This list contains games that I have found to be exceptional. I have traveled a fair amount of the internet in my time, and many of these you probably will have never heard of. A few you had better have heard of. All of these games are free, with the exception of Determinance, which has a demo, the full game being $20. Until you've played all these games, you have not lived.
You can suggest games to add, but I probably won't add them unless they're really cool. I'm lazy like that.
Within a Deep Forest
http://www.ni2.se/nifflas/
Pic: http://nifflas.ni2.se/content/03Within_ ... image3.png
"The world is in grave danger. That is, unless..." One of the best platformer games of all time. You play as a blue ball, who has to save the world from Dr. Cliche. But don't let the storyline stop you. This game has probably the best sound and pixel art for it's kind.
Knytt
http://www.ni2.se/nifflas/
Pic: http://nifflas.ni2.se/content/02Knytt/0 ... image1.png
"Featuring exploration, atmosphere, and infinite cuteness." Made by the same guy as WaDF, Knytt is almost a sequel to Within a Deep Forest. This time around, however, you control a "Knytt", which was featured in a single screen in WaDF. There are less real puzzles in Knytt, but it's a whole lot more platforming. Ambient sounds and music seemlessly flow as you enter new areas, giving the game a really relaxed experience.
Determinance
http://www.mode7games.com/
Pic: http://www.mode7games.com/content/images/bigshot3.jpg
"Move your mouse, swing the sword, duel to the death." Determinance is the first game to really bring full control over the blade to your hands. It takes a while to get used to at first, but once you do, the game makes swordfighting natural. There are a few things that people don't like about the game, mostly the graphics and the flying, but personally, I think the gameplay makes up for that. The game has a demo, but the full version is $20. (Which I have)
Stranded 2
http://www.stranded.unrealsoftware.de/
Pic: http://www.stranded.unrealsoftware.de/s ... creen3.jpg
"Das 3D Adventure Game." Stranded 2 is made by a German indie developer, and has risen to be an internet fad. Most large forums have a large Stranded playerbase. With good reason, too; this game is the ultimate survival game. You must find food, water, and build shelter while fending off wild animals on your island. No multiplayer... yet.
Fraxy
http://mokeron.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zg/fraxy_main.html
Pic: http://mokeron.hp.infoseek.co.jp/zg/img/t_stg_37.jpg
"FRAXY はフリーウェアです。" Best action shooter spaceship game ever. Unlimited amount of bosses, because you make them! Choose from hundreds of parts to make the biggest boss ever. Or fight one of the 20 or so bosses that come with the game. The creator is Japanese, so just click on the second link you find on the site. (Most of the game is in English.)
Nethack
http://www.nethack.org/
Pic: http://www.nethack.org/common/scrn3b.gif
"Killed by a rock, while helpless." The original roguelike. At least.. the best one. You haven't played a real RPG, until you've played Nethack. How many other games have you played in which you can write in the dust on the dungeon floors? In Nethack, you have almost unlimited power to do anything you want, from eating all of your enemies, to ravaging towns and pillaging the shops. Of course you could always do the main quest, and seek the Amulet of Yendor, but who wants to do that?
Tyrian 2000
http://members.iinet.net.au/~vannevar/tyrian/
Pic: http://img315.imageshack.us/img315/5903 ... ingxt2.gif
"I speak Gygese" I see this game as the best topdown scrolling shooter of all time. Hundreds upon hundreds of weapons, each with 10 power levels, 20 or so ships, and over 50 levels. You can't not enjoy this game. Not to mention the secret levels, easter eggs, and special ships. You'll probably need DosBox to run the game, as it is kinda old. But that doesn't make it any worse; the game is probably better than most that are out today.
Plasma Pong
http://www.plasmapong.com/
Pic: http://www.plasmapong.com/screenshots/v ... g4_big.jpg
"Pong that utilizes real-time fluid dynamics to drive the game environment." Pong. On crack. In a pool filled with lasers. Best pong ever. Comes with singleplayer, multiplayer(offline), and sandbox mode.
Death Worm
http://gmc.yoyogames.com/index.php?showtopic=279075
Pic: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/jack86/image.jpg
"An oversized worm that jumps above the ground and eats humans, birds, dromedars and other animals." Only the best thing to come out of GameMaker ever. Death Worm takes giant worm action to the next level. Surprisingly addicting for such a simple game.
rthdribl
http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/
Pic: http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl ... of6_00.jpg
"Real-time High Dynamic Range Image-Based Lighting" It isn't really a game, persay, but that doesn't make it any less amusing to show off to your friends how powerful your video card is. With a 7800GT, this runs quite well. The program will still run on lower end cards, but you'll have to turn down some features. Nevertheless, this is very shiny.
Armada Online
http://www.armada-online.com/
Pic: http://www.armada-online.com/screenshots/nss02.jpg
"r1 armor mats plox" A new MMO, still in Alpha testing, promises to break the mold, and be an interesting MMO. Yes. I said interesting MMO. Armada is somehow different from most dungeon crawlers. Probably because you control a spaceship and get to shoot down aliens in order to use their guts to make weapons. Still, AO is going to be... new.
Sumotori
http://web.t-online.hu/archee83/sumotori/
Pic: http://web.t-online.hu/archee83/sumotori/kezd.jpg
"Sumotori. It means.. 'Nest Bird'?" Really, in Japanese, Sumotori means wrestler. Which is what the two block guys in the game are. But don't let the graphics fool you, this game has some of the most advanced ragdoll physics yet. Start off by pushing the other guy down, or out of the ring, and then watch in amusement as the two sake-infused sumotori try to stand up and bow to each other.
Golf?
http://www.golfquestionmark.com/
Pic: http://www.golfquestionmark.com/screen_ ... shot07.jpg
"Also it has a story better than hollywood movies and has graphics better than the ocean..." The most fun golf game I've played in a while.. and it's multiplayer! Though Golf? may have only wireframe graphics. And though the collision only works sometimes... This game is amusing and actually incredibly well done for a golf game.
Zombie City Tactics
http://secretblender.blogspot.com/2006/ ... ve-it.html
Pic: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v26/p ... s/zct5.png
"A turn-based strategy game about outsmarting and defeating massively superior enemy forces... perhaps!" This is an awesome zombie game, with lots of different kinds of zombies and humans. You play as the humans, who have to either kill all the zombies and get to a safe location, or shut down the zombie factories (kinda like Gauntlet). The game is turn based, but it's still addicting. Until it gets too hard. Which it does.
Gunroar
http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cs8k-cyu/windows/gr_e.html
Pic: http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~cs8k-cyu/windows/gr_1.gif
"Steer a boat and sink enemy fleet." Awesome game by the famous ABA games guy. You play as a small gunboat going up a river fighting all the other mean gunboats/ships. Randomly generated levels with huge bosses at the end. The graphics, depending on your personality, are either amazingly awesome, or they suck. Plays sorta like Geometry Wars, but with bigger explosions.
Doukutsu Monogatari
http://www.greatgamesexperiment.com/game/doukutsu
Pic: http://www.tigsource.com/features/image ... -thumb.gif
"洞窟物語" Possibly one of the best storylines in a platformer. Possibly some of the best action in a platformer. Cave Story has it all. With a few alternate endings and a fully detailed story and environment, Cave Story immerses you in another world. One in which little bunny things are about to take over Earth by getting high on red plants. Also, you play as a robot.
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That makes it not as exceptional.
