Other Free Games

Plenty of other free games are available for Linux besides the small games that come with KDE and GNOME. Aspiring video game designers have started projects for everything from first-person shooters to racing games, role-playing games, and more. One of the best Web sites to keep up with Linux games is http://www.happypenguin.org/. The Linux Game Tome, as the site is titled, keeps track of new Linux games, updates, and Linux game news. You can find links to information and to download most free and commercial games. The LGT has consistent coverage of each game that it tracks and should be your first stop when looking for Linux games.

Cube

Program URL

http://sourceforge.net/projects/cube/

Whenever anyone says something such as "Don't expect a good game or nice graphics when you play a free game," you know there is an exception. Cube (see Figure 12.4) is a good game and also has great graphics. Cube is a first-person shooter with multiplayer online play, a single-player game, map editing, and a nice reminder of old-school Quake days. There are many multiplayer modes to keep you busy.

Figure 12.4. Screenshot from Cube.

Flight Gear Flight Sim

Program URL

http://flightgear.org

You know there had to be a flight simulator in all of this. Flight Gear (see Figure 12.5) has some nice graphics and a good variety in the types of planes that you can fly. The controls are fair, but multiplayer network play is a plus. To get the best play out of this game, you will want to hook up a joystick.

Figure 12.5. Screenshot from Flight Gear.

FreeCiv

Program URL

http://www.freeciv.org

This game is a free, open source version of the game Civilization. FreeCiv has been around for a while, so the graphics aren't too hot. You can download new graphics for FreeCiv to make it look better. The game play is decent, although, of course, it lacks many of the options of Civilization. There are a number of active FreeCiv servers, so the best part could be in playing with others online. Try to make your civilization the greatest of all.

Frozen Bubble

Program URL

http://www.frozen-bubble.org

Your aim in this arcade-style game is to build groups of colored bubbles in patterns to destroy the groups. The two-player option is fun, but this game can be addictive on your own as well. Frozen Bubble is somewhat comparable to Dr. Mario on Nintendo or Super Puzzle Fighter on PlayStation.

Tux Kart

Program URL

http://tuxkart.sourceforge.net

A Linux knock-off of the popular Nintendo game series Mario Kart, Tux Kart (see Figure 12.6) is fairly blatant in copying its more famous predecessor with "zippers" instead of the power-up "item boxes" in Mario Kart. The graphics are a little scratchy and unsmooth, but the game is a good time.

Figure 12.6. Screenshot from Tux Kart.

Tux Puck

Program URL

http://home.no.net/munsuun/tuxpuck

At first I thought, "An air hockey game?" Then I remembered that video games get made of anything and everything. Tux Puck is a cute little game with decent game play and good, if creepy, graphics. I say creepy because the people are rendered a little odd looking. I think I'm still better at real air hockey than video game air hockey.

Tux Racer

Program URL

http://www.tuxracer.com

You are Tux, the Linux Penguin, racing down snowy landscapes. This is a fun game, but you can race down a hill only so many times. Tux Racer is technically a commercial game, but it comes with many Linux distributions. Check your install disks.