How to Have Fun Online

The Internet has been with us for over 20 years and we're still trying to figure out how to use it for fun and games. Okay, we have plenty of options today but a lot of them cost money. Are there no longer any free ways to have fun online? Well, maybe there are a few ...

Now, before I go on, I will admit that not everything that is "free" is actually free. For example, if you're interested in playing online casino games you may see advertisements that suggest some games are free. Free online gambling is often used to entice people to sign up for the paid gambling. There is a psychological value we place on games when we actually feel we have something at stake.

So while free online games may indeed be free, they may just be a marketing message. Even if you're just looking for free online role-playing games like Evony Forever or Aion Online, you may find many "free MMORPG" review sites that actually send you to the free games through affiliate links. If you buy additional game features, those sites get a cut.

And that's all fair, to be sure. After all, if they go to the trouble of finding the games, reviewing them, and comparing them with other games for you, then their hard work deserves a little reward. Besides, you're under no obligation to sign up for paid gaming when you use a free online game.

Maybe you just like the simple intellectual games. In which case you might try a brain teasing site or online word games. These kinds of games are popular with families and kids.

Before Microsoft launched XBox and Sony launched Playstation for the Web, there were online virtual reality worlds like Virtual World, Second Life, and The Sims. These online worlds are more social than competitive but people still act like people.

If you're into strategy games like RISK or Sid Meier's Civilization then you won't necessarily find many free options but there may be low-cost subscriptions. Heck, if you're a glutton for punishment, you can try out Starcraft II for free -- it's a turnless/real-time strategy game.

And in addition to all the games and gaming sites you can still look for Web forums and chat rooms and social media services like Twitter where people just hang out and have fun sharing links and talking about current events. That's not quite the same as hanging out at the mall with your friends or throwing a dinner party, but it's a lot less expensive. And on days when you're snowed in, the Internet may be the best cure for wintertime blues.