Need for Speed: Most Wanted

Origin always has some really good giveaways, and this one is no exception. Need for Speed is a racing game franchise that has been around forever, and has had more titles than I can count! (Okay, slight exaggeration, it's really only 26. But that's a lot!) There was even a movie back in 2014, and a sequel allegedly in the works, but we'll forgive them for that. Right now though, you can get Need for Speed: Most Wanted for free, so go check it out!

The Blue Flamingo

Nuuvem is offering The Blue Flamingo at 100% off right now. It's an arcade shooter from Might and Delight. What sets this one apart is that the graphics are almost entirely made from handcrafted miniatures, the setting was actually filmed on a 32-foot-long model track, and the explosions were filmed fireworks and the like. There's also an interesting system allowing you to spend some of your score on upgrades, or earn interest for not spending it, forcing you to find the proper balance between upgrades and skill.

Worms Forts: Under Siege

Right now gog.com has Worms Forts: Under Siege available for free! It's a turn-based strategy game from 2004, only available on Windows. Enjoy!

Jade Empire: Special Edition

Origin regularly gives away older titles "on the house". This time the offering is BioWare's Jade Empire: Special Edition, an action RPG played out among the myths of China.

PC Mag giving away Steam keys for four games

PC Magazine is giving away four free games this week. You can sign up on their site here. The games included are:

8 Bit Boy


Time Gentlemen, Please! and Ben There, Dan That! (this is a two pack)



Bionic Dues


Hat tip to Free Stuff Times.

Freebies!

So, I've decided to go a new direction with this blog. Who knows how long it will last. But for now, free games! I will be posting games that normally have a price tag, but for some reason right now do not. These will be from sites like Steam, Desura, and other indie sites. Maybe there will be a big brand name now and then, who knows. So, without further ado...

Today's freebie is Stars Wagon, normally $2.99, available free on Desura right now.

From the site's description:

Control the forces of the enlightened beings of the aurora system and fight creatures called “Dark Ones” who wish to consume the light in the universe.

Stars Wagon is a fast paced scroll shooter game set in the space; its game mechanics involve flying a spaceship and switching its color in different situations, offering a unique and engaging game experience.

Features:
- STORY MODE: 14 levels with 7 boss fights.
- SURVIVAL MODE: 3 difficulty levels.
- CHALLENGE MODE: 12 levels.
- Controller (gamepad) support.
- Hours of entertainment.

Warlords: Call to Arms

In Warlords: Call to Arms, the idea is simple. Get enough of your people to the far side of the battlefield to conquer the enemy's territory, while keeping their people from coming to conquer you! Purchase new unit types, upgrade the ones you already have, and hone your strategy as you try to conquer each of the factions on the map. Play as humans, orcs, elves or even the undead!

Big Fish Fridays -- Natalie Brooks: Secrets of Treasure House

Natalie Brooks: Secrets of Treasure House is part point and click adventure, and part hidden item puzzle. Follow Natalie as she returns to her late Grandmother's home and begins to uncover secrets that will change her life forever! Along the way you'll consort with smugglers, search a museum storage closet, and even spy on the chief of police. Can you uncover the truth before the city demolishes your family home in favor of a new highway?

Ultimate Defense

Time to post another Tower Defense game -- this one is called Ultimate Defense. There's not too much that's unique about it, but if you like TDs, you'll love this one. It reminds me a bit of Protector, in that you're placing characters rather than actual towers. The characters automatically upgrade themselves once they earn enough exp, so you never have to waste gold on upgrades. Overall, this is a fun little diversion with all the hallmarks of a great tower defense game.

Mabinogi

The game that has been taking up an overwhelming amount of my time of late is a free (that's right, I said free!) MMORPG called Mabinogi. It's been around quite some time in Korea and China, but was just put into Open Beta earlier this month for the North American continent. The immersive world and customizable gameplay make for a gaming experience that's truly a treat! And if you happen to stop by, drop a line to Alonisa or Sidira and say hello -- I'm more than happy to help out a noob or two!

Big Fish Friday: Doggie Dash

If you've always wondered what it would be like to work in a pet salon, Doggie Dash won't help a bit. On the other hand, if you've dreamed of a pet-themed version of Diner Dash, this is it! Featuring cameos by Flo herself, Doggie Dash will have you scrubbing, grooming and styling like a pro!

Monkey Island

Monkey Island is a far more challenging game than it appears. Your goal is to collect bananas by hopping from island to island, but that can be tricky. Move your monkey by clicking on the mouse. The length of time you hold down the mouse button determines how far you'll jump. You can only see the island you're on and a little of the space around it though, so be careful to memorize the map at the beginning of each level, or you may find yourself jumping out into the ocean!

Mancala Snails

Mancala is an ancient game, which has been dated back to somewhere around the 6th century A.D. or so. Mancala Snails is a great internet version with a built in tutorial. Play against the computer or against a friend. In the one player mode, you can even choose the difficulty of your opponent. If you're not familiar with Mancala, you really should try it -- there's a reason this game has withstood the test of time!

Big Fish Friday: Coffee Rush

Part match three game, part food service, Coffee Rush is the perfect blend for coffee lovers and haters alike. Match ingredients to fill orders, then don't forget to deliver the coffee and collect the money too! How many recipes can you earn?

Wild Games -- Lumines

Lumines on Wild Games is an addictive and fast-paced puzzler that you simply have to try to believe. The idea is to create blocks (2x2) of the same color which are then removed as the sweeper moves across the playing field. Sounds simple enough, but the game speeds up faster and faster until you don't even have time to think about where the block should go. See how many levels you can make it through before you lose control!

SquarO

SquarO is a fun little logic puzzle, reminiscent of minesweeper. In this one though, instead of finding which adjacent squares have mines in them, you have to figure out which of the corners of each square should be filled in. As you solve for each square, the number it contains will turn black, but be careful -- that doesn't necessarily mean that your solution is correct! With four different difficulties, there's a SquarO puzzle for any skill level.

Shift

Shift is not your average puzzle platformer. It starts out simple enough... arrow keys to run, space bar to move, collect keys to open locks, and get your guy to the door to move on to the next level. But then things get a little strange and you learn about shifting... When you hit the space bar, all of the positive space and negative space is reversed. For those who don't follow, that means that if the floor and walls are black and the air is white, the whole map flips and now the white parts are the floor and walls and the black is the air. Use this to your advantage to find your way through each level and move on to bigger and more complex puzzles.

Big Fish Thursday? Jojo's Fashion Show

I'm posting a Big Fish Game on a Thursday this week because tomorrow is the Blog365 official day of rest. It's the one day this year where participants are not supposed to blog, so I'm doing all my Friday stuff a day early. So don't expect a game tomorrow. Well, at least not here anyway.

So, here's today's game; Jojo's Fashion Show. Match fashions to eras, styles, colors and patterns and then march your models down the runway to earn points and bonuses. Earn even more by creating combos. If you do well enough, you'll beat your rival, Claudio Maximo, and regain your status as a top designer!

Jane's Hotel

In Jane's Hotel, you're in charge of check in, room service and coordinating the housekeeping staff to make your tiny little hotel into a profitable business. Keep all of the customers happy to earn more money and buy upgrades. See how far you can make it in the hotel business!

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Game

This mostly-text-based RPG re-creates the story of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in a puzzlingly humorous way. If you're at all a fan of the HGttG books, you should certainly give this a try. After all, it's mostly harmless.