Don't Pay to Play

Why shell out up to $15 every month to play online games like World of Warcraft or Everquest when there are plenty of free alternatives?

No matter whether you're into pirates, zombies, soldiers, or basketball stars, you'll find something to suit your taste in the world of free online multiplayer games.

Plus, you'll have the opportunity to branch out and meet people in fun environments without even leaving the comfort of your own home.

Here are some of our freebie favorites.

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Freestyle Street Basketball

Not all free multiplayer online games involve dwarves, elves or rocketships. Freestyle is a hip take on the sport of street basketball, with plenty of ways to make your player stand out.

You'll build your baller using an extensive set of customization options, select a position for them to play (initially, guard, center, or forward), and then manage his (or her) development from a novice into a seasoned pro.

You can play Freestyle for free until your character reaches level 15, when you'll have to pay a one-time fee of $20 to keep developing him up to the game's maximum level, which is 45. You can also opt to pay a little extra for extra clothing options or other stylish tweaks, but it's not compulsory.

WATCH TUTORIAL: CHOOSING A GUARD WATCH TUTORIAL: CHOOSING A CENTER WATCH TUTORIAL: CHOOSING A FORWARD

Best of all, sign up with our promotional offer and get an instant 5,000 points to spend on your new baller! Just enter "yahoogames" in the promo box when signing up. Promotion starts 06/05/07 and ends 07/03/07. Promotional code cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions. Void where prohibited.

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Yohoho! Puzzle Pirates

Massively multiplayer online roleplaying games are commonly abbreviated to MMORPGs. Here's the world's first MMOARRRRRPG. Puzzle Pirates is a clever blend of puzzle games similar to Bejewelled and Tetris with a more conventional online game economy and trade system. Oh, and a timeless sailing-the-seven-seas theme. Each piratical activity, from drinking contests, to sailing, to sword-fighting, has a corresponding puzzle minigame, and some support competitive action against other players.

Piratical talk and role-playing is actively encouraged by the game's developer, so if you're the type to have the International Talk Like a Pirate Day marked on your planner, you'll be right at home. Basic accounts are free, but for $9.95 a month, you gain the ability to rise to higher ranks and use better items.

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Dungeon Runners

Massively-multiplayer specialist publisher NCSoft tends to produce hardcore online RPGs like Lineage and Guild Wars, but its latest release is much more approachable. Dungeon Runners is inspired by classic dungeon-crawling hits like Diablo, offers three character classes, and randomly-generated levels for maximum lasting appeal.

Free to download and play, Dungeon Runners also offers a $4.99/month premium membership package that comes with access to the most powerful items, shorter log-in waits, extra bank storage, and other bonuses. Whether you opt to pay or not, you'll be able to play in both solo and multiplayer dungeons, complete quests, and develop your character in this viciously addictive game.

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Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory

From British developer Splash Damage, Enemy Territory is a free first-person shooter, similar to Halo or Counter-Strike, set during World War II. It was originally planned to be sold as an expansion to Id-produced Return to Castle Wolfenstein, but in a fit of generosity, the game's publisher released it as a free, stand-alone download. It sprang to popularity quickly, and even spawned a (full-priced) sequel called Quake Wars, which Splash Damage is currently finishing.

Enemy Territory supports far fewer simultaneous players than the other games on this list, with most servers running 32 to 64-player games. But if you're looking for an online shooter that doesn't have the big price tags or high system requirements associated with most recent games in the genre, you'd be a fool not to check it out.