AdventureQuest (Windows)

Parents who are reluctant to let their kids play Internet role-playing games (RPG) might be able to strike a compromise with their young teens by letting them play ADVENTURE QUEST, an online but single-player RPG from Artix Entertainment. Concerned parents will have the peace of mind knowing this free game doesn't let players communicate with one another, but at the same time, kids can have fun exploring a fantasy world, meeting interesting characters, and most of all, battling beasts big and small.

After the sign up process, which takes less than five minutes, players start the game by first creating a character by selecting gender, class (Fighter, Mage, Rogue), clothing, hair and skin color, and name. As seen through the in-browser window (with modest 800 x 600 resolution), you'll then be introduced to the town of Battleon, and be given a brief tour by a friendly human character known as Artix. You'll also meet other characters you can request to join on your adventures, such as the peaceful Moglin the Twilly, the valiant Robina Hood, Aquella the Water Elf, or pets you can select from Aria's shop, who are trained for battle.

Turn-based combat makes up most of the game-play, where your character and other members of your (computer-controlled) party face off against foes such as the Broadkil Bone-Drone, a lizard-like creature that whips you with a long tentacle, or Malzar, a huge beast with curled horns. At each battle, you'll have the choice to attack, drink a potion, cast a spell, call on a pet, equip a weapon or other item, or flee. After you defeat the baddie, you'll win experience points (XP), to "level up" your character, and gold, used to buy better items from shops.