7 Classic Online Games You Can Download Today, Plus Bonus Travel Games

As any avid gamer will tell you, while a good single-player game with a compelling story can keep you entertained for hours on end, nothing beats a good online game! Here are eight online games you can still play FOR FREE today plus a few extra travel games that can spur your wanderlust!

1. Runescape

Hands up if Runescape was your first-ever massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG)! For those not in the know, Runescape is a fantasy online multiplayer game released in 2001. In it, you create a character and embark on an adventure with thousands of other players, acquiring skills, going on quests, and slaying monsters. 

While the game has changed a lot over the years, if you’ve played it when it was still “new”, you’ll remember the clumsy, blocky graphics, the 16-bit BGM/sound effects, and a much simpler interface. Even though it was more primitive, it does offer an immense sense of nostalgia for us OG Runescapers. So thankfully, you can still download the old-school game on PC and on mobile (also free)! 

2. MapleStory

I’m sure the game needs no introduction but in case you’re one of the few who’ve not played this awesome game, MapleStory is an MMORPG created by a Korean company called Wizet. It’s a 2D side-scrolling game with pretty much the same concept as Runescape, albeit with better graphics and a brighter colour scheme. 

For many, MapleStory is the game where they first learned important life skills such as working together (for party quests), trading (remember the chaos that was the free market?) — and for some — virtual dating (you know what I mean, -wink-). 

3. Ragnarok Online

Back in the day, before MapleStory got popular, Ragnarok Online, a 2002 game developed by Gravity (another South Korean company) was THE online game for avid gamers. It enjoyed such popularity around the world that the game even spawned an animated series!

What made Ragnarok Online memorable was the fact that it was one of the first MMORPGs to introduce an exciting PVP (player vs player) system, meaning you could challenge other players to a duel to the death. You could even participate in group fights or guild wars too! 

The game is now available for free on Steam and while the number of players has decreased (many of the original players have probably outgrown it), now is the perfect time to dive right back into the world of Ragnarok Online. 

4. World of Warcraft

You might have seen the 2016 film adaptation, but have you played the original game? When it was first released in 2004 by Blizzard Entertainment (which also made Starcraft and Overwatch), World of Warcraft stunned users with its gorgeous 3D graphics which, at the time, was incredibly impressive. 

Even though the number of players in the game has dwindled, the developers of WoW have continued to update the game with new content to keep it exciting. Today, you can still download the game for free. 

5. Counter Strike (CS:GO)

Released in 2012, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the literal successor of the shooting game many of us played in the past. 

While it did come with a heavy price tag initially, CS:GO is now free to download on Steam! If you’re looking to recapture the nostalgia of playing the game with your friends, try out Casual mode. However, if you want to put your skills to the test, try a few rounds in Competitive (ranked) matches. You’ll need to be able to coordinate with your teammates and work together to achieve victory, so it’s as good a time as any to work on your communication skills! 

6. Gunbound

If you’re looking for something a little more casual, then Gunbound should do the trick! It’s not as popular as some of the other games on this list, so if you’ve never played it, here’s what you need to know. It’s a turn-based artillery game where you control these cute little “tanks” and try to eliminate other players. If you’ve played any of the Worms games before, you’ll understand the principle well. 

Set in beautifully designed rooms, you can choose to play as a single player (free-for-all), with a partner, or as a team. If you play it with the right people, it will definitely lead to hours of endless fun and memorable moments.

7. Habbo Hotel

This last entry is not so much a “game” as it is an online social networking platform. Yes, way before Facebook, Twitter or even Friendster (remember that?), Habbo Hotel was THE place to hang out at and meet new people! 

You just have to create an avatar (character in the game that represents you) and you’ll be sorted into a server (known as a hotel) where you’ll be free to mingle about. Unbelievably, the servers are still running today — so you can hop into the virtual world anytime you want! 

Also Read: 12 Video Game Locations You Can Visit in Real Life

Bonus: Fun travel games to spur your wanderlust

80 Days

This underrated game, available on mobile and PC, is a unique story-based adventure game in which you travel the world in 80 days. It follows the story of the main character Phileas Fogg as he plots out a route to travel across the globe. Each playthrough allows you to complete the task in different ways, with stylish writing and plenty of NPCs to interact with. Most importantly, the game offers a virtual sneak peek of what it’s like to travel to different parts of world, in turn spurring your wanderlust!

Wanderlust: Travel Stories

Available on Steam at an affordable price, Wanderlust: Travel Stories is an indie text-based game that encourages players to live out their dream lives as backpackers. You get to narrate and craft the travel stories of five different characters after they end up at Rapa Nui, and go through their travel adventures. Every decision that you make alters the story, leading to different endings with every playthrough.

Flight Simulator

Released in 2020, Flight Simulator (available on Steam) is the answer to every aspiring pilot’s dream. As the name suggests, you take on the role of a virtual aviation pilot in the game, taking off and landing at various locations and flying over real-world locations. The game is incredibly simple, allowing you to take in the scenery as you play, and sparking your wanderlust in the process.

Geoguesser

Arguably the most popular travel game, Geoguesser is for those who consider themselves truly experienced globetrotters. As you might have seen on TikTok, it involves showing you a picture from Google Maps, and making you guess where the location is. Simple as that. I can guarantee though, from experience, playing Geoguesser sometimes will make you want to make plans to travel yourself!