If you are itching to play some of the best retro games around, but don’t want to break the bank, just take a look at our breakdown of the best below. There you will find some of the very best free-to-play titles with a genuine retro edge.
Pac-Man
Perhaps the ultimate in free retro games, Pac-Man is a retro arcade classic where you need to race around a maze gobbelling up pellets, and avoiding scary ghosts named Blinky, Inky, Pinky and Clyde. Unless you have eaten a power pellet that is as these allow Pac Man to gobble up those ghosts, at least for the duration of its effects.
The great news is that it works on both PC and mobile, so even if you need a fun distraction to take your mind off things while you spend time in the dentist's waiting room, Pac-Man is a great option.
Solitaire
Is there anything that gives such retro games as solitaire? The classic computer card game is synonymous with the first desktops. In fact, for anyone using a desktop in the 90’s, learning how to close the solitaire screen real quick when your teacher or boss came by to check on your work was a rite of passage.
Some of the best things about Solitaire are that it offers classic play with simple graphics, ideal for that 5-10 min Pomodoro break. It even comes in a range of different varieties, including spider solitaire, which is not only free to play but can be played in the browser too. Something that means you don’t even have to download this game to start having fun!
Sonic the Hedgehog
Another 90’s classic, Sonic the Hedgehog sees you play as a little blue character who can run really, really fast. Iconic set levels, as well as sound effects and music, this game will take you straight back to the early 90’s where Dr Robotnik is waiting to ruin your day. Just be sure you capture as many gold rings on your adventures as possible.
Galaga
If it's retro you are looking for, then Galaga has everything you need from old-school block graphics to an 8-bit soundtrack. Invaders-style action sees you play as a fighter pilot in space, pitted against enemy alien ships. Simple controls, such as the space bar to fire and the arrow keys to move, make this game easy to pick and play, no matter what your skill level. It's even free to play in your browser, so no fees and no downloads to worry about.
Space Invaders
A true classic among retro and arcade gamers alike, Space Invaders offers simple shooter fun. You aim to destroy the aliens before they destroy you, and those pesky little blighters will bomb through your cover pretty quick so be sure to keep moving lest they bomb you too! Oh, and remember that as you make progress by eliminating their lower ranks, you get a shot at hitting the red flying saucers, which offer a massive 40 points, and unofficial bragging rights to all your mates.
Contra
Contra is a classic side scroller that you can play alone or in co-op mode. It's a ‘run and gun’ style game where you progress through levels by running and gunning down anything that gets in your way. It might look easy, but it can be genuinely challenging and require practice to perfect. Its old school graphics, including characters with combat trousers and rocky style headband, are hard to beat.
Oregon Trail
You start in Independence, Missouri, choosing your character out of a choice of banker, carpenter, or farmer. You then have to choose which date to leave Independence to travel to Oregon. But note that before you have used your $800 to stock up on supplies and equipment for the road, and for when you arrive at your destination. After that, the Oregon Trail is a traditional style choose your own adventure text game, where your skills are pitted against all the challenges of frontier living. Serious and immersive fun!
Galaxian
This arcade classic Super fast shooter with fixed gameplay. You aim to blast apart as many alien formations as possible, in this game so retro that it's pre-Galaga. In fact, it actually dates from the late 1970s and was a mainstay of many coin arcades of that time. Experience cool enemy dive bombing mechanics, as well as bright and colourful graphics, in this simple-to-play shooter.
Super Pac-Man
If you love the original Pac-Man but want larger mazes and some innovative new game platform, then Super Pac-Man is for you. The main differences of this game compared to the original are that when Pac-Man consumes power pellets, he can grow big, and this gives him access to locked doors to gobble up obstacles that are preventing progress. Then there are the keys that you’ll find throughout the mazes that will allow you to unlock gates, as well as the power-ups that can make it easier to escape from those pesky ghosts!
Centipede
Just because the game looks simple, it doesn't mean that it's not full of challenges that will take you time to surmount. In fact, this 1980s classic from Atari requires both smart strategy and accuracy to win.
The game itself features a small shooter located right at the bottom of the screen, and it's your job to use this to destroy the centipede that is advancing down the screen, which is also a field of mushrooms, before it reaches the bottom. The problem is that shooting at it does not destroy it all in one go, and instead causes it to fragment off, meaning you now have multiple centipedes to deal with!
The strategy comes in because mushrooms can block your hots, but they can also slow down the centipede, so you need to make sure that you use them in a clever way to work with you, rather than against. Oh, and watch out for other nasties as well as centipedes, which could include fleas, spiders, and even scorpions!
