If you typed "where to" into a search box because you want a place to go right now that is free, legal, and does not want an account or a card, the best answer is the Internet Archive’s Software Library. It is the only option among the major abandonware-adjacent sites whose retrieved pages clearly document a legal basis for at least some of its free downloads: public-domain items and archived software offered for scholarship and research purposes. No other site in the retrieved results can make that same documented claim for the games it hosts.
The Internet Archive’s Software Library
The Internet Archive’s Software Library contains public-domain game and software items that are available for free download or browser use. Some items are explicitly marked with the Public Domain Mark 1.0, meaning they are not restricted by copyright and can be legally distributed without limitation. Additionally, the site offers DOS and PC games that can be played directly in a browser; those are described as available for scholarship and research purposes only, not as a general retail replacement.
The retrieved pages do not document whether an account or a payment card is required to use the Software Library, and they do not document any country limits. Because the site does not present a single site-wide free-tier description for the whole software library, a reader should check individual item pages for any access notes. The free status of the items you find there comes from two documented sources: some items are genuinely public domain, and other archived items are offered under a preservation or research framing rather than as a substitute for buying a game that is still commercially available.
This site suits a reader who wants to play older games immediately in a browser without downloading anything, or who wants to download public-domain software without worrying about copyright. It does not suit a reader who wants a specific commercial game that is still under copyright but no longer sold, the Internet Archive does not claim a general right to distribute those games for free just because they are old.
The Underdogs
The Underdogs is not a download site. The site says it is not a file archive and does not host installers, ROMs, or disc images. Instead, it provides reviews, history, legal-status notes, and pointers to legitimate modern re-releases where those exist. The free offering is editorial documentation, not game downloads.
The retrieved page does not document account or card requirements, nor does it document country limits. The site is free because it is an editorial archive and catalog, not because it distributes the games themselves. This suits a reader who wants to research whether a specific old game has a legal modern re-release on a store like GOG.com or Steam, or who wants to read about a game’s history without downloading anything. It does not suit a reader who wants to download and play a game right now.
My Abandonware and Old Games Download
My Abandonware says users can download old video games for free and that it offers game archives, manuals, and instructions. Old Games Download says it is an archive of abandoned video games and offers game files, patches, manuals, screenshots, and artwork.
Neither site’s retrieved pages document whether an account or payment card is required. Neither site’s retrieved pages document which countries the service works in. Critically, neither site’s retrieved pages document the legal basis for the free downloads. My Abandonware only states that the games are offered for free download; it does not explain why they are free in licensing terms. Old Games Download similarly does not document the legal basis for its free downloads.
Because the retrieved sources do not support a claim that these sites operate on a documented legal footing for the games they host, a reader who wants a clearly legitimate destination should treat these as unverified. They may work, and they may be safe, but the retrieved information does not confirm that the games there are legally distributed. These sites do not suit a reader who needs a documented legal guarantee before downloading.
The Thing a Reader Gets Wrong About This Subject
The common mistake is to assume that a game being "abandonware", meaning it is old and no longer sold by its publisher, automatically makes it free to download and redistribute. That is not correct. Games that are merely abandonware are not automatically public domain; the status alone does not make them free to redistribute. Copyright does not expire simply because a company stops selling a product. Public-domain software, by contrast, can be legally distributed without restriction, and that is a different legal category entirely.
No retrieved official page documents a broad "free-to-download because abandoned" legal rule for commercial games that are still copyrighted. The only clearly documented legitimate categories in the retrieved pages are: public-domain game and software collections, archive and library preservation collections (such as the Internet Archive’s Software Library), and editorial catalogs that point to legal modern releases rather than hosting the files themselves (such as The Underdogs).
What to Check Before Committing to One
Before you download anything from any site, check whether the site itself documents the legal status of the files it offers. Look for a statement about public-domain status, a license note, or a preservation or research purpose. If the site says only that the games are "free" or "abandoned" without explaining the legal basis, that is not a guarantee of legality.
Check whether the site requires an account or a payment card. The retrieved pages for the Internet Archive, My Abandonware, Old Games Download, and The Underdogs do not document these requirements, but the absence of documentation is not the same as a guarantee that none exist. A reader should look at the site’s own download or play page before committing time or personal information.
Check whether the site limits access by country. None of the retrieved pages for these services document country limits, but again, the absence of documentation is not a guarantee. If a site does not mention where it works, a reader outside the United States or Europe should be cautious.
Finally, if you want a game that is still sold legally on a modern store, do not look for a free abandonware copy. Check GOG.com, Steam, Epic Games Store, or itch.io first. Those stores sell games legally, and some offer free games on a regular basis. They are not abandonware sites, but they are the legitimate way to get a game that is still commercially available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to download a game from the Internet Archive’s Software Library?
It depends on the specific item. Some items are marked with the Public Domain Mark 1.0 and can be legally downloaded without restriction. Other items are offered for scholarship and research purposes only, which is a specific legal framing that may not cover personal play for entertainment. Check the individual item page for its license or purpose statement.
Can I get in trouble for downloading a game from My Abandonware or Old Games Download?
The retrieved pages for those sites do not document the legal basis for their free downloads. Because games that are merely abandonware are not automatically public domain, downloading a copyrighted game without authorization could be copyright infringement. The risk is not documented in the retrieved sources, but the legal principle is clear: copyright does not expire just because a game is old or unsold.
What is the difference between abandonware and public-domain software?
Public-domain software is not protected by copyright at all, so anyone can legally distribute and download it without restriction. Abandonware is software that is still under copyright but is no longer sold or supported by its publisher. Being abandoned does not change its copyright status; it is still illegal to distribute copies without permission unless a specific exception applies, such as the Internet Archive’s research and preservation framing.
Does the Internet Archive require me to create an account or enter a credit card to download games?
The retrieved pages for the Internet Archive’s Software Library do not document whether an account or payment card is required. The site as a whole offers some services without an account, but the specific download or browser-play pages may have their own requirements. Check the page for the game you want before proceeding.
Where can I find a list of games that are legally free to download right now?
The only clearly documented legitimate categories in the retrieved pages are public-domain collections on the Internet Archive and editorial catalogs like The Underdogs that point to legal re-releases. For modern free games, check the stores that offer free titles legally: Epic Games Store, GOG.com, Steam, and itch.io all offer free games from time to time, and those are legally distributed.
Where this fits
This is one guide from Where to Get Free PC Games Legally.
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