Five Free Games to Kill Five Hours

Everyone knows a few different Internet games that we look at decide to only play for five minutes or so… then discover it’s 6 in the morning and the cat’s been dead for three days. So here’s a list of some of those games, in no particular order:

Drunken Masters

Drunken masters is a bar tender sim. Yes, you did read that right. The premise of the game is very simple, you need to serve a variety of cocktails and drinks to your customers, you keep their mood up (which degenerates when they’re not being served) by performing various tricks. The better the customer’s mood when you serve them, the better your tip. At the end of each night you can use your tip money to buy upgrades such as new tricks, stronger bottles and better drinks. You can also choose several different characters to play as, each with their own special moves that can turn a mediocre tip into a fortune, or a tough crowd into a bunch of gawking idiots.

This is a long term game, but fortunately there is a save function, so you can turn it off quickly if the boss is walking past…

Desktop Tower Defense

Let’s be honest, no list of famous free internet games would be complete without DTD. The idea of the game is simple. It’s a stage based RTS game. Enemies enter from two sides of the board (one on easy mode), and make their way directly to the opposite side of the board. Your job is to stop them with an array of different defensive towers. You earn money by killing enemies, which can then be spent to buy better towers, or upgrade your existing ones. But as time goes on, the enemy get more and more numerous, and tougher to kill…

DTD is now in it’s 3rd version, and is as good as ever, nee fun and challenge modes mean you can either play an easy, relaxing game, or go for the whole hog and try to complete the normal game.

The Last Stand

Amour games have released many great flash games, but the last stand is probably one of their finest. You play an unnamed character who has survived the zombie apocalypse… so far. Each night you must defend your barricade from the undead, moving around to get the best firing line and blasting zombies back into the Stone Age. It may sound like a point and click shooter, but it isn’t. The game rewards skill, good positioning and careful aim. Also, as you can only carry two weapons at a time, you must find the combo that works best for you.

The other clever part comes during the day, when you must choose how to divide your 12 hours between three activities; repairing damage to the barricade, searching for survivors (who can help repair the barricade during the day, and defend it at night) and searching for new weapons. Make sure you read the diary entries each day, as some of them are truly hilarious! Finally, as a tip even if you fill up your weapons rack, keep searching for weapons. You might find something interesting…

Mech Quest

I started playing Mech Quest back while it was still in public beta, and it’s now pretty much complete- although new content is constantly being added. This game is made by the same company who created Adventure Quest, and Dragon Fable, both of which sucked up the hours in a manner comparable to that most heinous of games, World of Warcraft. The setting is simple, it’s science fiction, mixed with elements of fantasy. You are a mech pilot training in the gears university. You complete missions, join a university house, progress through various stories, level up with XP and buy new mechs and equipment with your hard earned money. All this is done in a very well drawn anime style flash game. You can also pay to become a star captain, basically allowing you access to far more of the game’s features, though I have to say I found the game perfectly enjoyable without the need for the paid upgrade.

5 Days a Stranger

The first of Ben “Yahtzee” Crowshaw’s, John DeFoe series. 5 Days a Stranger follows the story of the gentleman cat burglar known only as “Trilby” as he sneaks into the currently vacant DeFoe manor to steal some valuables. Unfortunately, something strange happens and he finds himself locked in the manor with no obvious way out. And he’s not alone, four other people are stuck in there with him, and some have been there for some time…

Anyone who’s ever played Oblivion should remember the dark brotherhood mission in which you join a group of guests in a house and kill them off one by one, observing their behavior as each of them die… imagine that from a victim’s point of view with a big supernatural twist and you have 5 days a stranger. The game itself is a very simple point and click adventure, with the emphasis being on the story and character development. Fans of the whole “games telling stories” thing will love it, I know I did.

Well, I hope you enjoy these games as much as I have, and remember to make sure you get some sleep! For more free games, check here.

You’ve STILL got some time to kill? Why not head over to the blog of many things!