It is assumed that the “downloadable game” category is for the casual crowd. This is the reason why hardcore gamers don’t usually play these games. However, this is clearly a fallacy. While most of these games involve mindless repetition of tasks without clear end goals, more and more high-quality games are being produced and developed these days.
One of the best examples is Runic Games’ “Torchlight.” The game has been described as a more lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek clone of Blizzard’s “Diablo” series. Indeed, many of the people behind its development and design were part of the team that created the multiplayer action-RPG hit. Much like its spiritual ancestor, “Torchlight” relies on simple controls to allow a player access to a wide array of skills scattered between three built-in character classes. The tone and style of the game has just the slightest bit of irreverence to it, rather than the grim seriousness of “Diablo.” As a bonus, fan-made content was encouraged by Runic Games, so players can toss in a variety of mods to add new dungeons, new character classes or just tweak already existing content.
Enterbrain offers many game design suites where one can download games for free. RPG Maker XP and RPG Maker VX have made it possible for gamers to come up with their own homemade versions of the RPG genre. Some of the most popular include “Vacant Sky, Vol. 1: Contention,” an epic composed of three parts, and “Visions & Voices,” which mixes elements of horror and mystery to traditional RPG themes. There are also hundreds of other projects with potential, which are not limited to a single genre.
The famous “Plants vs. Zombies” is one of the finest examples of a game that has simple gameplay, yet is immensely addictive. It is a simple point-and-click affair, but the nature of the game means that the player needs to put a lot of thought into which plants go where and how best to use what he has. It actually makes people utilize a number of micromanagement skills that are usually only utilized in highly competitive real-time strategy environments. The number of modes adds replay value to an already very enjoyable game. It is easily one of the best examples of a game not needing graphics to be entertaining.
There’s also “Dwarf Fortress.” The gameplay is expected to be outstanding since the game heavily utilized ASCII graphics so much so that there isn’t any other visual representation. It can be excellent for people with a certain sense of humor. The game centers on the dwarven fortress, which the player creates and where the little dwarves live. There are so many things you can do in the game, especially with the numerous features of the fortresses. Also, if you have sadistic inclinations, you can always find new and unique ways to dispose of your dwarves. Not everyone can play it, but specific kinds of people will definitely enjoy it.