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A1 Geo-Fit Game Pack - Be challenged by falling triangles Board Games For Two - Play classic games with friend ChessBase Light - Save Chess games for detailed analysis Computer Puzzles Unlimited - Enjoy a big variety of free word puzzles FreeplayUSA Listen and Learn games - Let kids learn about animals Gini's Children's Bingo - Introduce your children to Bingo Hoyle Card Games 2000 - Play many popular card games Hoyle Word Games - Play eight challenging word games Hoyle Board Games - Have family fun with classic games Mattie's Preschool Math Games - Teach 4&5 year-olds math PySol - Play 298 free Solitaire games Ray's Spelling and Word Games - Help children with spelling and more Rocky's Math Games - Shoot down complex equations Solitude - Play 80 free Solitaire games Spelling Buddy Games - Play along and improve your spelling Spelling Games - Teach spelling the fun way TypingMaster Games - Improve typing skills with this freebie WildTangent BlasterBall - Blast your way out of the bricks ZDNet's Solitaire 3-Pack - Play 3 popular solitaire games Shapez - Form lines, squares, or blocks of balls Laser Age - Blast your way through space Caterpillar - Help your caterpillar eat and grow Bike Flyter - Fly past the motorcycles M2 Math Tutor - Test your math skills Flash Typing - Learn to type by using a fun game Westfront PC: The Trials of Guilder - Rescue the King in a text adventure
Games 09-19-00 Be challenged by falling triangles Company: Michael Treciokas Version: 1.0 Size: 3.33 MB Requirements: Windows 95 or Windows 98 Purchase Information: Free A1 Geo-Fit Game Pack includes a series of three games that are easy, medium, and difficult -- all based on variations of familar "falling blocks" games, but with a triangular twist. While it is similar to the popular game, the use of odd triangular shapes makes the task quite entertaining and challenging. As each of the seven piece types fall, you can rotate it to best fit into the shape of the rows of triangles at the base of the playing field. Once a row is complete, it is removed. Triangles can become translucent, which in some cases allows shapes through. Optional music and sound effects can accompany play, and high scores are maintained. Reviewed on Jul 12 2000.
05-05-97 Play classic games with friend Company: WinGames.Inc. Version: 4.0a Size: 733.62 KB Requirements: Windows 95 Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $10 if you decide to keep it. Registration benefits include: expanded features. In Board Games For Two, you don't play against the computer. Instead, this Windows 95 suite of eight classic board games is designed to be played against a real live human being over any network, null modem cable, modem -- or even side-by-side at your PC. According to the author, Board Games For 2 was designed to be as close as possible to playing on a real board. Only mundane tasks, like removing captured pieces or setting up the board, have been automated. Use the button-bar interface to select the game, the type of connection, and settings. Games include Checkers, Chess, Backgammon, Goban, Flag Ship, Pipes, Race Chase, and Fox and Hounds. Realistic digital sound effects (if you have a sound card) enhance the playing enjoyment. This unregistered version lets you play 10 games before disabling itself, however, for this game's modest registration fee the developer will give you codes that unlock all of the company's games.
08-07-00 Save Chess games for detailed analysis Company: ChessBase GMBH Version: Size: 2.63 MB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free ChessBase Light is a free edition of ChessBase limited to 8,000 games per database. It supports the new CBH format of ChessBase 6, along with Fritz5 and the PGN format. You'll have no trouble navigating ChessBase regardless of the language you prefer, since the interface is available in seven languages. It's easy to review, compare, annotate, print, and analyze games based on moves, probabilities, opening, and endgame positions. You can study tournament results and player habits as well as build your own scenarios for practice, competitions, or comparisons. Here is a tool for the serious student of the game; unfortunately, it doesn't come with any sample data and the help file doesn't cover much more than an explanation of menu choices. Reviewed on Aug 04 2000.
09-07-99 Enjoy a big variety of free word puzzles Company: Computer Puzzles Unlimited Version: 1.0 Size: 2.02 MB Requirements: Visual Basic 5.0 Runtime and Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free If you're a lover of word puzzles, download Computer Puzzles Unlimited today. While the number of puzzles isn't quite "unlimited" (over 40 are included), there's enough variety to keep even the most die-hard puzzle solver busy for days. You get two levels of puzzles (easy and medium), including Kryptoquiz, Cryptogram, Crossed Sums, Letter Choice, and Word Division. The interface could use a lot of work, but once you get past its quirks, you'll find a lot of fun wordplay. Additional free puzzles are available from the developer's Website. Reviewed on Sep 06 1999.
FreeplayUSA Listen and Learn games 06-29-00 Let kids learn about animals Company: Wyvern Studios Inc. Version: 1.0 Size: 4.10 MB Requirements: Internet connection and Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free FreeplayUSA Listen and Learn games will keep the pre-schoolers and early elementary school children entertained for hours. You get three modules in this single download: Barnyard Friends, Forest Field Trip, and Jungle Adventure. All of these games feature three different modes: play, question, and 1-2-3. The play mode lets your child click on animals to hear the sounds they make. The question mode asks your child to identify animals by the sound they make. The 1-2-3 mode asks your child to repeat in sequence, the order of animals or objects in an increasingly difficult pattern. The graphics are cute and the sounds are accompanied by animations. The free games are sponsored, but the advertising is unobtrusive and doesn't require detailed questionnaires before playing. Reviewed on Jul 02 2000.
08-09-99 Introduce your children to Bingo Company: Frank and Gini''s Freewares Version: Size: 547.83 KB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free Gini's Children's Bingo is a freeware bingo game with simple, “1D” graphics designed to teach children how to play bingo. In this demo, you start by playing a regular game (for a $25.00 prize) against Gini. Then you play a “T” game -- one of Gini's Children's Bingo’s ten specialty games -- for a $100.00 prize. You can play with or without sounds. You can also adjust ball-calling speed, from slow to very fast. As the game calls out balls, arrows appear on the player’s card whenever the player has matched the called number (We felt this feature takes some of the learning challenge out of playing the game). While Gini’s Children’s Bingo will not wow you with fancy graphics, it will provide a simple and fun bingo experience for you and your kids. The game provides a brief tutorial. Reviewed on Aug 08 1999.
11-23-99 Play many popular card games Company: Sierra, Inc. Version: 3.0 Size: 19.21 MB Requirements: Pentium 100 and Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Demo: $29.95 for retail version. Hoyle Card Games 2000 is a complete suite of card game favorites that feature the outstanding graphics, sound effects, and animation we've all come to expect from Sierra. The full version offers 14 different games for the entire family -- including Gin Rummy, Poker, Bridge, Cribbage, Spades, War, Crazy Eights, Old Maid, Pinochle, Hearts, Memory Match, Euchre, and 30 variations of Solitaire. Choose from 10 computer opponents or initiate Internet play. Several of the card games allow up to four people to play on the same PC. Plus, you can cutomize cards and characters. This demo limits you to playing Gin Rummy, the Four Free flavor of Solitaire, and Cribbage. Ethel, a grandmother who plays at the Intermediate level, is your opponent in Gin Rummy and Cribbage. She offers challenging play and keeps you on your toes. Games are peppered with her comments and general exclamations, which makes for a lively game. Reviewed on Nov 27 1999.
11-23-99 Play eight challenging word games Company: Sierra, Inc. Version: 1.0 Size: 21.68 MB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Demo: $29.95 for retail version. Hoyle Word Games includes eight different word games of varying types, complete with all of the slick graphics and cool sounds we've all come to expect from Sierra. The full version includes Anagrams, Crosswords, DoubleCross, Enigma, Hangman, Speedy Racer, Word Searches, and Word Yacht. (In this demo, you can play only Word Yacht, Crosswords, and Hangman.) Play on your own, against six characters, or over the Internet. Games may be printed out to take or share. Use the Face Maker function to make unique personal icons for in-game or online play. Other nice features include hints and error checking, an electronic dictionary, and statistics tracking. Every word game lover will find a lot to like about Sierra and Hoyle's take on this nice mix of new challenges and and old favorites. Reviewed on Nov 28 1999.
11-23-99 Have family fun with classic games Company: Sierra, Inc. Version: 3.0 Size: 18.60 MB Requirements: Windows 95 or Windows 98 Purchase Information: Demo: $39.95 for retail version. Hoyle Board Games is a suite of classic games that will keep your whole family amused. You'll find Backgammon, Battling Ships, Checkers, Chess, Chinese Checkers, Dominoes, Line 'em Up, Mancala, Pachisi, Placer Racer, Reversi, Snakes & Ladders, Yacht, and Zen Bones. This demo allows full access to Placer Racer, Zen Bones, and Backgammon. In Placer Racer, you shoot colored balls out onto the board as you try to line up three balls of the same color. Zen Bones is an adaptation of the popular solitaire Mah Jongg game. In the Backgammon game, your PC opponent is Jasper, a talkative fellow with a deep Jamaican accent. The full version provides a wealth of opponents to choose from, all with different playing levels and idiosyncrasies. The entire suite features outstanding graphics, 3D animations, and realistic sound effects. It's bound to become a family favorite. Reviewed on Nov 24 1999.
12-10-97 Teach 4&5 year-olds math Company: LatticeWork Software Version: 3.1 Size: 2.01 MB Requirements: Sound card and Windows 95 Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $14.95 if you decide to keep it. Mattie's Preschool Math Games is a collection of mathematics-related games for 3-6 year-old, preschool children. In addition to learning to identify numbers and shapes and learning to count, the program includes a variety of fun activities. These hands-on games help children develop problem-solving skills and analytical thought. The program offers colorful graphics, voices, sound effects, and background music to add to the highly interactive, very intuitive play. All incorrect responses are treated humorously. The unregistered version offers a single level of 3 different game activities. The registered version offers more levels and 6 game activities.
08-10-00 Play 298 free Solitaire games Company: Markus Oberhumer Version: 4.6 Size: 3.70 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free Play Solitaire has just about everything you'd want in a suite of Solitaire games -- including freeware status. It offers an impressive 298 distinct types of Solitaire, from familiar old favorites to challenging new varieties. You'll find rules for each game in the help file. Enjoy crisp sound effects and background music, and choose from several good-looking card sets and table designs. Other nice features include unlimited undo and redo, the ability to load and save games, player statistics, and a hint system. Reviewed on May 31 2000.
08-17-00 Help children with spelling and more Company: Ray Le Couteur Version: 3.1 Size: 881.50 KB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $19 if you decide to keep it. Playing Ray's Spelling and Word Games is an excellent way to help children with spelling, reading, and vocabulary words. The spelling section offers three elements: learning, practice, and test. You can add your own words, spoken in your own voice, to the built-in word lists. These words are then played back throughout the program as part of the exercises. In addition, the program includes two challenging and fun word games, offering a range of difficulty levels, plus bonus games for high scores. Options let you set the spelling to U.S. or U.K. rules, change sound quality, set passwords, and more. Registration offers loads of benefits, including extensive new word lists and a database of commonly misspelled words. Great value. Reviewed on Dec 09 1999.
08-14-00 Shoot down complex equations Company: Fundamental Software Version: 2.3 Size: 2.11 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free Rocky may have to save the planet by demonstrating his ability to solve linear and quadratic equations while simultaneously dodging bouncing solutions and other threats. It sounds a bit hokey at first, but here's a set of arcade-style games that challenge students to think about math while doing what they like best -- playing computer games. Rocky's Maths Games are accessed through the easy-to-use Rocky Control Panel. You get to play only Bouncer initially, for free, but you can download a whole range of additional challenging games from the Internet for less than $5 each. Naturally, score is kept and you can choose from a range of skill levels as you try the various games. Reviewed on Sep 07 2000.
02-10-00 Play 80 free Solitaire games Company: David Bernazzani Version: 1.52 Size: 3.66 MB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free Solitude is a freeware assortment of 80 distinct Solitaire card games -- three of which have been invented by the developer. You can launch each game from a unified menu and sort by name, resolution, number of decks used, odds of winning, length of time normally played, and game type. Since each game is a nearly self-contained executable file, you can copy the .exe file for just the games you like -- along with a .dll file and the help file -- to another PC (say, a laptop). Each game features undo, replay, statistics, and options. Both the interface and cards are cleanly designed. While you won't find nice extras like sound effects and a big variety of card backs and table designs, Solitude is a great collection of card games at our favorite price -- free. Reviewed on Feb 11 1999.
04-12-00 Play along and improve your spelling Company: Aboo Graphics Version: 4.0 Size: 1.65 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free Spelling Buddy Games is a package of four word games that will test your memory as well as your spelling ability. With fun sound effects, a good variety of activities, and a cheeky sense of humor, these games are certainly entertaining, but you'll have to persevere with a rather confusing interface. The games are Four Chins's Cookie, a Jeopardy style game; Fightin Words, in which you must devise interactive stories; Racking Memories, in which you try to remember where a word is located then type that word correctly; and Word Upso, a soupy collection of anagrams. You can edit the existing word lists, so the games maintain their freshness over time.
03-31-00 Teach spelling the fun way Company: KIDware Version: 5.0 Size: 2.35 MB Requirements: Visual Basic 4.0 Runtime (16-bit) and Windows 3.1 Purchase Information: Shareware: Free to try, $14.95 if you decide to keep it. Spelling Games is a novel educational program that helps children learn to identify words and spell them correctly. Nine spelling games for grades K-6 are included. Each game allows you choose a grade level and select from 10 word lists of 30 words each. A list editor enables you to build additional word lists to keep your students challenged. Kids will be asked to unscramble words, play word search or hangman, navigate a worm to create spelling words, alphabetize lists, and much more. Each game is intended to let your child have fun while learning. The program is well designed and easy for young children to navigate, yet challenging enough to keep older children interested. Reviewed on Aug 23 1999.
06-12-00 Improve typing skills with this freebie Company: TypingMaster Version: 6.11 Size: 1.53 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free TypingMaster Games is a freeware collection of three fun and challenging games designed to improve your keyboarding skills, whether you're a beginner or an experienced typist. They include Bubbles, Clouds, and Wordtris, each with three variations. Graphics are attractive, and crisp sound effects add to the playing experience. Just choose a game from the menu page. When the game opens, the rules are provided. Press any key to begin. As you play, the game will accelerate to challenge your skills. All three games have a similar goal: You must type the numbers, letters, or word groups before they move off the screen. These free games are an inducement to try the author's more-complete TypingMaster keyboard training program, which is also available in our library. Reviewed on Jul 28 2000.
07-21-00 Blast your way out of the bricks Company: WildTangent, Inc. Version: 1.0 Size: 1.08 MB Requirements: DirectX 6 or later, Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator 4 or later, Pentium 133, and Windows 95 or Windows 98 Purchase Information: Free WildTangent BlasterBall is a scintillating remake of the classic Breakout/Blockbuster arcade classic in which you destroy walls of bricks using a ball and paddle. Featuring reverberating sound effects, excellent graphics, and fascinating gameplay, this freeware program uses WildTangent's Web Driver engine to provide gameplay directly inside your browser. The game features over 50 levels of action, with numerous powerups and a wild array of block types, each with its own capabilities. Dedicated fans of Breakout will have a great time with this game, as will anyone who likes testing their skill. Note that the Web Driver software uploads info about your browser performance to WildTangent's servers as you use the program. Reviewed on Aug 17 2000.
10-25-96 Play 3 popular solitaire games Company: Rhode Island Soft Systems Version: 1.0 Size: 570.00 KB Requirements: Windows 3.x Purchase Information: Free ZD Net's Solitaire 3-Pack is a collection of three popular solitaire games: Canfield, King Albert, and Friday the 13th. Included are both the 16- and 32-bit versions of each game.
10-27-00 Form lines, squares, or blocks of balls Company: Dmitri V. Kivilev Version: 2.0 Size: 2.21 MB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free Shapez! is a challenging, free board game in which you try to move colored balls into groups to remove them from the board. With each move, three new balls are added to the board -- you must keep removing them before the board fills up and the game ends. The next three ball locations are shown as hints for each move. Plan ahead since you need a clear route to allow a ball to move into position. Choose lines, squares, or blocks as your goal. Sound effects accompany the moves, and a high-score honor roll gives you something to work toward. The interface is colorful, with subtle icon controls that have pop-up tooltips to identify them. You can change the sounds or turn them off completely, and there are several skin variations to keep the interface interesting. The game is easy to play and will fascinate kids and bored workers alike. Note: This free software contains advertising technology that will occasionally use your Internet connection to receive and display ads. Reviewed on Sep 14 2000.
02-10-00 Blast your way through space Company: Freeform Interactive Version: 1.9.1 Size: 3.79 MB Requirements: Windows 95, 98, or NT Purchase Information: Free LaserAge is a speedy, Galaga-style game with detailed graphics and challenging gameplay. Move your spacecraft from side to side to avoid being bombarded by the oncoming waves of invaders, and shoot to destroy. When you first start playing, you'll be horrified to find that you have only one life: Lose it, and you're done for. However, as you progress through the three levels and 45 attack waves and gather the essential powerups, not only will your firepower increase but so, too, will your ability to sustain enemy hits. The pace is furious, with no respite between waves, and the gameplay engaging. The sound effects could use a little more variety, but you'll find plenty of variety in the descending hordes. Reviewed on Dec 29 1999.
09-21-00 Help your caterpillar eat and grow Company: Po Tan Version: 1.6 Size: 208.96 KB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free Caterpillar by Po's Software is a smooth, free version of those Snake games everyone used to play in the good old days when 16Kb was a lot of RAM. You control a creature that moves around the screen and eats things. As you eat, you grow, and you must avoid crashing into the walls or your tail. This is an engaging incarnation of the title, although the gameplay can become repetitive. A bit of originality comes in the form of food items with a counter. They count down from 20 to -100, and affect your score accordingly. If the counter reaches -100, you die. Caterpillar's classic mode caters to the desperately nostalgic. The graphics are green and black, and your caterpillar, its tail, and the food items are all represented by squares. The gameplay in cute mode is identical, as are the responsive controls, but your caterpillar has a face, eats cherries instead of squares, and makes appealing little noises. Reviewed on Sep 12 2000.
09-18-00 Fly past the motorcycles Company: KAiNAi Entertainment Version: 1.0 Size: 3.80 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, or 2000 Purchase Information: Free BikeFlyter is a colorful and humorous (if somewhat repetitive) twitch-your-mouse "driving" game in which you are a fat fly zooming at breakneck speed down a Route 66-like highway trying to avoid oncoming traffic. Gameplay consists of jerking your mouse at just the right times so you don't become a grease spot on an oncoming biker's windshield -- which isn't easy later in the game when those bikers start to swerve as they bear down on you. You have eight lives, and you lose one of them every time you get clipped by a passing biker. When you lose all eight, you are treated to a funny animation of your fly going SPLAT on the game screen as the Game Over message appears. The "enemy" bikers are pretty cool-looking, ranging from grungy bearded hog-lovers to biker babes to motorcycle cops with their sirens blaring. The twitchfest gameplay becomes a bit repetitive, as does the desert scenery you fly through, but for a simple, humorous diversion this freeware game is worth a look. Reviewed on Sep 18 2000.
01-24-01 Test your math skills Company: ChristopherL Design Version: 3.2 Size: 3.00 MB Requirements: Windows 9x, NT, 2000, or Me Purchase Information: Free M2 Math Tutor is a series of three games that test various addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills. Although the games enrich math rudiments, they are workbook drills with limited feedback and no option for random operations. In Missing Number, you select the missing variable (addition or subtraction) to complete the equation, then repeat the problem until you enter the correct answer. In Missing Operation, you choose the operation that was used -- addition, subtraction, or multiplication -- to complete the solved problem. In Time Trial, you race the clock solving addition problems. You can track your score during gameplay, up to five skill levels, on all three games. You can also hide or reveal your score on the M2 scorecard, create custom worksheets with the worksheet generator, and search other math categories on the Web with the integrated M2 browser. Reviewed on Feb 01 2001.
02-20-01 Learn to type by using a fun game Company: Dixon Products, LLC Version: 1.0 Size: 4.11 MB Requirements: Pentium 90 and Windows 9x, NT, 2000, or Me Purchase Information: Demo: $19.95 for retail version. Flash Typing is a fun way to learn keyboarding and touch typing. The learning process is centered around a game, similar to much children's educational software. It uses a visual progress bar and audible feedback to speed the learning process. As you correctly type on the keys, the letters are zapped with a laser. The game provides just three levels and the supplied demo is limited to only the first lesson. Applying the game approach to typing tutoring is apparently so novel that it is patented. Effectiveness is questionable, but the technique is certainly more entertaining than traditional typing tutoring programs. Reviewed on Feb 19 2001.
Westfront PC: The Trials of Guilder 04-23-01 Rescue the King in a text adventure Company: Paul Allen Panks Version: 17.5 Size: 1.35 MB Requirements: Windows Media Player 6.1 or later and Windows 9x, NT, 2000, or Me Purchase Information: Public Domain: free Miss those hours you spent playing Zork? Westfront PC: The Trials of Guilder is an amusingly tongue-in-cheek text adventure game, set in the Days of Yore, that provides more gameplay than you can throw a broadsword at. Your objective is to rescue the King from the evil Sorcerer and in the process complete 45 varied quests. With more than 1,700 rooms spanning three continents to explore, 95 monsters to confront, and plenty of weapons to wield, the game environment is quite vast. An off-the-wall Zork-style sense of humor pervades the game, from a mysterious voice that occasionally bellows odd phrases, to the relentless Inspector Funkydog. A mini text editor lets you edit your saved games or expand your game world to up to 5,000 rooms and 312 monsters. With teleports, a Purgatory that you have to escape from if you die, and taverns where you can procure chewing gum to temporarily increase your strength, this retro-style feast of weirdness and fantasy is proof that text adventure is alive and well. Reviewed on Apr 23 2001.
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