a new place. This game though, will give you a "Where the Hell am I going?!" feel the majority of the time, one would think that that is a bad thing but given the beauty of the world, you shrug it off as you explore almost at random, until you realise while taking everything in, that you made it to your objective.
.........................................http://farm1.static.flickr.com/229/466489976_d245e371b1.jpg
Knytt Stories also comes with a thorough yet easy to use level editor. Below under the links section is a tutorial for the editor to get you going. With it, you can design your own world using all the resources from the game such as graphics, powerups, enemies and decorations. Of course, you are also at liberty to design your own graphics for your world. I myself am actually making my own world.
All in all, Knytt will have you going from room to room, place to place, in search of your next item you must collect and right when you collect it after being lost in this magical world for so long, you find yourself again, lost. Only now you could go to that cliff that used to be unreachable. A whole new world to explore. Take your time soaking this one in people. Knytt and Knytt Stories are both a vista of wonderful level and graphic design layered together with a soothing ambience and musical track to it. Get yourself lost in it. Love of minute of it.

Links
Knytt Homepage (http://nifflas.ni2.se/index.php?main=01Home)
PC Knytt Download (http://psyche7.net/wadf/Knytt.zip)
PC Knytt Stories and Editor Download (http://www.ni2.se/files/games/Install_KnyttStories.exe)
Extra Knytt Levels (http://www.ni2.se/files/games/hempuli_knyttxh.zip)
Extra Knytt Stories Levels (http://nifflas.ni2.se/index.php?main=02Knytt_Stories&sub=04Get_More_Levels)
Editor Tutorial (http://h1.ripway.com/GSR/KnyttTutoria.html)

(sorry mac owners, go play Cave Story)

So there ya go. Go post your own favorites and give these ones a try!

[neuzd]

Thanks, I just downloaded Knytt and it's fantastic!!!
I'm just having a break to make a sandwich and leave this message but I'll be soon back again playing.

Sadly my Win98 can't run Knitt Stories, but I'm very happy exploring the world of Knytt.

Really, any Metroid fan should try these games! Amazing, even without brutally shinesparking in everyone's face.

[Spore]

I'm sorry to hear you can't also expierience Knytt Stories but hey, in time right? I really was amazed when I first played it.

[Joxe]

Well, there's one that I've played trough.
It's called "Chalk" and is developed by Joakim Sandberg.

http://konjak.org/images/chalk.gif

There's only one picture on the webpage so you have to try it out to see more ^_^
It's basically a "shooter" where you move around with the WASD keys and instead of shooting you're drawing lines with your mouse to kill the enemies. It's rather hard to explain but it's really innovative since I haven't even seen something like it before. The graphics is really...well cute is the best word to describe it, with it's black board style and funny character designs for the bosses. The game isn't that long but like every other shooter you are aiming for the points. This game is really worth a playtrough, I haven't tested the other two games on the webpage but I will in the future.

Download link:
Download Chalk (http://konjak.org/chalk.zip)

Game page:
Info about Chalk (http://konjak.org/chalk.htm)

Developer's webpage:
Konjak.org (http://konjak.org)

[neuzd]

Knytt was so great. I couldn't keep myself from playing it all and try to get almost everywhere for the pure joy of dicovery.

So I was looking for some other games, keyword: "exploration".

You know what I found?
The Mother of exploration games:
Noctis (http://www.anywherebb.com/) (actually the site is down, but it should be a temporary issue)

This is something totally different from what I was looking for, but anyway I got hooked.

It's a space exploration "game" in which the galaxy is twice as big as the Milky Way, containing something like 78 billion stars, which of course have planets and moons.

You can go anywhere in the Noctis Galaxy and land on any planet or moon which environment permits it (you can't land on a gas giant like Jupiter o Saturn, you know).
You can land on the surface and explore, looking for something interesting, like life of course.

Check the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctis)...there's too much to say.

Oh.......and the download is 1 MB big (I repeat it:78,000,000,000+ stars....). This man is a genius.

Probably this community isn't the best target for that kind of software, anyway I loved it and wanted to share it with you.
If you want to try it....be sure to read the manual (sorry, looks like Neanderthals and hyper-active kids are cut out).

[Spore]

Knytt was so great. I couldn't keep myself from playing it all and try to get almost everywhere for the pure joy of dicovery.

So I was looking for some other games, keyword: "exploration".

You know what I found?
The Mother of exploration games:
Noctis (http://www.anywherebb.com/) (actually the site is down, but it should be a temporary issue)

This is something totally different from what I was looking for, but anyway I got hooked.

It's a space exploration "game" in which the galaxy is twice as big as the Milky Way, containing something like 78 billion stars, which of course have planets and moons.

You can go anywhere in the Noctis Galaxy and land on any planet or moon which environment permits it (you can't land on a gas giant like Jupiter o Saturn, you know).
You can land on the surface and explore, looking for something interesting, like life of course.

Check the wikipedia page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noctis)...there's too much to say.

Oh.......and the download is 1 MB big (I repeat it:78,000,000,000+ stars....). This man is a genius.

Probably this community isn't the best target for that kind of software, anyway I loved it and wanted to share it with you.
If you want to try it....be sure to read the manual (sorry, looks like Neanderthals and hyper-active kids are cut out).

Can you say procedurally generated content? Looks neat though.

[SegaFan]

Good idea for a topic. I love Knytt, I didn't know there was a second game so thanks for that!

If you like Knytt I also recommend Within a Deep Forest, an earlier game from the same developer. It's different from Knytt, less layed back, but just as good.

[Spore]

Yeah Within a Deep Forest is fun. I was gonna post that one too but there is a 4 pictures per post limit and I didn't wanna bother. It is definatly more powerup based than the Knytt series. What is there, 10 different abilities? Fun game. Check it out at the Knytt homepage in my first post.

[SegaFan]

Been playing Knytt Stories, just done the first level and now downloading the expansion pack, I'd forgotton how good Knytt was.

Yeah Within a Deep Forest is fun. I was gonna post that one too but there is a 4 pictures per post limit and I didn't wanna bother. It is definatly more powerup based than the Knytt series. What is there, 10 different abilities? Fun game. Check it out at the Knytt homepage in my first post.
Within a Deep Forest definitely has more depth than Knytt, and, dare I say it, better gameplay. But Knytt wins overall with it's minimalist style and atmosphere.

[kelvingreen]

I'd heartily recommend The Spirit Engine (http://www.thespiritengine.com/tse1.html), which is a nifty side-scrolling rpg. It's a bit steep in terms of system requirements though, at least in freeware terms.

EDIT: I just downloaded Knytt Stories and spent hours playing through the included scenario. What a fantastic game. Reminds me a lot of Benefactor on the Amiga.

[neuzd]

I know this thread is a bit old, but I wanted to post a game that is what I call a "perfect game".

It's called DeathWorm (http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=279075&hl=)
his creator is from Finland (I think); too bad I can't check his correct name right now, maybe I'll update here later.

I knew this guy's works from his messages on the community (http://www.anywherebb.com) that orbits around Alex Ghignola (Noctis, Linoleum, etc; and also, check my sign!).
This game is totally awesome and would be a mega-hit if on wii-ware!
It features some NON-original work (ie:music is from Streets of Rage II), and there's just one level, but behaviour of "enemies" keeps on changing with the score (+points = higher difficulty) so you can bet you'll be smiling all the time asking yourself "What the hell are they trying to do, now? Tsk, useless bipeds....I'm coming for ya!"

Also, if 2 times in a single message aren't enough....you have to check Noctis (http://www.anywherebb.com) you lazy pushbuttoners!

Now an important question for the community:
This thread doesn't seem to be that popular, but the argument of Free Games is quite interesting for everyone, I think.
Do anyone think this thread (or anyway this topic) should be preserved from oblivion and/or should we do a sticky thread with ALL the free games we'd like to advertise?

I already know this question will fall unnoticed....if no one answers in some hours I'm making a (more visible) poll about it.

[kelvingreen]

I suppose it could be stickied. It's a worthwhile thread.

[neuzd]

I took the initiative anyway.

I'm trying to figure out how to make a comprehensive list of games.
I'm surely opening a new thread, one to be kept updated.
So, if any mods passes from here, wait for my new thread and make sticky that one instead.

Thanks for the rapid feddback though, and.....go download Death Worm and Noctis, NOW!!

[jackaroo]

I know this thread is a bit old, but I wanted to post a game that is what I call a "perfect game".

It's called DeathWorm (http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=279075&hl=)
his creator is from Finland (I think); too bad I can't check his correct name right now, maybe I'll update here later.

I knew this guy's works from his messages on the community (http://www.anywherebb.com) that orbits around Alex Ghignola (Noctis, Linoleum, etc; and also, check my sign!).
This game is totally awesome and would be a mega-hit if on wii-ware!
It features some NON-original work (ie:music is from Streets of Rage II), and there's just one level, but behaviour of "enemies" keeps on changing with the score (+points = higher difficulty) so you can bet you'll be smiling all the time asking yourself "What the hell are they trying to do, now? Tsk, useless bipeds....I'm coming for ya!"

Also, if 2 times in a single message aren't enough....you have to check Noctis (http://www.anywherebb.com) you lazy pushbuttoners!

Now an important question for the community:
This thread doesn't seem to be that popular, but the argument of Free Games is quite interesting for everyone, I think.
Do anyone think this thread (or anyway this topic) should be preserved from oblivion and/or should we do a sticky thread with ALL the free games we'd like to advertise?

I already know this question will fall unnoticed....if no one answers in some hours I'm making a (more visible) poll about it.

I know that game. Its very well done. The person who made it uses the same tool i do to make games.

Another decent game is Seiklus :

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/show/2118

Its also made with the tool i use (Which is Simply called Game Maker BTW). Its a fun exploration game and its quite long (I think, I still havent beat it). To download from that site go down the page a bit and on the right it will say download. Clicking play now will download the YoYoGames player which IMO is pointless. So its best you download the game yourself. Anyway there are many different places for you to explore and weird items to get. And the story is just the simple youve been seperated from your girlfriend thing or something like that. Its very colourful and simple and many will enjoy it.

Now for some advertising :D.
Check out the Beta of the game me and my friend are making. Its called Crystal chaos arcade and will eventually feature 8 full length minigames. The version avaliable however has a short trial of one game and a very rubbish Beta of another.

We have since finished both games avaliable to play but they arent avaliable in any demo yet.

http://www.yoyogames.com/games/show/3406
& for more info
http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=304139&hl=

The game has come along way since this Beta version and is much better so expect more from the final release (Which will be next year sometime).