Free Download A Day

Starting today, Friday is Avoiding Work Day at Free Download A Day. We launch Avoiding Work Day with MAME — the Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator.

Do you remember the first time you played a video game in an arcade? Joust, Time Pilot, Street Fighter … The graphics might have been a bit chunky, but you had a blast. MAME beings back the video games of yesteryear with a free, open source program. The application emulates several different arcade platforms — thousands of games — with just one program. The player is free, but it is important to note that the game ROM files generally aren't. You can get some ROMs for free from MAME's ROM page and Legal Arcade Games. In addition, you can purchase many game ROMs from StarROMs. So if you long for the days of Pac Man and Frogger, look no further than MAME for a dose of nostalgia.

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Do you remember playing Breakout on your Atari or Arkanoid in the arcade? LBreakout 2 is an open-source version of those classics, revved up with a huge array of levels and features. The game seems simple: bounce a ball off of your paddle to break rows of colorful bricks. There are fifty levels to choose from, and the option to create your own levels, too. Every level is full of surprises: watch out for growing bricks and explosive balls, among others. Best of all, you can download level sets and themes designed by other fans of the game, so it never gets old. Windows, Mac and Linux users can enjoy this addictive game: so pull up a chair and prepare to get hooked.

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Step games are all the rage, and Step Mania is jumping on the bandwagon — er, dance pad — with both feet. The application supports games similar to Dance Dance Revolution, Pump It Up, EZ 2 Dancer, and Para Para Paradise. You will need a dance pad, and the site offers step-by-step instructions on connecting a variety of different pads to your computer. The application features cool 3D graphics and visualizations, and is available for Windows, MacOS, and Linux. You can download additional songs, announcers, and graphics to keep the game fresh. Want to start dancing? Step to it!

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In the mood for an addictive, action-packed space game? How about this: you’re piloting your spaceship through the "Maelstrom" asteroid belt, the "deadliest stretch of space known to mankind." You find yourself surrounded by massive asteroids and pursued by deadly Shinobi fighter patrols. If that's not bad enough, your best friend — as well trained as you are, with the exact same ship as yours and who knows everything about you, including your defense tactics — is piloting a sister ship and decides to fire at your cockpit. Intrigued? The realistic graphics and game intensity will transport you to space.

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Everyone — even hardcore Linux fans — needs a break sometimes. Enter Tux Racer: imagine yourself as a sleek Linux penguin sliding down a steep snow-covered mountain. The objective is to collect as many herrings as possible. This is more fun that it sounds, given different weather options, such as fog at night and high winds. You'll be impressed by Tux Racer's unique 3D courses and realistic physics. Tux Racer is easy to grasp but challenging, making it suitable for all ages — which is good, because what kid wouldn't want to try out being a penguin for a while?

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After a stressful working day, all you need is recreation. You need to blow things up. Try BZFlag, a free, multiplayer, multiplatform 3D action tank battle – think BattleZone meets Capture the Flag. You might want to get your bearings in single-player mode. Then, when you’re ready for a real challenge, connect to an online game server to fight it out with other players. This popular and challenging game is one of the few at SourceForge to reach the million-download milestone. It is compatible with Windows, MacOS X, Linux, BSD, and other platforms.

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Imagine being a Ninja trapped in a world of deadly enemies, where wits are as important as a quick trigger finger. You will find yourself running for gold, confused by realistic physics and driven away by relentless enemies.
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