Games with real depth that get far less attention than the big names in their genre, each available legitimately and checked against its sources.
How we choose
A game makes this list only if it meets every one of these criteria:
Legitimately available: you can get it free, or at a fair price, from its developer or an authorized distributor we have checked.
Verified record: every detail on its GameHunt page has been checked against named sources, with the date.
Real substance: either a finished game, or a project with a long history of releases. We cite the evidence, such as years in active development.
Under the radar: it gets far less attention than the best-known games in its genre. For now this is an editorial judgement. When we have a licensed source of review and player-count data, we will add a measurable threshold and publish it here.
Not for sale: no developer or publisher can pay to be on this list, and affiliate earnings never decide what is on it.
A turn-based survival game set in a post-apocalyptic world. Scavenge for food and equipment and fight monsters in a harsh, persistent, procedurally generated world, shown in ASCII text or graphical tiles.
Why it qualifies
Development started in 2013 and is still community-driven, with both stable and experimental builds. The survival systems run deep, and you can play it in plain ASCII or with graphical tiles. It is free and open source.
A turn-based strategy game with a high-fantasy setting, played on a hex map. It has several single-player campaigns, plus online and hotseat multiplayer.
Why it qualifies
A turn-based fantasy wargame on a hex map, first released in 2003 and still maintained. It ships with several campaigns and supports online and hotseat multiplayer, all free under the GPL.
An open-source transport business simulation based on Transport Tycoon Deluxe. Build a transport network on your own against AI rivals, or with up to 255 players over a network, cooperatively or competitively.
Why it qualifies
It keeps the design of Transport Tycoon Deluxe and has been developed since 2004. Free replacement graphics, sound, and music mean you don't need the original game, and up to 255 players can share one map.
A fast arena-style first-person shooter, with modes including deathmatch, capture the flag, clan arena, and racing.
Why it qualifies
A complete arena shooter with deathmatch, capture the flag, clan arena, and racing modes, free to play and modify under GPLv3+. It has been in active development since its first release in 2011.
A point-and-click adventure from Revolution Software, released in 1992 for Amiga, MS-DOS, and Atari ST. It became freeware in 2003, and its data files are offered on Revolution's website.
Why it qualifies
Revolution Software's 1992 adventure, two years before Beneath a Steel Sky. It became freeware in 2003, so you can play it legally today in five languages through ScummVM.
A point-and-click adventure released in 1995 for Amiga and MS-DOS by Interactive Binary Illusions. Its authors allowed it to be released as freeware in 2004.
Why it qualifies
A 1995 Amiga and MS-DOS adventure whose authors allowed a freeware release in 2004. The free CD version includes voices, and translated versions are offered too.
