| Site Title and Rank |
Description |
First Age
 |
After the apocalytptic divine war, the continent of Avalon is bathed in a new dawn where you the mortal can play a major role. This is the original format of the classic Avalon role playing game before civilization evolved and removed the rough edges. Expect blood and gore once you are through the initial new player support and you had better be on your mettle. First Age is free for the first couple of weeks or so and provides a java client for immediate play from your browser. After that a very reasonable monthly or quarterly subscription is required. |
Kojin, the Soul of Samurai
 |
Set in the Sengoku period of Japan, otherwise known as the Warring States period, Kojin is by far the most ambitious free game project out there. You can play any kind of samurai, ninja, warlord... even a geisha (a type of prostitute)! It sets no limits to what you can do and is extremely addictive to play. |
Phatgames
 |
A free site which includes a multitude of java-based, single player games including many implementations of classic '80s arcade games and some single player adventures. Also sports games and multiplayer backgammon and chess implementations and some interactive support for Web TV users. |
Rinkworks Adventure Games Live
 |
Several 'live' and online adventure games with a simple to use point and click interface requiring only your mouse and web browser and no java required! There is a 'Trainer' adventure to get you started and several other games of varying difficulty. Not multi-user or truly interactive but a nice idea well executed. The games can be played for free with a little advertising for sponsorship, or a modest subscription can be made to have this removed, though it is far from over-obtrusive. |
Yahoo!
 |
Jack-of-all-trades but master of none, the Yahoo games section still deserves to be mentioned. It does have reasonable implementations of many games (such as chess, reversi and backgammon, card games like blackjack, bridge, canasta and other games like mah jong and even pool). It is free and the site is extremely popular and consequently suffers from all the frustrations that go along with that scenario. If two of you are looking for a quiet game of something then using a private table at Yahoo can be an easy answer, otherwise there is most probably another site offering a better implementation of your chosen game which may take some setting up but will ultimately be more worth while for it. |
Discworld
 |
An interactive interpretation of Pratchett's Discworld books. Lots of fun and wit in the absence of any serious role playing or the usual mud combat, something which can be quite refreshing from time to time, especially considering the choice of code base in use here. This game is well established and lovingly maintained and must be a contender for the longest running non-commercial MUD, maintained by voluntary contributions and the generous permission of Terry Pratchett to use his intellectual copyright free of charge. |
| The Mysteries of Time and Space |
Award winning, web browser based single use adventure game, but with a chat facility combined for communicating hints to other players. Graphical click and point play and very well presented though with no great depth of game play. Still, it is free to play and well worth a look at a fairly unique approach to online adventure games. |
The Wheel Of Time MUD
|
Based on the series of books by Robert Jordan, this MUD attempts to create a world which fans of the series will recognise and be able to interact within. Expect a lot of combat and not too much help unless you have read it for yourself on the web site first or you quickly make a friends with someone more experienced (always good advice!). This is the best of the Wheel of time MUDS that are to be found out there and has been established since 1993. |
Materia Magica
|
Based in the land of Alyria, this a typical AD&D style game where your attributes such as strength and wisdowm are picked for you at random before you start. However, it is well maintained, has a large player base and a java client for instant access and, most importantly, is all originally written. It is also free at the moment of writing. |
Segmation
 |
A truly unique site that is more an entertainment than a game site. Basically a site that allows you to play with images and colour through a java applet with no special plug-ins required. You can challenge yourself by trying to beat the clock also. The site is currently expanding but shows much potential and to our knowledge is quite unique on the web. Free to play. |
