Free Game Friday | The Wiki Game

Ah, wiki races. A simple yet absolutely wonderful way to use one of the best resources the internet has given us. The idea is simple yet addictive. You're given a limited amount of time to get from one random wikipedia article page, to another using only the embedded hyperlinks. For example Harry Potter to Dave Chappelle, Mozilla to LOL, Vietnamese to Nervous System.

     Now there are a few different game modes for you to choose from. Speed Race: whoever gets there first wins. Least Clicks: Self explanatory whoever uses the lowest number of clicks to get there. Six Degrees of Wikipedia: Using exactly six clicks to get to the goal. 5 clicks to Jesus: again self explanatory. and No United States: Since the U.S. wikipedia page is a giant hub of business and art types it's often used as a middle location to navigate somewhere quickly, this mode removes that option.

      So what do you say, check it out get you competitive click on, and who knows you may just stumble across something interesting.

PLAY GAME HERE : THE WIKI GAME

Free Game Friday | Nitronic Rush

Just watch.....just watch.

     

      This. Game.  Very few games are so far stuck right smack dab in the middle of my interest. Crazy cars? Check. Ridiculous stunts and jumps? Check. Did you think that racing games needed more Tron, lights, jets, and occasionally wings to fly? I can't say I ever did before but now I know how badly I need those things.

     Now calling this game a racing game isn't quite right. It's titled itself a racing survival game. Developed by some incredibly skilled students at DigiPen this game is wonderfully one of a kind. There are no other racers just you against the clock trying to survive the level. This includes blades of death, jumps, wall runs, lasers, giant rolling barrels with spikes. You know, your typical road obstacles.

    I will say this. You have to get through the first section of the game to get to the real meat of the matter. The first section of levels don't really provide to much of a challenge, still entertaining but not where it gets to what makes it so good. Get through those and you'll reach the hardcore levels. Shit. Gets. Real.

     Suddenly your precious wings that let you recover in the first section are taken away, and in their place are mad levels with wall runs, driving upside down, vertically and some crazy moments that have you wanting to run levels again and again. Now I should say at this point this game should be played with a controller, not keyboard. You can manage, sort of, with a keyboard, but the controls have clearly been designed with a controller in mind. And designed well. Before long you'll have you car whipping around every direction with ease.

    One more thing, the soundtrack in this game is incredible. Dynamic and reacting to your play crazy pounding electronic beats fill every level. It's awesome. Good enough for me to have downloaded and have put on my mp3 player to listen to regularly. The kindly made the soundtrack also available for download here. So even if you're for some reason not into the game, for sure give this music a go.

      Also this game inspired the creators to work on a full game release basically being this game on steroids so you should check out that as well.  If you're looking for great times and high speeds this will definitely be up your alley. Definitely a favorite of mine.

DOWNLOAD GAME HERE : NITRONIC RUSH

Download Size: 344MB

Free Game Friday | BRICK[bricksmash]SMASH

     Have you ever felt that the game breakout could use more breakout?  Well evidently  Alan Hazelden did because he put together for us this wonderful little inceptious (I'm counting that as a word) game. 

    Each time you hit one of the bricks a ball is emitted inside that miniature breakout board. Once you clear one of the mini boards an extra ball is released. 

   Simple yet very entertaining and able to really challenge just how skilled at multitasking you really are. This game provides a strange good use of a few minutes of your time. 

PLAY GAME HERE : BRICK[bricksmash]SMASH

Free Game Friday | TRIHAYWBFRFYH

  

You have 20 minutes till the world ends. 

     While it has one of the longer names I've heard of (hence the abbreviation) this game is definitely an incredibly unique experience. "The Rapture is Here and You Will Be Forcibly Removed From Your Home" was developed by Connor Sherlock and is inspired by the writings of H. P. Lovecraft, you have a limited amount of time to explore the rolling plans and soft woods of this world.  An ominous massive shape fills the sky and you can see it slowly approaching. Pillars of lights guide you through different narrations presenting Lovecraft's stories. And as time runs out, lightning flashes and pillars and daggers appear piercing outward from the ground reaching up to the skies. And honestly I found this game quite amazing.

"Lovecraft's stories hinge on trying to describe encountering something fundamentally unknowable to human beings," Sherlock told Polygon. "Awe, loneliness and wonder are as important as horror for this. 

   

      The way you play this game is very open, do you run from light to light, trying to get as much of the story as you can? Or do you simply wander the rolling hills and try and absorb the world that your put in. The haunting synth soundtrack pulses calmly throughout this game giving it and it's simple artwork an intense mood for you to sit in.

    I love the idea of exploring narrative in less typical ways in video games. This brings back memories of the game Dear Esther (which is an incredible experience you should play if you get the opportunity) and provides something different and unique into your day.  It'll only take you 20 minutes and allow you to experience a somber narrative.

PLAY GAME HERE: TRIHAYWBFRFYH

Free Game Friday | HEXAGON

     From Terry Cavanagh we have HEXAGON. Here is a game that is able to channel the mind bending joyous frustration brought to us by his fantastic game VVVVVV in a completely new fashion. The actual gameplay is simple. Use the left and right arrow keys to move your little triangle around and dodge the incoming shapes. The art style is in simple shapes in colors that come at you in a dizzying pulsing array. But while the concept is simple, execution remains far from it. Be ready to die. A lot.

     This game will have you screaming with frustration at your many losses. But zero loading times, instant resets, and a kicking soundtrack all pull together to keep the losses from becoming too much. It feels challenging but never unfair or impossible. Each time you start over you get that feeling that you can make it just a little further. Let me tell you, finally reaching the one minute mark filled me with an absolute stand up and cheer sense of accomplishment. It's addictive, easy to pick up anytime and play at a moments notice for any amount of time, making it great for those small moments in between whatever productive things you're trying to accomplish.

     All in all a simple and great little game for you to play. Hexagon also did well enough to earn a full game release in "Super Hexagon" which you can purchase for a few dollars on either Android, IOS, or Steam.

PLAY GAME HERE: HEXAGON