Free Video Games Christmas!

EcoHacker

25 Dec 2025 — 15 min read

No snow on these dark peaks but here's a mountain sunset in the California winter

From EcoHacker to you!

What's a techie on a budget to do?

How about free games for your boo?

Everyone deserves games on Christmas!

So here's a post about gifts that come at the best price point: Free!

Free Open-Source Software a.k.a. FOSS a perfect gift for anyone

FOSS applications make things possible and FOSS games cost $0!

Always be cautious when downloading software and especially when clicking ads! Here is a helpful guide explaining the different types of free software and the various differences and security concerns you should be aware of.

The short version is that Open Source Software is the safest free option!

Click Here to Learn More!

Also a shout out to KDE a sustainable open source software company that makes much of the software I used to write this post and I applaud their goal of sustainable software development for people to use free all over the world!

KDE Eco

Building Energy-Efficient Free Software

KDE Eco

KDE sustainable computing initiative page

FREE VIDEO GAME SOURCES!

Or how I learned to stop worrying and love the FOSS!

1. Steam

on Linux or anywhere

Did you know Valve's Steam client runs fully on Linux these days?

And the Steam client on Linux will even install and configure as usual!

Want to see? Here's a video showing off how "Proton" does this:

Here is a video guide if you want to see how easy Steam on Linux is

In fact Linux runs Steam games so well the Steam Deck runs KDE Plasma!

Here is the official Steam Deck page for reference

Here is the FOSS Operating System behind the Steam Deck you can get for $0

So with that you'll have access to all the free games available on Steam!

Here's the download page for Windows, Mac, or Linux for the Steam Client:

And here's all the free stuff on Steam right now:

A direct link to the free games currently available from Steam

Plus, you can always play whatever you buy from your Steam library!

But you might already know all this so it might not be news to you...

2. Flathub

Linux Only or flatpak by terminal

Linux is free at $0 as well, but Flathub is unavailable in Windows or Mac

..but it is possible to install flatpak apps through the WSL interface!

So in a flip to the first example you can also run Linux in Windows!

I haven't tested on Windows but it may be possible to install flatpaks by command line.

This shows how to set up a Windows machine to run Linux commands through WSL

The "App Store" for flatpacks is called "Flathub" and you can see all the FOSS here:

The "App Store" for Linux, one of them anyway

There are many powerful and useful free applications in there, and awesome games!

A lot of amazing games are available on there that I was not expecting...

Including the original Windows Space Cadet Pinball runnable in Linux! And SkiFree!

3. SnapCraft

Linux only, buildable on Windows in WSL

Building the snap on Windows | Snapcraft documentation

Snaps are containerised software packages that are simple to create and install. They auto-update and are safe to run. And because they bundle their dependencies, they work on all major Linux systems without modification.

Snapcraft

Instructions for getting the Snaps to install on Windows through WSL

This is very similar to Flathub in that it's a sort of "App Store" for Linux, but this one comes from Canonical and has an entirely different set of free games to play!

Snapcraft - Snaps are universal Linux packages

Snapcraft

The main page of the store to peek around at the available free apps.

4. itch.io

All platforms many free games

I haven't tested this platform myself, but came across it researching this list!
However, the URL format refuses to display in the bookmark preview so here's the URL:

https://itch.io/games/free

Many free games and it looks like there's a both FOSS content and paid!

Now on to the specifics...

FREE GAMES TO TRY!

I played a few and have no regrets!

I am going to say that I mostly installed these through flatpak on Linux, but should be available on other platforms for free as well!

OpenTyrian (Classic bullet hell)

Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS

This is an old classic if you've never heard of it, and it's a FOSS game!

💡

Also this game includes "Christmas Mode" for the month of December!

Even found a free copy on the Microsoft Store!

Unciv (Civilization V but free)

Android, Linux, Windows, MacOS, Raspberry Pi

Ever heard of Sid Meier's Civilization? Popular series based on a board game originally.

Well it's so popular it's currently up to Civilization VII as of this writing...

Meanwhile Civilization V was so popular that an open source port was created of it!

Basically the idea is to create an empire in a world with other civilizations to prosperity!

I've played hours already it's really good!

Runs so efficiently in 2D that it runs on Android phones!

My Raspberry Pi runs it really well and on almost no power, little battery drain!

And there's also a Windows and Linux version to run!

I think it's easiest to refer to the GitHub page for instructions, I was able to build from it!

GZDoom + Brutal Doom mod

Windows, Linux, Mac, probably more

The classic shooter that innovated stairs but not true bridges while surviving hellspawn!

Did you know the original game Doom released by ID software in 1993 is free?

Completely free, they released the source code of the entire game for free to fans!

If you don't already own a copy, the game files have been released for free here:

The publicly released game files you need to play DOOM1 + 2 for free!

In fact, you can play the original Doom1 for free even in a browser:

So many can play for free, and it's very popular for modders who keep it updated!

There was a 3d version created called ZDoom (for the vertical Z axis, "aiming up")

but ZDoom is now dead, and "GZDoom" is the live version with full 3D and mouse aim!

GZDoom can be installed from a Flatpak file or Flathub if you have access!

And if you want a crash course in Doom's history here's 20 minutes covering 3 decades:

A deep, deep dive into the history and drama around a 30-something shooter

And what do you know? Apparently when I set up my Pi in October there was drama...

Here's the version of Doom I will be installing next: UZDoom!

A guide to getting UZDoom installed and running games with it

And here is the most up to date installation source for UZDoom:

My suggestion for a mod to try running is Brutal Doom:

A review of the gameplay of the Brutal Doom mod

But here's the Doom mods that got recognized in 2025:
https://www.doomworld.com/cacowards/2025/index/

OpenRA (Command & Conquer)

Windows, MacOS, Linux

As a classic fan of these games I am truly impressed by these ports.

Even if I do know the differences between them and the original discs!

The music in these games was always awesome, worth the purchase to get it!

The community is active and you can play locally or online! Bots or internet!

A truly impressive rebuild of 3 classic strategy games in one for free

Truly this is one of the easiest games to get running it's so well set up and coded.

Here's OpenRA on the Snap store if that works for you

You can only get the music to play if you own the game and have the copies installed. The idea is if you own them on Steam or something you get the music and mission cutscenes.

Without the original content it's just the main game with missions all available too.

People share their maps online! Make your own and have fun!

The original game Command & Conquer or "Tiberian Dawn" is replicated faithfully and you can play as UN-backed Global Defense Initiative or the Cult-like Brotherhood of Nod while harvesting a toxic resource called Tiberium that grows and kills people exposed.

In Red Alert you play the Allies or the Soviets in a hot war after Hitler got assassinated.

In Dune 2000 you're on Dune playing house Atreides, Harkonnen, or Ordos for spice.

And there are other ports since the engine is free...!

Transport Tycoon Deluxe OpenTTD

Windows, Linux, MacOS

Because sometimes you just want to build trains. Or planes, boats, trams, trucks, busses...

This is an open source version of Chris Sawyer's Transport Tycoon Deluxe

Here's a video that shows how to play because there's no tutorial!

And you can go broke easily if you don't know how to build a sustainable business!

This game is hard to play without an explanation and this video has good ones

My tips from a pro who used to go out of business but now exponential growths:

Know that the value of goods is calculated by time held and distance traveled
Passengers pay high but lose value quickly, annoyed most to wait
Cargo can sit forever and barely lose value
Therefore passengers only make sense to deliver quickly wherever they go
Therefore it makes sense to wait for a full load of cargo
Distant deliveries pay most even for identical goods to the same depot
Passengers aren't going anywhere specific, always get off at first stop
Delivering passengers always grows the town except in desert
In desert you must deliver passengers, water, and food continuously
Learn the production chains and combo deliveries back to back
Trams go on top of roads and are better than busses
Stations can be chained and bus stops can extend an airport across town
Pay attention to running costs and speed and capacity of vehicles
Trains are magical money fountains from across the map
Planes deliver passengers fastest across the map
Try a bunch of different map types
Know that train intersections are tricky but required for multiple trains

Merry Christmas!

Have fun gaming this year! Try something new!

Bonus: Free Browser Games

Here's an archive I found full of old DOS games that run in your browser!

I don't opt for these usually because games running on your hard drive work better.

These are all very old tiny games that ran on ancient machines so a browser's fine!

Also it's impossible to save progress in a browser game, but that can be ok.

Good if you can't play another way, truly the cheapest option of free!

ClassicReload (site)

This is a website I found with many free DOS games that run in your browser but with ads.

DOS games that run in your browser and are free too!

Windows 3.1 Games (site)

This is the internet archive with many free Windows 3.1 games on your browser no ads.

Internet Archive: Digital Library of Free & Borrowable Texts, Movies, Music & Wayback Machine

A listing of games running in a browser virtual machine running Windows 3.1

Chip's Challenge

Chip's Challenge is a classic puzzle game with hundreds of levels and endless replayability because the challenges are tricky and there are many. Unforgiving challenge but fun!