May 1, 2008
By Danny "Ralsu" Gourley
What This List Is
Simply put, this is the top ten free-to-play (F2P) games as rated by
Danny "Ralsu" Gourley based on features and play experience. This list
is not exhaustive. There are dozens of other games out there that have
not been considered in making this list. This list also tries to focus
on newer or upcoming games.
Want Your F2P Game on
This List?
If you are a developer or publisher who thinks your F2P game could make
it onto this Top Ten list, just
href="mailto:[email protected]?Subject=Top%20Ten%20F2P%20Games">email
Ralsu with the details. It won't guarantee your game a spot
on the Top Ten list, but Ralsu might just give it a try and write about
it for our millions of readers.
Have a F2P Game You Think
Ralsu Should Try?
Ten Ton Hammer community members, are there F2P games out there you
think Ralsu would enjoy? Is there a game you want him to try
and report on so you know
if it is good without spending your time trying it out?
Tell
us in our forums. Posting a suggestion won't guarantee that
your game cracks
the Top Ten list, but Ralsu might
just give your suggestion a try and write about it.
Notable Changes Since
Last Week
Magic World Online plummets from #2 to #6 because the weak graphics
will scare away many gamers. I maintain that the story is solid,
though. NeoSteam
climbs into the top 5 after some Closed Beta testing. It is one of the
better graphical games on the list and actually makes use of tutorials.
Sadly, the translation seems suspect.
style="font-style: italic;">Mabinogi debuts on
the list at #9 and features many different layers of game play.
This Week's Top Ten F2P
Games
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30839">
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1. Mythos
- (www.mythos.com)
Flagship Studios, Inc.
Status: Closed Beta
Last Ranking: 1
Description: Mythos
is a
free-to-play MMORPG in development by Flagship Studios, the makers of
style="font-style: italic;">Hellgate: London.
It can be considered a mixture of World
of Warcraft, Diablo,
and Guild Wars.
Like Guild Wars,
players can meet and interact with other players in the town areas.
They can group with other players to traverse epic dungeons (like
style="font-style: italic;">World of Warcraft),
and the stat allocation is reminiscent of the
style="font-style: italic;">Diablo games.
Ralsu's take: I've been playing this game for weeks, and it continues
to deliver solid fun with minimal bugs. The developers are on top of
things and interact with the community.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/329">Mythos
Portal -
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/329">Wiki
Article - Interview
with Travis Baldree and Max Schaefer - Five
Exclusive Screens - Beta
Journal #1 - Beta
Journal #2 - Beta
Journal #3 - Beta
Journal #4: the FAQ - Closed
Beta Video
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30840">
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2.
style="font-weight: bold;">Wakfu -
(www.wakfu.com)
Anakama
Status: Beta
Last Ranking: 4
Description: The developers at Ankama Games are ready to hit the gold
mine again.
With the success of their first MMOG,
style="font-style: italic;">Dofus, it seems
only appropriate
that Ankama Games would quickly turn around and create their next big
hit, and it seems that they're ready to do that with
style="font-style: italic;">Wakfu.
Ralsu's take: As I spend more time learning about this game, I find
myself getting more and more excited about it. I am biased toward
turn-based strategy games, and the makers of
style="font-style: italic;">Dofus already know
how to deliver.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/1017">Wakfu
Portal - Screen
shots
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30841">
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src="/image/view/30841/preview">
3.
style="font-weight: bold;">Warrior Epic -
(http://warriorepic.com)
Possibility Space
Status: Closed Beta
Last Ranking: 5
Description: Warrior
Epic takes online games and action role-playing
games into new territory. To
begin, the game is free to download and free to play online with no
strings attached. Choose several warriors from a large group of
specialized classes and play cooperative campaigns or slug it out with
friends in player-vs-player combat. All of this can be set up in a
matter of minutes because of a tiny download.
Ralsu's take: Warrior
Epic recently began its Closed Beta process. Does
Possibility Space have the secret formula for delivering a solid game
with download on demand capability? I can't wait to find out.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/691">Warrior
Epic Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Warrior_Epic">Wiki
Article - Developer
Interview - "Faustus"
Video - Epic
Trailer
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30847">
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src="/image/view/30847/preview">
4.
style="font-weight: bold;">NeoSteam -
(www.neosteam.com)
Hanbitsoft
Status: Closed Beta
Last Ranking: 6
Description: In a world where Neo Steam is the most valuable source of
energy, three
kingdoms have risen for power. These three kingdoms fight an all-out
war to decide who will be the rightful of the neo steam generator.
Ralsu's take: The Closed Beta of this steampunk
game just ended and I did not get enough time with. Look for my preview
soon.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/963">NeoSteam
Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Neo_Steam">Wiki
Article - End
of Closed Beta Test Screens - Screen
shots
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30848">
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src="/image/view/30848/preview">
5.
style="font-weight: bold;">Pirates
of the Caribbean Online - (
href="http://www.piratesonline.com/" target="_blank">http://www.piratesonline.com)
Disney
Status: Live
Last Ranking: 3
Description: Captain your own ship and head to the horizon, locate
buried treasure or
explore tropical islands, work on your weapon skill or sit on a beach
drinking rum. In Pirates
of the Carribean Online, your choices are your
own as you set out to be the most notorious pirate the world has ever
seen. You can expect to come across those famous pirates from the films
in the game as well. Jack Sparrow, Captain Barbossa and Elizabeth Swann
are but a few of the characters you will see in the game.
Ralsu's take: It's hard to not like this fun romp by the folks at
Disney. Even better is that you can play it with your children or young
relatives.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/94">Pirates
Online Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Pirates_of_the_Caribbean_Online">Wiki
Article - Latest
screen shots - Review
- Interview
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30838">
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src="/image/view/30838/preview">
6.
style="font-weight: bold;">Magic World
Online
- (http://mwo.enjoymmo.com)
Goldcool Games
Status: Closed Beta
Last Ranking: 2
Description: The world of Magic
World Online is inhabited by the legion of the King
of the Devils, Lucifer. Humans are on the brink of extinction and must
battle to regain the world from the grip of the evil army and expel the
devils back to Hell. The Dominant Sword, a sword infused with the
spirit of the King of the Gods Odin, can help the humans in this quest.
Ralsu's take: The low-quality graphics will scare off some players, but
this game has a deep story for those who want some substance.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/983">Magic
World Online Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Magic_World_Online">Wiki
Article - Preview
- Interview
with Product Director Kane Hao - Screen
shots
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30846">
style="border: 0px solid ; width: 100px; height: 100px;" alt=""
src="/image/view/30846/preview">
7.
style="font-weight: bold;">Age of Armor - (
href="http://www.aoaus.com/">www.aoaus.com) Snail
Game
Status: Open Beta
Last Ranking: 8
Description: Age of
Armor is a sci-fi based MMOG that features huge,
transforming
robots that players can pilot throughout the AoA world. Players will
decide between three races (Human, Enhanced Human, and Neo-Human) and
two factions, which will then determine what sorts of weapons, robots,
and items they can equip and use. Robots will be able to "transform"
into various modes, including a giant gestalt form (think the
Constructicons from Transformers) that will be operated by six
individual players.
Ralsu's take: The more I look at the pictures of big bosses and think
about how different this game is from the norm, the greater my
anticipation for it grows.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/386">Age of
Armor Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Age_of_Armor">Wiki
Article - Latest
screen shots - Screen
shots - More
screen shots
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30845">
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8.
style="font-weight: bold;">2Moons
- (http://2moons.acclaim.com)
Acclaim
Status: Live
Last Ranking: 7
Description: 2Moons
is an adult-themed, fantasy MMORPG title for Microsoft Windows
PCs that was imported from Korea and is being developed and published
by Acclaim. Originally known as Dekaron
in the Korea, Japan, and China,
Acclaim changed the title of the game to
style="font-style: italic;">2Moons. Unlike most
imported
MMO's, the story behind 2Moons, along with some gameplay elements, is
being completely revamped.
Ralsu's take: Fans of PvP would do well to give
style="font-style: italic;">2Moons
a try.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/145">2Moons
Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=2Moons">Wiki
Article - Screen
shots
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/31567">
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src="/image/view/31567/preview">
9. Mabinogi -
(http://mabinogi.nexon.net)
NEXON
Status: Live
Last Ranking: N/A
Description: Mabinogi
is a free-to-play MMORPG from NEXON set in the fantasy world of
Erinn, a world based on Celtic mythology. From the very beginning,
players are able to choose the age of their characters, and the
characters will progress in age as well. Your reputation can increase
or decrease with the NPCs in the game, so every interaction has an
effect. Leveling is not only achieved through battle; your character
can also gain levels by finding and keeping a job. An immense combat
and crafting system also exists in Mabinogi.
Ralsu's take: After
href="http://forums.tentonhammer.com/showpost.php?p=232020&postcount=3">taking
advice from Cody to give this one a try, I can already see
why he recommended it. There is a lot to do in
style="font-style: italic;">Mabinogi, and it is
refreshing to have alternate paths for character development.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/856">Mabonogi
Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Mabinogi">Wiki
Article - Review
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href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/30842">
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src="/image/view/30842/preview">
10. Wonderland
Online - (
href="http://wl.igg.com/">http://wl.igg.com)
Skyunion Co., Ltd.
Status: Closed Beta
Last Ranking: 10
Description: Wonderland
tells the story of a young person (the player) who is stranded on an
island after a shipwreck. The castaway first assumes the island is
deserted but soon meets up with other survivors. Before long, they
discover the island is actually rife with activity, resources, and
dangers. That's where players come in; they'll be looking to harness
the resources to get back home while making friends and enjoying an
adventure. According to the website,
style="font-style: italic;">Wonderland
contains all the features players expect from MMOGs today: crafting,
pets, spells, and exciting quests.
Ralsu's take: This game is both colorful and fun. It has surprising
depth if you can look past the iffy translation.
Ten Ton Hammer Links:
-
href="http://www.tentonhammer.com/taxonomy/term/991">Wonderland
Online Portal -
href="http://wiki.tentonhammer.com/index.php?title=Wonderland_Online">Wiki
Article - Closed
Beta Preview #1 - Closed
Beta Preview #2 - Character
Creation Video - Closed
Beta screen shots
To read the latest guides, news, and features you can visit our Pirates of the Caribbean Online Game Page.
