Revision 158770116 of "List of portable computer games" on enwiki

This is a list of [[computer game]]s that do not require any kind of formal "installation" onto a computer's permanent storage device to be executed, and can be stored on a removable storage such as a [[USB flash drive]] and used on multiple computers. See also [[portable application]]s.

{{Dynamic list}}

===Action===
* '''[[Liero Xtreme]]''' ([http://lieroxtreme.thegaminguniverse.com/ site]) - feature rich, unofficial sequel to the original [[Liero]] DOS game expanding and improving on many features.  The game is downloaded as a folder and can be directly downloaded to your portable media.

===Adventure===

* '''[[Battle for Wesnoth]]''' ([http://www.wesnoth.org/ site]) - a turn-based strategy game where you gather and train new recruits into specialied and skilled warriors in order to eventually regain the throne of Wesnoth. Installation is the same as in Cube. 
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, Linux, and others
* '''[[Crimson Fields]]''' ([http://crimson.seul.org/index2.php site]) - an open-source, tactical game based off the popular game Battle Isle where you decide where and when to send your units in support of a variety of mission objectives.
* '''[[Head Over Heels (game)]]''' ([http://retrospec.sgn.net/games/hoh/ site])
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, Linux, and BeOS
* '''[[Transcendence (video game)]]''' ([http://www.neurohack.com/transcendence/index.html site]) - as pilot of a sapphire class cruiser you fly throughout the galaxy encountering pirates, outlaws, and slaves, strange alien lifeforms, and other creatures that may mean you well or ill.  Game plays like the action adventure game [[Nethack]] and is largely based off it.  
**''Compatible with:'' Windows
* '''[[Vega Strike]]''' ([http://vegastrike.sourceforge.net/ site]) - yet another 3D futuristic space based game where you a merchant travel across the an impressive, dynamic galaxy trying to make the most profit possible given certain limitations. Also included in the game are multiple mission modes, including:  bounty hunt, patrol, battle, and escort and a variety of customizations to your ship.  Keep in mind it's a huge 199MB executable file.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, and Linux
* '''[[Cave Story]]''' ([http://www.miraigamer.net/cavestory/]) Cave Story, or Doukutsu Monogatari, is a Japanese freeware PC side-scrolling platformer game developed by StudioPixel. It has been translated into English by Aeon Genesis Translations and will have an official translation script published sometime in the near future. however the current translations work fine. the gameplay style is a mixture of nes/famicom game style very addicting
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Board games===
* '''[[Othello (game)]]''' ([http://www.cylog.org/games_3.asp site]) - electronic version of the strategic board game.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Card games===

* '''[[Uno]]''' ([http://stuff.goatdairying.com/programs/games/games.html site]) - PC version of the card game where you can play against 1-3 computer players.  Download executable file directly to your portable media.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows
* '''Portable [[PokerStars]]''' ([http://www.pokerstars.com site]) - Requires install, copy the directory to your USB drive, it will work as portable. While pokerstars.com may be a banned web address, the game uses other server addresses that may work from your place of employment.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Shooters===
* '''[[AssaultCube]]''' ([http://assault.cubers.net/ site]) - a total conversion of [[Cube (computer game)|Cube]] set in a more realistic environment
* '''[[Cube (computer game)|Cube]]''' ([http://cubeengine.com/ site]) - single and multi-player shooter which includes over 100 detailed original maps, level editing functionality, and various other items and features.  To use, download the installer and extract it to your desktop.  Then delete the uninstall folder and drag it onto your portable media. Newer computers may be able to run [[Sauerbraten (game)|Sauerbraten]], Cube's successor.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, Linux, and FreeBSD 
* '''[[D-Day: Normandy]]''' ([http://dday.planetquake.gamespy.com/site/ site]) - 3D multiplayer online shooting game based on [[Quake II]].  
**''Compatible with:'' Windows and Linux 
* '''[[Nexuiz]]''' ([http://www.nexuiz.com/ site]) - 3D shooter using the [[DarkPlaces]] and [[Quake engine]], which can being used as both a first person and multiplayer shooter and includes some impressive graphic backgrounds.  
**''Compatible with:'' Windows and Linux 
*'''[[Doom]]''' - 3D Shooter developed in 1993 by ID Software. Note that most 3rd-party Doom add-ons and enhancements (such as [[Skulltag#Skulltag|Skulltag]]) are also portable.
*'''[[Quake 3]]''' - A game developed by ID software released in 1999, is known to play directly from the compact disk. Transferring the files from the disk to a USB flash drive will allow for another portable solution, rather than carrying the CD with you. 
*'''[[Quake 2]]''' - Will play as long as you do the FULL install into your computer then simply copy all of the files onto a flash drive.
* '''[[OpenArena]]''' ([http://cheapy.deathmask.net/ site]) - open source Quake III arena clone along the lines of Cube and Nexuiz, although not nearly as far along in development. 
**''Compatible with:'' Windows and Linux
* '''[[Sauerbraten (game)|Sauerbraten]]''' ([http://sauerbraten.org/ site]) - single and multi-player shooter which includes over 100 detailed original maps, level editing functionality, and various other items and features.  To use, download the installer and extract it to your desktop.  Then delete the uninstall folder and drag it onto your portable media.  Be mindful of the computer you use this game on as, as it is relatively graphics intensive. Its predecessor, [[Cube (computer game)|Cube]], can be run on older hardware.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, Linux, and FreeBSD 
* '''[[Soldat]]''' ([http://www.soldat.pl/ site])  2D shooter.  Simply install it into its own folder and it's portable.  Created by Michał Marcinkowski in 2002.  Has both singleplayer and multiplayer modes.  Shareware, but can be played both on and offline without purchasing.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows  
* '''[[Starsiege: Tribes]]'''  can easily be turned into a portable application by the user. The user can easily download the full game from Vivendi Universal's web-site. [http://www.sierra.com/file_list.do?gamePlatformId=286 site] The game must then be installed and patched. The whole directory can then be moved or copied for use as a portable app without having to install the game on individual computers the game is played on. Brian "Ayavaron" Jeffrey Ross II made a zip containing the game in this form, it can be downloaded [http://www.ayavaron.com/wordpress/index.php/program-downloads/ from here].
**''Compatible with:'' Windows 
* '''[[System Shock|System Shock Portable]]''' ([http://www.strangebedfellows.de/ site]) - a filesize-reduced version of System Shock designed to run from a portable storage device.  It is the CD version of the game with redundant data eliminated and has been pre-patched for XP compatibility and enhanced usability.  Non-English users may download an additional Language Pack for their needs.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows
* '''[[Tremulous]]''' ([http://www.tremulous.net/ site]) - as part of one of two races (either human or alien) you work with your other team members to attack and destroy the other team along with their means to respawn in this 3D game. 
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, and Linux
* '''[[War§ow]]''' ([http://www.warsow.net/ site]) - 3D game based on [[Qfusion]] with cartoon-like visuals and various player modes
**''Compatible with:'' Windows and Linux 
* '''[[X Operations]]''' ([http://hp.vector.co.jp/authors/VA022962/xops// site]) - realistic 3D shooter where you are a special operative sent on over 33 missions.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Puzzle===
* '''[[Neverball]]''' ([http://icculus.org/neverball/ site]) - game where you roll a small ball through an obstacle course before the clock runs out; includes a level editor.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, Linux, and others'

===Role playing===
* '''Portable [[Guild Wars]]''' - Play [[Guild Wars]] on any computer, without installation. Note that you must own a copy of the game for access to the servers, and you need to temporarily install the full game on your personal computer to be able to copy the game folder onto the portable media. After copying the game folder, it can be uninstalled from your computer. ([http://www.selfproclaimedgeek.com/portable-gw/ site])
**''Compatible with:'' Windows and Linux 
* '''[[Nethack]]''' - famed roguelike.
**''Compatible with:'' Cross-platform (may not be portable on all operating systems)
* '''[[World of Warcraft]]''' - The game can be run on a Windows computer from any location without installing. Note that you must have an account to play, and you need to install the full game on a computer in order to copy the game directory onto the portable media. After copying the game folder, it can be uninstalled from the computer. When run on Windows systems, the game automatically creates registry entries under '''HKCU\Software\Blizzard Entertainment''' and '''HKLM\Software\Blizzard Entertainment'''. Patches for the game can be downloaded and applied as normal, provided the aforementioned registry entries exist.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Racing===

* '''[[GeneRally]]''' ([http://generally.cjb.net/ site]) - fairly customizable racing game where you race 2D cars with from 1 to 6 players using various tracks and settings
**''Compatible with:'' Windows

===Simulation===

* '''[[Racer (simulator)|Racer]]''' ([http://www.racer.nl/ site]) - customizable where cars and tracks can be easily and realistically created. Download the installer and then install it to your desktop.  From there copy all files on this folder to your portable media except uninstall and then launch Racer.exe
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, and Linux

===Sports===

* '''[[SkiFree]]''' ([http://ski.ihoc.net/ site]) - classic skiing game where you various obstacles and win points by performing tricks.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows 

===Strategy===
* '''[[Falcon's Eye]]''' ([http://users.tkk.fi/~jtpelto2/nethack.html site]) - medieval, isometric role playing game where you compete for control of the mythic Falcon's Eye. 
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Linux, BeOS and others  
* '''[[Freeciv]]''' ([http://www.freeciv.org/index.php/Freeciv site]) - turn based strategy game where you vs. the computer and/or various players via a network and fight to decide who will become the greatest civilization. 
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Mac, and Linux 
* '''[[Master of Orion 2]]'''  - One of the finest (non-free) 4X strategy space games; can still be had from bargain bins in computer stores for little money, or downloaded from abandonware sites. Runs flawlessly (albeit a little slowly) off a thumbdrive with only minor editing of its configuration file.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows
* '''Mineral Miner''' ([http://www.mjkgames.tk/ site]) - mining game where you acquire natural resources to sell for profit in order to by upgrades and modifications for your vehicle.  
**''Compatible with:'' Windows 
* '''[[OpenTTD]]''' ([http://www.openttd.com/ site]) - create the ultimate transportation empire
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, Linux, Mac and others
* '''[[Paradox Interactive#Paradox games|Paradox Interactive strategy games]]'''  - A series of interrelated grand strategy games including [[Crusader Kings (video game)|Crusader Kings]], [[Europa Universalis]], [[Victoria: An Empire Under the Sun|Victoria]], and [[Hearts of Iron]]. The install directories can all be moved onto a portable device or other hard drive without any problem in running the game. Registry data is only used when patching or upgrading the software.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows
* '''[[Tic-Tac-Toe]]''' ([http://www.newbreedsoftware.com/ttt/ site]) - simple open source adaptation of the popular pen and paper game.
**''Compatible with:'' Windows, and others