NOTE: This article has been updated from the print version.
Whether you are looking for a modern update of an old favorite or really want to experience something groundbreaking, there's always a shareware game waiting to pleasantly surprise you. The only trouble is that there's so much stuff out there it's difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff, and older titles that are still a blast to play tend to get buried under the pile of new titles that are released each week. We played hundreds of the top-rated shareware games and winnowed the list down to a manageable grouping of titles to get you started. The following short reviews represent some of the best games we found in each category; we only wish we had more room to tell you about all the other superior games that didn't quite make the cut.
Action & Arcade. The action and arcade games we looked at require fast reflexes, and they should please anyone who frequented the arcades of the 1970s and 1980s. The only trouble with these modern titles is that the graphics for most of them are so good you'll want to slow down and fully take in the visuals.
Aironix (Real.com)
Level-limited demo; $15
There isn't an arcade old-timer on earth who doesn't remember Qix, a game that required players to draw lines to box in a certain percentage of a large playing field without getting hit by enemies along the way. Aironix is the 3-D interpretation of that classic time-waster, but this version throws enough power-ups and obstacles into the mix to really elevate the gameplay to new levels. Speed boosts let you complete your tasks faster, but the playing field is also littered with objects that slow you down or otherwise hinder your progress. The game's b....
Action & Arcade. The action and arcade games we looked at require fast reflexes, and they should please anyone who frequented the arcades of the 1970s and 1980s. The only trouble with these modern titles is that the graphics for most of them are so good you'll want to slow down and fully take in the visuals.Aironix (Real.com)
Level-limited demo; $15
There isn't an arcade old-timer on earth who doesn't remember Qix, a game that required players to draw lines to box in a certain percentage of a large playing field without getting hit by enemies along the way. Aironix is the 3-D interpretation of that classic time-waster, but this version throws enough power-ups and obstacles into the mix to really elevate the gameplay to new levels. Speed boosts let you complete your tasks faster, but the playing field is also littered with objects that slow you down or otherwise hinder your progress. The game's b....
