7 Websites for Free Video Games

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Entertainment can be expensive. Gamers, in particular, can spend hundreds of dollars a year on equipment, games, and memberships for their beloved hobby. Luckily, gamers who are strapped for cash can reduce the cost of gaming in a number of ways. Checking out games from the library, purchasing used games, borrowing games from friends, and renting games are all common strategies to limit this kind of spending.

Another lesser-known strategy you might consider is finding free, public domain video games online. Video games, like books and movies, eventually fall into the public domain — meaning they're available to everyone for free. (See also: 8 Cheap Ways to Play Video Games)

It must be noted that the library of public domain video games isn't large … yet. This is primarily due to the fact that the video game industry is still relatively young. But until more games become available, you can quench your gaming thirst using these seven free video game sites.

1. Internet Archive

The Internet Archive is a nonprofit library with tons of public domain content. The site has thousands of MS-DOS games and Classic PC Games. The games can either be played by streaming on the site or downloaded. A few public domain games that can be found on the site are: Oregon Trail, Mario and Luigi, Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and SimAnt.

2. RGB Classic Games

RCB Classic Games is a site that "saves" classic PC games by ensuring they can be played on our newer computers and tablets. The site currently hosts 548 PC games that were once commercially available for purchase, and can now be streamed online. A few public domain games you can play are: Doom, The Lion King, Epic Pinball, Wolfenstein 3D, SimCity 2000, and Galactix.

3. Abandonware DOS

Abandonware DOS is a database of old PC games. This site has 1,624 games available to download. Gamers will need to click on a title to see if the game is free to download, as not all of them are available, but there are several to choose from that are. Unfortunately, the website doesn't have a good tagging system to make finding the downloadable content easier, so you might have to dig around a bit.

If you don't have the time to sift through dozens of potential titles, you can check out their small collection of games that the site lists on their free to play online page. A few of the games available online are Lakers vs. Celtics and the NBA Playoffs, Last Ninja, Prince of Persia (1990), and Star Wars (1998).

4. Game Oldies

Game Oldies is an online emulator that allows gamers to play old classic games online. The website hosts games that were originally created for Sony PlayStation, Nintendo NES, Game Boy, Atari Lynx, and Sega Genesis. Games available to play include: The Addams Family, Tekken 3, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, and The Amazing Spiderman.

5. Classic Games

Classic Games has free to play classic and retro games. The collection includes multiple versions of: Tetris, Pinball, Pacman, and Snake, as well as several other sports, puzzle, and board games. You can also play stand-alone games like: Ultimate Swish Sport and Space Invaders.

6. Classic Reload

Classic Reload is a game and software preservation site that has hundreds of classic games that can be played on Firefox or Chrome. Free games include: Battleship, Volfied, Epic Baseball, and The Incredible Machine.

7. Free '80s Arcade

Free '80s Arcade is an online arcade website that has free-to-play arcade and Nintendo games. Games can be played on the site via your computer, as well as your mobile iPhone, Samsung, and Galaxy devices. Free games available on the site include: Paperboy, Joust, and Duck Hunt.

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