Free Online Shooters
3D online shooters have been a popular form of entertainment for many years, and a growing number of them are now free. Some of these games are built using open source graphics engines, while others are distributed for free to promote newer products. Despite their low cost, they often have good visuals and gameplay that rivals high-budget, commercial releases.
America's Army
America's Army is a free FPS game published by the U.S. Army, and it uses the Unreal graphics engine to create a remarkably authentic military simulation. Intended as a recruitment tool, it has seen a number of updates which have added new positions and maps to the game.
America's Army is a free FPS game published by the U.S. Army, and it uses the Unreal graphics engine to create a remarkably authentic military simulation. Intended as a recruitment tool, it has seen a number of updates which have added new positions and maps to the game.
Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
SplashDamage and Activision released Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory as a free game right from the start, with no strings attached. This is an excellent multiplayer first-person shooter built on the Quake 3 engine, with solid objective-oriented gameplay and a rudimentary experience system. Get the details and download locations in this article.
SplashDamage and Activision released Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory as a free game right from the start, with no strings attached. This is an excellent multiplayer first-person shooter built on the Quake 3 engine, with solid objective-oriented gameplay and a rudimentary experience system. Get the details and download locations in this article.
Alien Arena
Steadily updated since its release in 2004, Alien Arena is a free FPS available for both Windows and Linux. The game has a healthy collection of multiplayer modes, nice graphics, and bots for those why want to try it single-player.
Steadily updated since its release in 2004, Alien Arena is a free FPS available for both Windows and Linux. The game has a healthy collection of multiplayer modes, nice graphics, and bots for those why want to try it single-player.
F.E.A.R. Combat
Sierra has released the multiplayer component of F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) as a free download. Sign-up for a keycode on their Web site and you can experience this graphically intense shooter for yourself. (1.8 GB)
Sierra has released the multiplayer component of F.E.A.R. (First Encounter Assault Recon) as a free download. Sign-up for a keycode on their Web site and you can experience this graphically intense shooter for yourself. (1.8 GB)
Ghost Recon (3D Downloads)
Ubisoft has released a free, ad-supported version of their tactical shooter, Ghost Recon (543 MB), the first in the popular and ongoing series of Ghost Recon games. You'll need to register an account with Ubisoft to play.
Ubisoft has released a free, ad-supported version of their tactical shooter, Ghost Recon (543 MB), the first in the popular and ongoing series of Ghost Recon games. You'll need to register an account with Ubisoft to play.
Marathon: Aleph One
This is a classic shooter designed by Bungie for the Mac back in the early 90s. It's now available as a free download for the Mac and PC.
This is a classic shooter designed by Bungie for the Mac back in the early 90s. It's now available as a free download for the Mac and PC.
Savage: The Battle for Newerth
An FPS/RTS hybrid that pits humanity, armed with science and technology, against the beast horde, masters of nature and magic. S2 has made the game available free of charge to promote the sequel, Savage 2: A Tortured Soul.
An FPS/RTS hybrid that pits humanity, armed with science and technology, against the beast horde, masters of nature and magic. S2 has made the game available free of charge to promote the sequel, Savage 2: A Tortured Soul.
Starsiege: Tribes
As a method of promoting Tribes Vengeance, Vivendi Universal Games has made the original Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 available as free downloads. (135 MB)
As a method of promoting Tribes Vengeance, Vivendi Universal Games has made the original Starsiege: Tribes and Tribes 2 available as free downloads. (135 MB)
Tremulous
Tremulous is a free FPS with RTS-like building elements. Humans take on aliens in an effort to destroy each other's spawn structures. Available for Windows and Linux, it's built on the Quake 3 engine, and it has gathered a considerable following since its 2006 release.
Tremulous is a free FPS with RTS-like building elements. Humans take on aliens in an effort to destroy each other's spawn structures. Available for Windows and Linux, it's built on the Quake 3 engine, and it has gathered a considerable following since its 2006 release.
Tribes 2 (FilePlanet)
An excellent sci-fi shooter that was among the first to offer usable vehicles and put an emphasis on gameplay. It's being offered as a free download through FilePlanet (registration required).
An excellent sci-fi shooter that was among the first to offer usable vehicles and put an emphasis on gameplay. It's being offered as a free download through FilePlanet (registration required).
Urban Terror
Originally a mod for Quake 3, Urban Terror is now available as a stand-alone FPS you can download and play for free. It leans toward realism and offers plenty of fast-paced action.
Originally a mod for Quake 3, Urban Terror is now available as a stand-alone FPS you can download and play for free. It leans toward realism and offers plenty of fast-paced action.
War Rock
Similar in some respects to Battlefield 2, War Rock is a free first-person shooter that features modern vehicular combat. Your character is persistent, and as you achieve higher ranks you unlock new equipment. War Rock is supported through the sale of gameplay enhancing items and services.
Similar in some respects to Battlefield 2, War Rock is a free first-person shooter that features modern vehicular combat. Your character is persistent, and as you achieve higher ranks you unlock new equipment. War Rock is supported through the sale of gameplay enhancing items and services.
Warsow
This online shooter in based on QFusion, which is an enhanced version of the Quake 2 engine. It has a sci-fi theme and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
This online shooter in based on QFusion, which is an enhanced version of the Quake 2 engine. It has a sci-fi theme and is available for Windows, Linux, and Mac.
World of Padman
This unusual free shooter is based on a cartoon character named Padman from early game magazines. Its appearance is true to the comic, and you'll also find yourself armed with amusing weapons like water balloons and water guns.
This unusual free shooter is based on a cartoon character named Padman from early game magazines. Its appearance is true to the comic, and you'll also find yourself armed with amusing weapons like water balloons and water guns.
Savage 2: A Tortured Soul
Built on the same hybrid principle as its predecessor, Savage 2 offers improved graphics and squads with officers. Players earn experience over the course of a match to gain access to a variety of bonus abilities.
Built on the same hybrid principle as its predecessor, Savage 2 offers improved graphics and squads with officers. Players earn experience over the course of a match to gain access to a variety of bonus abilities.
Nexuiz
This open-source shooter is built on OpenGL technology using the Darkplaces engine, and is available for Windows, Linux and OSX. Nexuiz features deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture-the-flag, and domination play modes, as well as a single-player campaign.
This open-source shooter is built on OpenGL technology using the Darkplaces engine, and is available for Windows, Linux and OSX. Nexuiz features deathmatch, team deathmatch, capture-the-flag, and domination play modes, as well as a single-player campaign.