I'll admit at one point in time, I played Runescape. It was part of my introduction into online games. In fact, I think everyone at some point learns to appreciate the small game, written entirely in Java, can bring a bit of fun to your life, even if you just sit on the docks and fish. But there are bigger and better… and free games in the world. It's time to move on. Seriously.
In a sea of online gaming, there are many free games you can play that are much more enjoyable than Runescape; especially considering its mass of what seems like an 8 year old player base. I've seen more maturity in monkeys.
If the cost of the game is what's driving you to play Runescape for hours on end, because you think there are no other free games out there worth your time, I beg to differ. The following games are either completely free, or have an option like Runescape. You pay to receive more features. Each of these games I've played personally as I grew bored with other games, or just to try something new. You might find something you'll enjoy, too.
Puzzle Pirates
Puzzle Pirates is a free MMORPG from Three Rings. It offers engaging game play in the form of puzzles, and offers the ability to customize your avatar, very similar to the way you can in Runescape. You can purchase new clothing, new weapons, and even buy furniture and other items for your house. In addition to the landlubber activites, you can join a crew, or perhaps create your own to sail the high seas, plundering and pillaging on your very own ship. If challenging others is your thing, there are numerous games to be had in the tavern, such as sword-fighting, the drinking game, hearts, poker, and others. A new addition to the game, Brigand Kings, changes the way island blockades work and makes sailing just a bit more exciting.
Dofus
Dofus is as revolutionary to flash as Runescape was to Java. Being built entirely in flash, Dofus really shows what a game can do, if only given a chance. In addition to the breath-taking graphics the flash platform offers, it also offers a new style of play, becoming perhaps one of the first tactical MMORPGs in the modern world of gaming. Not only is there a large number of classes to choose from, the tongue in cheek humor will have you grinning and laughing along with the game.
If PvP is your thing, you should try Dofus Arena, which pitches players and their characters into arenas to compete in intense tactical fights, using your sense of strategy to distinguish yourself on the playing field. You can command several characters during the course of one fight, attempting to climb the ranking ladder to the top. Both games have a free to play option.
Ankama Studios, the makers of Dofus and Dofus arena, are actively developing a new game, entitled Wakfu, which will be available to play very soon.
Dungeon Runners
Dungeon Runners was engineered by NCSoft, the same developers who created Guild Wars, among other popular subscription free games. The difference, is that Dungeon Runners is completely free to play. You don't need to buy the game beforehand and you only pay a 5 dollar a month subscription fee if you want additional features such as a bank and better potions. In the spirit of all online games, Dungeon Runners takes a lot of encouragement from Guild Wars for its open class system. While you may start the game a fighter, you may decide later on you'd like to be a ranger. No problem. Simply purchase the ranger skills from the ranger trainer and use those, instead of having to create an entirely new character.
One of the best things about Dungeon Runners is its humor, which is aimed directly at the heart of the larger MMORPGs, such as World of Warcraft and Everquest. The game can be played with others, but on the other hand, it's entirely solo-able. You'll never need to group with someone, or bring along unintelligent NPCs in order to get the job done. In addition to being solo-able, you'll find many of the item names in Dungeon Runners to be hilarious in the jabs they make at other games. Perhaps your best crossbow is named, “The Unintentionally Large Crossbow of the Dancing Manatee.” That's right. The dancing manatee.
Shadowbane
Shadowbane was once one of the most anticipated MMORPGs to date. People begged for invitations into the beta and when the game launched, it was received well. However, just a year after the launch of Shadowbane, Blizzard launched World of Warcraft, which has crippled many a great MMORPG. Since then, Shadowbane has been made free to play, and is supported by a system of short ads you see when the game is opened, or when you die, with at least 10 minutes between death ads. The game is entirely free to play, with many features such as classic and unique races, four basic classes with promotions at level 10, and a huge world to explore, with each server having a different map.
In addition to the above free to play games, there are numerous betas from Asia that have made their way onto the global scene, such as Rappelz, Corum, Eudemons Online, and Cabal Online. There are far too many of these games to review, so if anime style graphics and characters are your thing, you should check these out, too. All are free to play.
