Some people prefer to download traditional card and puzzle games. One of the most popular card games to download is blackjack, a diversion which originated in the French casinos in the 1700s. Blackjack, which is named for a certain bet that has since been discontinued, came to the United States casinos in the 1800s. In the 1950s and 60s a book was published which showed how good gamblers could mathematically play even with the house or even gain a slight edge. The book sparked interest in the game, which has remained high to this day. Crossword puzzles are another traditional game that many people like to download for free online. The first crossword puzzles were found in England in the 19th century. The first crossword puzzle published in the United States appeared in the New York World in 1913. Crazy Eights is another popular online card game of more recent origin. Crazy Eights is known by many different names around the world and has endless variations.
For those who enjoy more modern fare, there are many other free online games available to download. One is Worms Galore, a turn-based combat game, in which players control an army of worms battling over player or computer-controlled teams. The game features colorful, cartoon-like animation and an arsenal of bizarre weapons. The first Worms game was created in 1994 for the Commodore Amiga computer. Other popular free online video games include Dirt Rally and Egyptris, a variation of Tetris, in which a player uses arrow keys to move blocks. The object is to make a line of blocks across the bottom of the screen. The game Tetris first gained mainstream exposure and popularity beginning in 1989 when Nintendo released it on its Game Boy system. Egyptris is the same as Tetris only it is set in Egypt.
Whether you favor classic games or more modern diversions, there's sure to be a free online game that tickles your fancy. So, if you're bored by your routine, mix it up by downloading and playing those games now.