Personally I've tried to post as many different genres of games as I've been able to find and have not used my own likes as the basis for posting games; (though I'm sure there's some influence there). Many of the games I've actually not particularly liked; but have posted them because I think if I was to post only those games that I liked, there would be major limitations in my choices posted, and many community members would not then benefit from the project. My advice to you is make a list of all the genres that you can think of and then proceed to look through the free game sites for games that will fit into those genres. Then you will be able to take turns at posting say for example a space shooter, then a puzzle game, maybe a match three, or a tile moving puzzle, then a point and click adventure, then a first person shooter, then maybe a strategy game etc etc........ Of course there are certain genres that are more popular than others, so there’s no reason not to post slightly more of that genre than the others. The main flaw in that idea is the availability of all the genres. Many of the games that are now free for example come from the mid 80’s and mid 90’s when certain genres were much more popular than others. So your going to find that there’s an inordinate number of certain types of games than others… well at least quality versions of those games.
All that said, it’s still a very interesting and useful exercise you’ve started. :)
The following are ‘some’ of the Criteria I use when choosing games to post in the project (though I’m sure some don’t measure up) and which include:
• Game play elements
• Interesting game play
• Graphics (though this is not always an issue)
• Replayability
• Length of game play
• Ease of installation
• Unusual
And the following are some of the games I’ve really liked since posting games for the project. All of the following are now permanent fixtures on at least one of my computers and all have been backed up for future use as well. (In no particular order of preference).
I couldn’t just post three or four games as it all depends on what sort of mood I’m in as to what game I will play. Just as an example, I’d not played any Civilization game (despite having a few versions) for at least 10 years, but after discovering the original Civilization was free (my original copy which was on floppy disc became corrupted many years ago) I ordered the latest version which is Civilization IV plus expansion packs, and have played it virtually every day since buying it shortly after posting the free versions in these forums last month. Now I’m hooked again.
Risk - Strategy
Brix – Arcade - Puzzle - Strategy
Darklands - RPG
Plasma Pong – Arcade
Elder Scrolls I: Arena - RPG
Ocular Ink - Arcade
Civilization I & II - Strategy
POWball - Arkanoid - Arcade
Another World – Point & Click Adventure
Action Doom 2 – First Person Shooter
The Incredible Machine – Arcade - Puzzle
Lemmings – Arcade - Strategy
Gem Tower – Arcade – Match Three
Beatball – Arcade - Arkanoid
Hidden & Dangerous Deluxe - First Person Shooter