Computer games are expensive. Even though there have been moves to lower the prices of older games, many gamers are stuck searching for free online games. Fortunately, there are many sites available that have these types of games, and most of them are legitimate. If you want to play arcade games online for free, you’re in luck: There is a thriving community of independent game makers who provide free entertainment for the masses, often in a way that rivals paid games.

Yes, they are legal

The first thing to avoid is a simple fact: there are perfectly legal ways to play arcade games online. Most people tend to equate “free” on the Internet with “hacked,” but many of these games are designed to be played without a down payment. Of course, you will have to deal with advertisements and banners, but it is perfectly possible to spend several hours a day searching for free games on the Internet. In fact, you can even find free versions of games that have become paid apps on smartphones and even downloadable console versions.

Major vendors, minor games

Perhaps some of the most popular free games online are those offered by major providers like Google or Yahoo. These sites have long offered free games through their own websites and are often quite popular. Unlike some of the options that can be found elsewhere, these games are generally just wastes of time. However, popular games such as Poppit or various versions of Bejeweled can often be found on these sites, so they are excellent resources for those who simply want to find a game that may waste a few hours.

Aggregation nation

However, the most popular games tend to be found on sites that aggregate online games. Sites like Kongregate or Armor Games tend to have hundreds of games available at any given time, some of which are professionally produced. These games are still free, although members have the option to make donations. Popular games like Alien Hominid, Doodle God, and Fancy Pants Adventure started on similar sites before moving to consoles or handhelds, and new games tend to release at a fairly rapid pace. These sites are often useful for gamers simply looking for a solution until the next console release.

The good news is that you can find games online for free on many sites. Some are older arcade game versions, while others are early game versions that will see major releases soon. A little searching can help you find some of the best free games online, and taking the time to search the massive libraries of some of these websites will help you find new favorites. Free doesn’t have to mean that the games are of low quality, and some of the online games may be among the best you’ve ever played.