This probably belongs here (and not in that other thread - oops). My top 10 free games of 2008:
1. Dolphin Olympics 2:You're a dolphin, you do tricks for points. If you're good enough, you get a Scott Adam's reference. It's cool.
2. KongaiKongregate's card game. The game (which isn't bad) isn't actually as cool as the challenges. Every week Konrgegate.org has a few challenges in a random flash game. Accomplish task X and you win a free card for Kongai. It has really exposed me to a slew of amazing free games.
3. Pack RatOnly facebook game I've ever enjoyed. It's actually less of a game and more of a card collecting thing. Recent changes have made it a little less compelling for me, but I really loved playing it over the summer.
4. ForumwarzIf WoW met Encyclopedia Dramatica?
5. Mirror's Edge 2DOk, maybe not that great. But pretty music and a good 2D adaptation.
6. www.eyezmaze.comReally all his stuff. I'm not even sure it qualifies as games - but more like Japanese pop game art. Faux-simulations and really cool stuff. Best is his Grow series.
7. VioletWinner of IFComp and also speaks very directly to me (comic book loving protagonist tries to write academia while avoiding distractions). Also, narrator has an amazing voice. Love it.
8. SeppuKutiesSave a bunch of cute animals -- generally by killing them in horrific ways.
9. Pandemic 2RPG. You are a virus. Earn points by infecting countries. Spend those points on mutations. Kill the entire world.
10. Ayiti: Cost of LifeTake a Haitian family and help them thrive (or, more likely, fail horribly about twenty times before you hit on a winning strategy. Btw: Winning strategy means = you don't die every game). -- This actually came out in 2006, but I didn't play it until 2008. So I'm including it. But just in case it doesn't count, here is my bonus answer (ie, this list goes to 11):
11. ESPN Fantasy FootballOk, it's not technically an independent game. Nor is it unique to 2008. But I spent SOO much time playing it. It must be included.
― Mordy, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 19:41 (fifteen years ago) link
I really enjoyed forumwarz, though I haven't gone back since before they released the second chapter. Pandemic is pretty cool. Definitely agreed on the eyezmaze stuff, especially considering it's non-game status, but it's still really cool.
― Nhex, Wednesday, 10 December 2008 20:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Kongregate is a great site.
Mastermind: World Conqueror was a real stand out for me this year. Evil Genius in half an hour, Tower Defence elements. Very good.
― hyggeligt, Thursday, 11 December 2008 14:26 (fifteen years ago) link
Wow, Mastermind is great!
― Nhex, Thursday, 11 December 2008 16:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Loving http://www.foddy.net/Cricket.html by the guy who did QWOP.
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Friday, 12 December 2008 18:22 (fifteen years ago) link
Cricket is awesome!
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Friday, 12 December 2008 19:34 (fifteen years ago) link
Just played the Dangeresque adventure linked above. Not too much to it but what a beautiful period piece! Spot on across the board, I love the crappy recorded speech, everything.
― Doctor Casino, Sunday, 14 December 2008 17:04 (fifteen years ago) link
Doom 1 in flash!
― hyggeligt, Tuesday, 16 December 2008 15:01 (fifteen years ago) link
Mario 63
― nate woolls, Wednesday, 17 December 2008 13:11 (fifteen years ago) link
achievement unlocked
― when dont't you connect and im flying darkness (cozwn), Sunday, 21 December 2008 00:47 (fifteen years ago) link
that was kinda fun!
― Desire: Where Sex Meets Addiction (forksclovetofu), Sunday, 21 December 2008 02:10 (fifteen years ago) link
did you input the konami code? : D
― when dont't you connect and im flying darkness (cozwn), Sunday, 21 December 2008 02:15 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.kongregate.com/games/EvilDog/z-rox is great
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Friday, 26 December 2008 09:38 (fifteen years ago) link
stuck on 31...
― sister s (ledge), Friday, 26 December 2008 11:26 (fifteen years ago) link
seems to be a triangle on an inverted trapezoid. or a house where the walls slope outwards.
― sister s (ledge), Friday, 26 December 2008 11:32 (fifteen years ago) link
i think it might curve in at the bottom.
╱╲╮╭
― sister s (ledge), Friday, 26 December 2008 11:45 (fifteen years ago) link
I was stuck on 31 for ages - eventually I got a friend to play it and he saw it right away.
"a triangle on an inverted trapezoid" is a 100% accurate description
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Friday, 26 December 2008 17:35 (fifteen years ago) link
(drawing it on paper kinda helps, especially on later ones)
― Gravel Puzzleworth, Friday, 26 December 2008 20:15 (fifteen years ago) link
gaaaaaaahhh i got it.
― sister s (ledge), Friday, 26 December 2008 22:54 (fifteen years ago) link
9. Pandemic 2MADAGASCAR.
― Leee, Saturday, 27 December 2008 21:05 (fifteen years ago) link
Last Chance to Nominate: Best Video Games of 2008
― plastic toy shark (forksclovetofu), Saturday, 27 December 2008 23:11 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3165201 - 101 Free Games 2008
― Doctor Casino, Monday, 29 December 2008 04:52 (fifteen years ago) link
Aw no Ben There, Dan That! mention.
― Nhex, Monday, 29 December 2008 05:14 (fifteen years ago) link
Enjoyable little browser game...http://www.foddy.net/Evacuation.html
― Jeff LeVine, Monday, 12 January 2009 02:45 (fifteen years ago) link
I love 1up's 101 free game lists, but they fail to mention http://www.brokensword25.com/ under adventure games. I heard it was pretty good.
― ❤ⓛⓞⓥⓔ❤ (CaptainLorax), Monday, 12 January 2009 06:10 (fifteen years ago) link
http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=160692
Just wondered if anyone else had played Ark22 ?
a zelda clone but i've been playing it all night.
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 22:39 (fifteen years ago) link
..and basically anything from this list
http://www.ghacks.net/2007/07/31/five-free-games-for-geeks/
black shades is quite fun
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Wednesday, 14 January 2009 22:44 (fifteen years ago) link
I had a good time with...
BUDGET HERO
"My fellow Americans, you should elect me for this distinguished office because in Budget Hero I reduced the national debt from 49.9% of GDP in 2008 ($11.2 trillion) to 17.9% of GDP in 2018 ($4.0 trillion), because delayed the budget bust from 2031 to 2069, and because I achieved badges in the Green, Energy Independence and Health + Wellness categories. God bless you, and God bless America!"
― scourge of cords (Z S), Thursday, 15 January 2009 18:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Seriously though, it's decent edutainment.
― scourge of cords (Z S), Thursday, 15 January 2009 18:44 (fifteen years ago) link
Black Shades was actually pretty cool - makes sense it was by the guys who did that Luguru game, they've both got a certain intensity to them.
― Nhex, Friday, 16 January 2009 21:55 (fifteen years ago) link
http://nifflas.ni2.se/index.php?main=02Knytt_Stories&sub=03Download
Knytt Stories:a largish download but an interesting platform game nonetheless.
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Friday, 16 January 2009 23:28 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.mazefrenzy.com/
― Your heartbeat soun like sasquatch feet (polyphonic), Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:25 (fifteen years ago) link
nice, shame about all the cheated high scores.
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:31 (fifteen years ago) link
New Grow today!
http://www.eyezmaze.com/eyezblog_en/blog/2009/01/grow_tower.html
― Mordy, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:31 (fifteen years ago) link
I can't play that maze game 'cause I'm scared that just when I'm concentrating the most it's gonna do the old AAAARGH LOUD SCREAM AAAAARGH SCARY FACE AAAAARGH trick. Just like what happened to me at work once.
― ledge, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:54 (fifteen years ago) link
haha the scary maze was genius, for making the maze smaller so people would move closer to the screen for that moment.
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Wednesday, 21 January 2009 20:57 (fifteen years ago) link
Oh man, best Eyezmaze yet. Wonderful stuff.
― Nhex, Wednesday, 21 January 2009 21:50 (fifteen years ago) link
I was mildly addicted to Monster Den 2 on Kongregate for a few days. Brought me way back to my RPG beginnings.
― (*゚ー゚)θ L(。・_・) °~ヾ(・ε・ *) (Steve Shasta), Monday, 26 January 2009 18:38 (fifteen years ago) link
http://raptorsafari.com/play.php
Just. Play. It.
― Nhex, Tuesday, 27 January 2009 11:42 (fifteen years ago) link
Whoa, that game is a year old? Damn.
― Nhex, Tuesday, 27 January 2009 13:25 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.kongregate.com/games/moogoat/dodge - a 'shooter' with no guns. avoid the baddies and direct their own fire back at them.
― talk me down off the (ledge), Wednesday, 28 January 2009 14:28 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/481906
― cat anatomy expert (ledge), Wednesday, 11 February 2009 10:43 (fifteen years ago) link
Shopping Cart Hero
Fun! No Pressure!
― I shall always respect my elders (Z S), Tuesday, 17 February 2009 04:45 (fifteen years ago) link
http://woodgears.ca/eyeball/
― cozwn, Tuesday, 17 February 2009 09:49 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.brokenpicturetelephone.com/
― Three Word Username, Monday, 23 February 2009 12:04 (fifteen years ago) link
fuck me those archives are funny !
― Ant Attack.. (Ste), Monday, 23 February 2009 12:44 (fifteen years ago) link
it is a lol for sure!
― ledge, Monday, 23 February 2009 12:59 (fifteen years ago) link
also shopping cart hero = fun, more powerups please.
― ledge, Monday, 23 February 2009 13:00 (fifteen years ago) link
http://www.brokenpicturetelephone.com/view?id=87 !!!
― ledge, Monday, 23 February 2009 13:05 (fifteen years ago) link
5270.2
― JimD, Tuesday, 24 February 2009 09:12 (fifteen years ago) link