Best online game downloads: Top PC gaming trends

Offering endless ways to play free and online games, the Windows operating system makes it easy to enjoy social games, casual PC game downloads, racing games, games for girls, and more. Windows is your ticket to today’s top computer gaming trends.

Screen shot from Tales of Monkey Island for Windows

From downloadable content to instant online shopping and blockbuster games for Windows, the Windows operating system lets anyone take advantage of today’s hottest computer game trends.

To enjoy cool underrated indie games or today’s biggest new releases, including digital downloads, just fire up your favorite web browser (like Internet Explorer 9)
and head online.
Casual games

Casual game downloads are fun, intuitive outings that speak to kids and adults alike. From games for girls to car games and arcade outings, topics and gameplay are instantly familiar.

Suitable for short- or long-term play, they’re generally free to try for 60 minutes and sell for less than $20, with prices as low as $6.99. To enjoy hundreds of the best casual games, try these sites:

MSN Games

PopCap Games

Big Fish Games

PlayFirst

iWin

Digital distribution

Thanks to online shopping services, buying games on sale at deep discounts or scoring great bargains right from your desktop has never been simpler.

These retailers let you download and play hundreds of games without ever stepping away from your PC:

Games for Windows Marketplace

Steam

Direct2Drive

Impulse

GamersGate

Good Old Games

Downloadable content

Using optional free and paid game add-ons and expansions, known as downloadable content (DLC), that add new missions, maps, and characters, you can extend the life of favorite titles infinitely.

Paired with mods, downloadable modifications that can transform games’ entire themes and play styles (such as turning a sci-fi first-person shooter into a western action-adventure), games never have to collect dust on the shelf again.

To find them, start with these great resources:

Games for Windows Marketplace

GameStop

Mod DB

GAME

FilePlanet

Episodic games

Bite-sized, value-priced games released serially in parts, like TV shows, episodic games can be purchased individually or by the season.

All present a great entry point into PC gaming, offering several hours of play at a low price and the option to buy more episodes if you like what you see.

Top choices include:

Back to the Future

Sam & Max

Doctor Who: The Adventure Games

Precipice of Darkness

Tales of Monkey Island

Free-to-play games

The best new games are completely free to play right from your desktop or web browser. With literally thousands of choices to pick from, the following online sites can get you started:

Play Your Game

Club Bing

Newgrounds

Shockwave

Kongregate

Independent (indie) games

Indie games are developed and published by small, independently funded teams or bedroom coders. Able to tackle topics, play styles, and themes that retail games can’t, they’re among today’s most innovative offerings.

Top examples include:

Minecraft

Braid

Recettear

World of Goo

Gemini Rue

Massively multiplayer online games and virtual worlds

Virtual worlds that exist online around the clock, massively multiplayer online (MMO) games allow thousands of players to collaborate or compete together.

Fantasy role-playing, sci-fi adventure, and even sports games are all available. Here are some of today’s best choices:

The Lord of the Rings Online

Champions Online

Quick Hit Football

Free Realms

Wizard 101

Social games

Free to play and designed for social networks like Facebook, social games can be enjoyed right from your web browser.

Using your social network account, you can play thousands of new releases in all genres, including card games, board games, and strategy games. Here are several places to find the best new social gaming titles:

Zynga

Playfish

Digital Chocolate

Crowdstar

Playdom.