By Danny "Ralsu" Gourley

New Format
This Top Ten list will now sport a new format. Instead of pasting my standard spiels about the list not being exhaustive and how to get a game on the list, I'll just link to the portal with that same information in my About This List section. Then I'll review the week (or month when applicable). I'll let you know what games I tried and which games made big moves (up or down) in the rankings. In The List, I'll let you know what else I tried and what I plan to try soon.

About This List
Please refer to the Top Ten Free-to-Play Games Portal to find out how to get a game you make or like on this list.

Month in Review
This month, I investigated around fifteen free-to-play games. I tried each game a minimum of an hour before passing any judgment. After that, I committed to playing each game at least 3 hours per week until I had a good feel for it. I researched many other games but did not play most of them. Some went on my list to check out in the future. Others just left my desk.

Mythos started strong for me at #1 and stayed that way. I think this free-to-play game is better than several pay-to-play games on the market so long as you enjoy the Diablo-style action clickfest (and I do).

Magic World Online is the likely one of the best free-to-play games that won't get the attention it deserves. The story is well-written and deep. The class system provides more options than can be seen at first glance. Ultimately, the game's low graphical quality will put off many people, though. It started at #2 for me and dipped to #6.

Mabinogi is growing on me (debuted at #8 and climbed to #4), and as long as I can enjoy most of the game without paying a penny, it will remain high on my list. I don't like games that advertise as free-to-play but are essentially demos until you pay some cash.

The sentiment of the "demo" that claims to be a free-to-play game brings me to Wakfu. I like so many things about this game: the turn-based strategy combat, the art, the concept of an ecosystem that can be altered by the players, and the unique classes (well, we've seen them in Dofus, but they still differ from the norm). This explains why the game started at #4 and ascended to #2. Still, I'm also scared about a couple of aspects of the game, the chief of those concerns being that Wakfu's predecessor, Dofus, is one of those demos than claims to be a free-to-play game.

Finally, I have to mention Fiesta. Billed as a game for young teens, this title has surprised me with its depth and fun factor. It broke onto the list at #3 and held there to the end of the month. Now that I have over a dozen hours with Fiesta, will my perceptions of it change? We'll find out as we move forward.

The List
I tried PoxNora, but this game really isn't intended to be free-to-play. Like the table top collectible games that inspired it, the whole design is centered around getting you to buy the pieces you need to upgrade your attack force. I also tried half a dozen browser-based games, but none of them was good enough to mention. They were all grinders with a ton of fetch quests. 2Moons was on the list early and fell. It has solid player-vs.-player, but it's just not my game with its steep grind. Puzzle Pirates is another that was in the first Top Ten ranking but dropped off the list. It's still fun, but it is a game I can walk away from and not miss. I need a game to make me wish I could play it while I am busy waiting in the doctor's office or in line at the grocer.

Coming up, I will be trying Dungeon Runners, Exteel, and Dream of Mirror Online (DOMO). "Crickette," NCSoft's Community Manager for Dungeon Runners, was kind enough to use the link on the Top Ten portal page to send me an email and challenge me to play Dungeon Runners and Exteel. The response to our DOMO Giveaway has been so large that I felt I had to give the game a go.

I only had a few good games to rank in the first month. Expect some more movement in the coming weeks!

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Top Ten Free-to-Play Games May 15, 2008
Rank	Previous		Game
1	1		Mythos - (www.mythos.com) Flagship Studios, Inc. Mythos Portal The upcoming change to replace the instanced overworld areas in Mythos with permanent open maps is a good call from where I sit. As the game gets ready for open beta, I still think it is the best free-to-play game I have seen. It provides an enjoyable experience for hardcore item hunters and casual enthusiasts.
2	2		2. Wakfu - (www.wakfu.com) Ankama Wakfu Portal I have one nagging concern about this strategy title; Wakfu's predecessor, Dofus, does not really qualify as a true free-to-play game in my mind. It's more like a free trial where you have to pay to get the full game. On the bright side, I recently read an interview where the Wakfu team that noted that you can't just tack on extra levels and an item mall for a good free-to-play game. Maybe this means Ankama has learned a lesson?
3	3		Fiesta - (http://fiesta.outspark.com) Outspark Fiesta Portal Fiesta holds the #3 spot for one more week, but as I head into my teens, the grind may start to wear down my enthusiasm. I have started encountering a few faults in the grouping system as well, but the game is high on fun and low on cost.
4	6		Mabinogi - (http://mabinogi.nexon.net) NEXON Mabonogi Portal I've barely gotten into Mabinogi, and I am very impressed. Before I become a permanent fan, I want a little more time to investigate the pay upgrade features. See my comments about Dofus at #2.
5	4		Warrior Epic - (http://warriorepic.com) Possibility Space Warrior Epic Portal Warrior Epic is in a closed beta with non-disclosure agreement. This means that even if I were in the beta, I couldn't tell you. And I also couldn't let what I have seen in that hypothetical closed beta affect my ranking. The public information on this game is promising. Let's hope it can stand up to the hype.
6	5		Magic World Online - (http://mwo.enjoymmo.com) Goldcool Games Magic World Online Portal I want to like this game more than a #6 ranking. The problem is how I can rank it higher than any of the ones above it. They all beat it hands-down graphically. Let's just settle for saying that Magic World Online has a great story with a rich class system and leave it at that, okay? Deal.
7	8		Pirates of the Caribbean Online - (http://www.piratesonline.com) Disney Pirates Online Portal Disney's game based on the movie based on the ride (huh?) survives to stay on the list for another week. The sad thing about this game is its laggy performance in the free mode. Reread my Pirates of the Caribbean Online review for some of the difference in game play experience between my wife (who played for free) and me (who had a paid version).
8	7		NeoSteam - (www.neosteam.com) Hanbitsoft NeoSteam Portal I missed out on the second round of Closed Beta testing, but NeoSteam has some pretty good visuals for a  free-to-play title. Sadly, the translation is shaky. Not the "what did that NPC just say?" kind but still easily noticed.
9	10		Wonderland Online - (http://wl.igg.com) Skyunion Co., Ltd. Wonderland Online Portal I appreciate the adventurous spirit fostered by Wonderland Online, and the people from IGG are great to work with, too. I even dig the fully turn-based combat a little. The big fault I find in this title is the weak translation.
10	9		Age of Armor - (www.aoaus.com) Snail Game Age of Armor Portal Admittedly, I am still a little miffed about Age of Armor promising me the ability to transform my awesome mech but then made it so hard to do that it is next to impossible. I mean, imagine if you never got to fight a dragon in fantasy-based games. It's just not right.

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