Five Years of Following Freeware: Year One

Five years ago, the thriving freeware adventure game scene wasn’t getting the press attention it deserved, and Adventure Gamers was eager to fill the void. Coordinating more than a dozen new games each month, however, promised to be a monumental task for whoever took up the challenge. The person who stepped up, as it turns out, was me. With the new role came its own new article series called Following Freeware, a monthly round-up of free game releases that has appeared almost every month since.

I remember how difficult it was compiling the very first list of indie adventures to cover, as I really had no idea how to go about finding good freeware games. Fortunately a couple of good games practically fell into my lap, so we didn’t end up with an introductory article devoid of content. The first Following Freeware was published on 29 September 2010, and was quite different from how it appears today. Back then each game had only a very brief description, and the first article had no “Other games” section. Both the search process and the articles themselves have been considerably refined over the intervening years. Now each month a selection of sites covering dozens of games are scoured for worthy fare, along with tips received directly from developers and supportive gamers. The not-so-short list from this initial process is then further whittled down to the games that deserve full coverage, and those that merit at least a single-line reference at the end. Rest assured that the games you see in the final articles are vetted and carefully selected, not just picked up at random.

Since that first article, an incredible 485 games have been covered in full, with a further 318 getting abbreviated acknowledgements. In honour of the five-year anniversary of Following Freeware, I have picked out the games that stood out for me each month since the series began. These are not necessarily the “best” games that came out in their respective months, but rather the ones that still stick in my memory, be it for an intriguing lead character, a novel premise or a particular challenge they represented. Picking out just one game per month was sometimes tough. To any developers out there reading, I can only repeat what I said at my presentation at AdventureX last year: I have enjoyed ALL of the games that have appeared in the articles, for one reason or another too numerous to mention. There is no slight intended for any game not revisited here; rather, it’s a testament to the incredible quality of adventures delivered by dedicated designers like yourselves, month after month, year after year. Keep up the good work, and keep those gems coming!
 

August 2010 – The Journey Down: Episode 1 – Over the Edge by SkyGoblin

This was one of the good games that just fell into my lap that very first month. At the time the forums had a separate freeware section, and Theodor Waern of SkyGoblin chose the perfect time to post about his game.  The influence of LucasArts clearly came through in the feel of the game in a very positive fashion. At the same time, the tribal mask imagery on the characters gave it a distinctive look all its own. As a flagship title for a new article series extolling the wonders available on the freeware scene, this game seemed like a gift.

Unfortunately (from this point of view) but deservedly, The Journey Down did not stay freeware for long. That first episode in a planned trilogy series went on to become updated into a commercial venture, and quite a successful one at that. This was not to be the last time that would happen to me. Whilst slightly saddened at the loss to the freeware scene, it always makes me happy to see good freeware developers go on to make money from their skills.

Fortunately, the original free episode is still available from the AGS database if you want to see the origins for yourself.

September 2010 – Snakes of Avalon by Igor Hardy

Heroes in adventure games often have similar overall personalities. They tend to be clean-living types, driven on a quest to defeat the forces of evil or save the world. It would be fair to say that the hero of Snakes of Avalon is anything but clean-living. In fact, the protagonist is a raging alcoholic and the entire game may well be just a drink-fuelled hallucination. There is definitely a lot of strangeness in the game, including a conversation with a poster and the protagonist’s wallet being consumed by some strange creature in his pocket.

I have trouble imagining a mainstream publisher taking on a game like this. That is one of the benefits of freeware; not having to generate a return gives indie developers the freedom to do whatever they want. Admittedly, that does lead to quite a lot of rubbish that has to be sifted through each month, but the gems like this one make that sacrifice worthwhile.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you want a game outside the norm, then this one, still available on the developer’s website, is well worth checking out.

October 2010 – The Trader of Stories: Bell’s Heart by Pastel Games

Not every story needs to about a globe-trotting quest to save the world as we know it. When well put together, even the smallest of stories can provide an intriguing adventure. Such is the case in The Trader of Stories: Bell’s Heart. Travelling storyteller Myosotis is on the road when one of the wheels on her cart breaks. Seeking help in a nearby village, she is asked to gather the pieces of a local tale to pay for the services she needs.