Free alternatives to classic games

[MrFlibble 31]

Just as the title suggests, this is an attempt to list free games that very closely follow a well-known product or franchise and can thus serve as an alternative to that particular game.

What I have not included on the list are multiplayer-only games, browser-based games, and all kinds of free-to-play and "freemium" online products. I have also tried not to include projects that make use of original assets like graphics and sounds (unless authorized by original copyright holders, as is the case of T2002), so games like Gods Deluxe or Return of the Triad are not on the list.

Any further suggestions as to what games qualify as free alternatives are more than welcome

Update from 2021/07/28: A complete overhaul of the lists, using new groupings, which are hopefully more informative.

1. Original engine + free/libre game data
These are games based on the original code of their inspirations. Often, a free/libre game data set (levels, graphics, music) is created as a replacement for the original proprietary game data, while the playing mechanics remain the same, but sometimes, other aspects of gameplay undergo considerable alterations, which is reflected by the [mod] suffix in the list below.

In some cases, the source code/engine is still not public, but has been provided by owners to the community so that new free games or mods may be created.

Yet another case when the code is not available are various game construction sets that allow users to freely distribute games created with them. These are marked with the [toolkit] suffix.

Abuse
o fRaBs
Alien Shooter
o Theseus: Return of the Hero
The Bard's Tale
o The Bard's Lore [toolkit]
o The Bard's Quest [toolkit]
Crayon Physics
o Numpty Physics
Doom II
o Freedoom
o HacX [mod]
o Harmony [mod]
Duke Nukem 3D
o Mr The Killer [mod]
Freespace 2
o Wings of Dawn [mod]
Heretic
o Blasphemer
Hovertank 3D
o Robot Redemption
Lethal Tender
o Industrial Killers (ikillers.zip) [toolkit]
Quake
o LibreQuake
o Open Quartz
o Open Quartz 2
o Nexuiz Classic [mod]
o Rexuiz [mod]
Quake II
o CodeRED - Battle For Earth [mod]
o CodeRED - The Martian Chronicles [mod]
o Alien Arena [mod]
o D-Day Normandy [mod]
o Warsow [mod]
Quake III Arena
o OpenArena [mod]
o Acid Arena [mod]
o World of Pandman [mod]
Steel Panthers
o SPWW2 [mod]
o Steel Panthers: World at War [mod]
Steel Panthers II: Modern Battles
o SPMBT [mod]
Super-VGA Harrier
o Jaguar GR1: Strike Force Delta Zulu [toolkit]
o Tornado Squadron [toolkit]
o Skyhawk Attack [toolkit]
The Ultimate Doom
o Freedoom
o Chex Quest 3 [mod]
o REKKR [mod]
Wolfenstein 3-D
o Zillion 3D

2. Engine recreation + free/libre game data
Very similar to the above, but the original game source is not available in any form, so an attempt is made to recreate it from scratch and/or by means of reverse engineering. Usually such projects start by requiring the original game's data, and then a free/libre replacement data set is created by the community.

In some rare cases, the author of a recreation received permission from the copyright holders of the emulated game to use original proprietary game data, characters, title etc. These projects are marked with the [authr] suffix in the list.

Atomix
o Atomiks [authr]
The Bard's Tale Construction Set
o Bt Builder
Chip's Challenge
o Tile World
Command & Conquer: Red Alert
o Fractured Realms [mod]
o OpenHV [mod]
Commander Keen (second trilogy)
o Planet Cloudius IX
Digger (Windmill Software)
o Digger Remastered
Flight Sim Toolkit
o OpenFly
M.A.X.
o M.A.X. Reloaded
Panzer General
o LGeneral + K.u.k. General
Supaplex
o Open Supaplex [authr]
Total Annihilation
o Zero-K
Transport Tycoon Deluxe
o OpenTTD
UFO: Enemy Unknown
o UFO2000
Warcraft II
o Aleona's Tales
o Wyrmsun [mod]

3. Clones and remakes that faithfully recreate original mechanics
This is likely the most common type, with many projects being not only accurate reproductions of the original game mechanics, but often also trying to follow the original "look & feel" of their inspirations. At least some of these projects are motivated by the desire to create a FOSS alternative to a proprietary game for Linux users, or to fill in what is perceived as an empty niche for modern platforms.

Note that some of these games actually make rather drastic changes compared to the original titles they emulate, such as the transition to 3D graphics from 2D, or a cosmetic/thematic overhaul by using free software mascots as game characters for example.

A-Train
o FreeTrain
Age of Empires
o 0 A.D.
o The Fertile Crescent
Alien Breed
o Alien Assault II
Anno series
o Unknown Horizons
Arkanoid
o PopCorn
Battle Isle II
o Advanced Strategic Command
o Crimson Fields
BlockOut
o BockOut II [authr]
Blood
o Transfusion [authr]
Bomberman
o Mr.Boom
o Fracas
Boulder Dash
o GDash
o Rocks'n'Diamonds
Bust-a-Move/Puzzle Bobble
o Bobble Puzzle
o Frozen Bubble
o Zorx
Carrier Command
o Thunder&Lightning
Castlevania 2
o Castlevania 2: The Lecarde Chronicles [authr]
Civilisation V
o Unciv
Columns
o Bref
Command & Conquer
o Dark Konflict
o Future Conflict
Crimsonland
o Bloodworks
o Violetland
D/Generation
o rE/Generation
Diablo
o FreedroidRPG
o FLARE
o Summoning Wars
Doom
o Anarch
o Shaw's Nightmare
Duke Nukem 1
o Dave Gnukem
Dungeon Keeper
o OpenDungeons
Elasto Mania
o XMoto
Elite
o Oolite
Empire Deluxe
o GEMpire
Escape Velocity
o NAEV
Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures
o Dungeon Craft
The Great Giana Sisters
o Akiko and Minami
o Giana's Return
o Giana Worlds [authr]
Herzog Zwei
o Herzog 3D
o RAD - Rapid Aerial Deployment
King's Quest series
o King's Quest Remake [authr]
o King's Quest II Enhanced Edition [authr]
o King's Quest III [authr]
Knights and Merchants
o Knights Province
Lemmings
o Lix
o Pingus
o Hamsters
Lode Runner
o SDL Scavenger
The Lords of Midnight
o The Lords of Midnight PC [authr]
The Lost Vikings
o freeVikings
Magic Carpet
o Ogrian Carpet
Master of Monsters
o The Battle for Wesnoth
Master of Orion
o FreeOrion
Mechwarrior series
o Linwarrior 3D
Minecraft
o Manic Digger
o Minetest
Mortal Kombat
o Open Mortal
Nibbles
o Zmiy
OutRun
o RunOut
Oxyd
o Enigma
Pac-Man
o Open Greedy
Panzer General II
o Open General
o OpenPanzer / Panzer Marshal
Puzznic
o Wizznic!
Rise of the Triad
o Rise of the Wool Ball
RPG Maker
o EasyRPG
o Open RPG Maker
Secret Agent
o Special Agent
Sensible (World of) Soccer
o YSoccer
The Settlers II
o Widelands
The Settlers of Catan
o Pioneers
Sid Meier's Civilisation/Civilisation II
o Freeciv
o Great Nations
o Conquests
o C-evo
o Kingdoms
Sid Meier's Colonisation
o FreeCol
SimCity
o Lincity
o LinCity-NG
o OpenCity
SolarFox
o SolarWolf
Sonic the Hedgehog
o Open Surge
Star Wars: TIE Fighter
o Space Combat
StarCraft
o Priority: Survive
Stars!
o Stars! Nova
Stunts
o Ultimate Stunts
Super Hexagon
o Open Hexagon
Super Mario Bros.
o Secret Maryo Chronicles
o SuperTux
Super Monkey Ball
o Neverball
Tetris
o Super ACiD Block Attack
Thief: The Dark Project
o The Dark Mod
Total Annihilation
o Robotic War
o War Machines
Trailblazer
o Blazing Trails
Transport Tycoon
o Simutrans
Trugg
o Heartlight PC
Turrican II
o Hurrican
o T2002 [authr]
Ultima I
o The Kingdom of Syree
Ultima IV-V
o Haxima
Ultima VI
o IRE
Warcraft II
o Dark Oberon
Warlords II Deluxe
o LordsAWar!
Wing Commander
o Flight Commander
Wizardry VII
o Escape from the Maze
o Lost Hero
Worms
o Hedgewars
o WarMUX
X-COM/UFO
o X-Force: Fight for Destiny
o UFO: Alien Invasion

 

Edited August 29, 2021 by MrFlibble
Added more links

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Does this include indie games as well?

 

For this list of free alternative games, it's a good list.

 

No alternative games to Call of Duty, Company of Heroes, Deus Ex and Unreal Tournament?

[Gben 20]

A fun list...

[MrFlibble 31]

No alternative games to Call of Duty, Company of Heroes, Deus Ex and Unreal Tournament?

You can take a look here and here.

[MrFlibble 31]

Added the following titles to the list:

 

Robot Odyssey

• DroidQuest
  
• Gate

Scorched Earth

• Scorched3D

Super Mario Bros.

• Giant Sisters & Giana Worlds

Wing Commander series

• RiftSpace L
  
• Star Wraith 2 L
  
• Star Wraith: Shadows of Orion L
  
• Star Wraith IV L
  
• Vega Strike

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Can't download Giana Worlds Beta there since the message is saying that I don't have permission to download the file.

 

The alternative download link is here: http://194.97.2.69/pub/filepilot/fpt/spiele/jump_run/giant_worlds/

[MrFlibble 31]

Thanks! I didn't notice the links are not exactly functional on the official site...

[ApornasPlanet 6]

Nice thread! I sure hope you continue to keep it updated

[MrFlibble 31]

Added Jazz Jackrabbit as another counterpart to Sonic the Hedgehog.

[Luk3us 63]

Nice list, haven't heard of a few of them.

[MrFlibble 31]

Added Star Lords as an alternative to Master of Orion, and onEscapee as a counterpart to Another World and Flashback.

Edited January 8, 2013 by MrFlibble

[Nyerguds 100]

Hmm... free alternative to Command & Conquer? Why? Command & Conquer IS free

[MrFlibble 31]

Hmm... free alternative to Command & Conquer? Why? Command & Conquer IS free

Well, I wanted to mention the Dark Konflict project even though it's incomplete. It's free, and it's "kind of" an alternative, so does it matter that C&C is free too?

 

I'd rather expect you would ask why C&C, RA and TS aren't mentioned as free alternatives to Dune 2000, but the answer is that I decided not to include games developed by the same company and/or different games in the same series, some of which had been liberated (e.g. want to play an Elder Scrolls game? play the free ones!).

 

This thread is really a combination of several avenues of research, including real freeware alternatives/remakes of classic games, liberated games, and shareware clones.

[Plok 316]

Well, I wanted to mention the Dark Konflict project even though it's incomplete.

Oh, so that's why it's so bad

[MrFlibble 31]

 

The alternative download link is here: http://194.97.2.69/pub/filepilot/fpt/spiele/jump_run/giant_worlds/

Added the link, thanks!

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Time to update the list, Mr. Flibble.

 

The alternative to the Pac-Man series is the Pac-Guy and Pea-Guy series (along with other game series) are now available to download for free:

http://monkeytheater.com/astral-entertainment/

 

Contains five game series packs:

Pac Pack (10 Pac-Guy games and some unreleased content)

Pacula's Curse (the subtitle to Pac-Guy 2 Part 3, the last Pac-Guy game to be the biggest and the longest)

R.I.Pea-Guy (contains all Pea-Guy games and some unreleased Pac-Guy games)

Vengeance or Bust

A-Sock-Ellipse Now

Edited May 17, 2013 by zocom7

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Here's the other game alternatives to Super Mario Bros:

 

Mario Forever: http://www.softendo.com/game/MF

Mario Forever Galaxy: http://www.softendo.com/game/Super+Mario+Forever+Galaxy

Mario Forever 2012: http://www.softendo.com/game/New-Super-Mario-Forever-2012

 

The technical issue right now is that the full manual download links are missing and download links are depending on third-party software systems (including from the ones from CNet website) in order to download and install the game. Also these games are ad-supported.

[MrFlibble 31]

zocom7, nice findings! I'm sorry I didn't reply until now, I kind of forgot about this thread for a while

 

The alternative to the Pac-Man series is the Pac-Guy and Pea-Guy series (along with other game series) are now available to download for free:

http://monkeytheater.com/astral-entertainment/

Oh yes, the Pac-Man clones, just like many other "hardcore classic" games, are indeed an interesting field of research.

 

There's a selection of Pac-Man clones at RGB Classic Games and dosgames.com.

 

Mario Forever: http://www.softendo.com/game/MF

Mario Forever Galaxy: http://www.softendo.com/game/Super+Mario+Forever+Galaxy

Mario Forever 2012: http://www.softendo.com/game/New-Super-Mario-Forever-2012

Nice, but these seem to use copyrighted graphics from the original Nintendo games (at least to some extent) - something I would like to avoid in the "freeware counterparts" section.

 

The only exceptions to this rule so far are Giant Sisters and T2002, and only because the respective copyright holders gave permission to use original assets in the remakes.

Edited June 28, 2013 by MrFlibble

[MrFlibble 31]

I've just realized that Alien Carnage bears a lot of similarities to the Amiga/Genesis version of Alien 3: the levels are timed missions during which you need to rescue captives and reach the exit, and one of the weapons is a flamethrower; not to mention several direct references to the Alien franchise.

[Nyerguds 100]

I loved Alien Carnage.... played the shareware version to death. It was originally called Halloween Harry.

[MrFlibble 31]

Following some constructive criticism in another forum, I've decided to drop the liberated games part from the list altogether. I've come to realize that thinking of liberated games as some kind of Ersatz for other titles is counter-productive, and this topic should be addressed elsewhere.

 

Further on, I've separated the list into three sub-lists:

 

1. More or less straightforward remakes or clones of well-known games. In many cases the authors will openly point to the game that they are trying to remake, and if not, the similarity is often quite obvious anyway.

 

2. Shareware clones of popular titles, mostly from the DOS era. These are generally of historical interest.

 

3. Games that are definitely inspired by famous titles, but the authors have added enough ideas of their own to make these games something more than direct recreations. As usual, this is the grey area as YMMV what makes for a simple clone and what constitutes an "inspired by" game.

 

Also, the following titles were added:

 

Crayon Physics

• Numpty Physics

Dungeon Keeper

• OpenDungeons

Elite

• Galaxias

Lemmings

• Lix

Natural Selection

• Tremulous
• Unvanquished

RPGMaker

• EasyRPG

SimCity

• Lincity

X-COM: Enemy Unknown

• UFO2000

Bos Wars, Command & Conquer: Red Alert

• Commander Stalin

Diablo

• FreedroidRPG

Empire Deluxe

• GEMpire

Frontier: Elite II

• Pioneer

Puzzle Bobble

• Frozen Bubble
• Hex Bubbles
• Zorx

Ultima series

• Nazghul

Wizardry VII

• LostHero - story of Gilgamesh

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Nice updated list, Mr. Flibble, but you did not include Pac-Man alternatives in the list such as Pac-Guy/Pea-Guy.

 

Also I would highly recommend if you post your first post of this thread in the official C&C forums. The new updated forum may still be buggy and if you do make the thread, you can ask a moderator to sticky that in the Off-Topic Discussion area.

Edited June 28, 2013 by zocom7

[MrFlibble 31]

Nice updated list, Mr. Flibble, but you did not include Pac-Man alternatives in the list such as Pac-Guy/Pea-Guy.

Uhh, I'm sorry, I didn't have the time to check them out properly yet, I'll do that ASAP.

 

Also I would highly recommend if you post your first post of this thread in the official C&C forums. The new updated forum may still be buggy and if you do make the thread, you can ask a moderator to sticky that in the Off-Topic Discussion area.

Which one's the official C&C forums?

[PurpleGaga27 37]

Which one's the official C&C forums?

 

The one from EALA: http://www.commandandconquer.com/forums/

[MrFlibble 31]

The alternative to the Pac-Man series is the Pac-Guy and Pea-Guy series (along with other game series) are now available to download for free:

http://monkeytheater.com/astral-entertainment/

Okay, I checked the original Astral Entertainment website, and apparently their games have been initially commercial (shareware), having been released as freeware sometime later - thus being liberated games in fact. There's also this story about potential copyright infringement issues that's a bit confusing.

 

On another note, what are the differences between all those games? It's kind of hard to tell from screenshots.