Reviews of Ten Free Online RPGs

Online games are hitting a high point with high profile games like Warcraft, Everquest 2, and Final Fantasy leading the pack. But these games aren't free. Monthly charges, new expansion packs, and frequent downloads make for high maintenance and upkeep. However, for those who don't want to pay monthly charges for a game there are alternatives. Many new games are out that allow interaction, RPG play, questing, and everything else that the major MMORPGs offer, for little or no cost. Many have found alternate sources of income, like offering extras for pay, or having a one time membership fee for exclusive content. Others have advertisers in game or in forum.

Runescape

http://www.runespace.com (no download)

This little game is extraordinary in one way. It is completely web based. No loading screens. Nothing to download (except Java). Just completely self contained.

This game is played from above, with a free range camera that you can move in close or far away. They have interesting, and sometimes deadly random events as well, and a very well created craft system. They also keep the PVP area well marked and separate from other areas.

Grouping is problematical at best, though you can chat and follow others around. Sound quality and music is good, but some of the sounds used for actions, like hitting your sword on a creature, are simply amusing.

For a nominal fee you can access much more of the continent and PVP area, and attain higher abilities in all the skills.

Cabal

http://cabal.ogplanet.com/ (requires a download)

The fast pace and easy flow make Cabal a great choice. The quest line is easy to follow. You just find the guy with the scroll over his head and do whatever he asks. It leads to more scrolls and easy leveling.

Cabal, like many new games online, gets its money by offering game money that you can use to buy pets, advanced equipment, and other items.

(To download go here http://www.ogplanet.com/games/downloads.asp)

Puzzle Pirates

http://www.puzzlepirates.com/ (requires a download)

Pirates, sailing ships, conquering other crews, what more is there? Oh, did I mention you do this while playing puzzles?

There are several kinds of puzzles, from Tetris, and Dr. Mario style, to some that are truly unique. Through the puzzles you defeat other teams, earn gold, and create new items to sell.

Of course, to get certain features you have to pay more. Puzzle Pirates allows you to buy doubloons and use doubloons to purchase more items, or play certain games that you couldn't otherwise do. One server is devoted to those who pay for an all access account, the other server allows you to trade your earned gold for doubloons and buy badges that allow access to certain features. Or you can just play the basic account and you can still fill your house with lots of booty.

Adventure Quest

http://www.battleon.com/ (no download)

This flash based game has a simple battle style. Two creatures face one another and take turns attacking or using potions. Easy. Some interesting graphics for some of the moves, and it now has sound, a welcome addition.

Adventure Quest has a couple ways of making money. First, they offer "Guardianship", which is a one time payment for life that allows you into special areas, more quests, more items, and everything else that goes with it. Second, they have advertisements that you can choose to watch to earn in game gold, or other items.

Dragon Fable

http://www.dragonfable.com/ (no download)

Along the same lines as Adventure Quest. The interface is slightly different, but the concept and fighting style are the same. The sound is better, and I like the graphics and interface a little better then AQ, but all in all it is quite similar.

Anarchy Online

http://www.anarchy-online.com (requires a download)

This is the only pure science fiction type game I've come across that I enjoyed. You pick your species and type of character, then navigate the maps and exploration with robots, tech upgrades, cybernetic implants, space ships and more. You explore new worlds, not just lands.

While the graphics are not on par with Warcraft or Everquest, they are still fantastic for a free game.

Anarchy is unique in that they garner their income from in game advertisements. While exploring the world you will see bill boards with flashing adverts from Voodoo, Dell, or other software giants. Maybe even a Coke commercial. They aren't as intrusive as you would think, and it's an interesting way to make free play for all involved. They are also kind and keep all advertisements away from the tutorial island where you first start.

FlyFF

http://flyff.gpotato.com/ (requires a download)

Fly For Free is a 3D game in an anime style. You navigate your character around the land collecting items for quests and meeting new people. Extremely easy to navigate and creatures are present in swarms so there are always new creatures to kill. Only a small percentage of the creatures will actually attack before you attack so you can wander the whole land without worries.

I would have liked options to disable text over top of venders as traveling through some areas became difficult on occasions. However, with a fast computer and broad band it probably wouldn't be a problem.

The best part of FlyFF is you get to buy hover boards and brooms that will let you fly far above the landscape.

Eternal Lands

http://www.eternal-lands.com (requires a download)

While Eternal Lands is more along the lines of Everquest, there are enough differences and world exploration to make it an interesting title on its own. There is the requisite monster slaying and gathering of useless items for quest, and it also has a healthy crafting system and player based economy to give it more depth, along with groups and guilds.

Endless Online

http://www.endless-online.com/ (requires a download)

While not my favorite game, Endless Online has its own unique qualities making it a great time waster. Anime style, complete with fantastic weapons, school girl outfits, and monsters.

Unfortunately when I played EO, the game was crowded with players and it sometimes made finding your quest creatures difficult.

The view from above is easy to get use to, and live chat with emoticon animations can at times be interesting, though in crowded areas it is just frustrating.

Kingdom of Loathing

http://www.kingdomofloathing.com/ (no download)

With lines like "You grab a nearby Frisbee and use it to scoop some of the liquid into your mouth" it's easy to see that "Kingdom of Loathing" is all about humor. Still not sure why a Frisbee is just laying around inside a cave, but okay.

KofL is web based. You click through pages earning meat (the currency), creating items by using meat paste to glue them together, and doing adventures to get stats. No sound, no animation, just clicking the right button.

Everything about KofL is a parody of all the other high profile games. Even the graphics are simple stick figure drawings in black and white. Really worth a look.

Free to play. You get a limited number of adventures per day, and can get more by eating food. Limit of how much you can eat per day.