The games are two dimensional and do not run inside of a separate layer like SDL. Instead they run inside a normal KDE window, utilizing the standard QT interface. Nevertheless, the rendering of of the graphics is amazingly impressive because of the use of SVG vector graphics. With SVG, the animations are smooth and the images are scalable. You can play in a small window or maximize it without losing any of its quality. There are seven categories of KDE games available: Arcade, Board, Card, Dice, Logic, Strategy, and Toy. In most Linux distributions, all of them come as part of the kdegames meta-package. They are also available for Windows and Mac OS X.
The Games
Arcade Games
Bomber – The player must drop bombs on buildings from a plane. Kapman – This is a clone of Pac-Man. Granatier – A Bomberman clone with two-player head-to-head.
KBounce – As little balls bounce around a field, you must clear more than 75% of the board by building walls, without the balls hitting walls during their building. KBreakout – A remake of the classic breakout games KDiamond – Another arcade favorite, modeled after games like Bejeweled. KGoldrunner – Similar to the class, Load Runner. Killbots – Avoid the killer robots! KLines – The player must move around pieces on a shelf to get five in a row of the same color, but look out. Every time you move, new pieces appear. Kolf – Miniature golf for those long days in the office away from the real course. Kollision – The task seems simple enough: keep your ball from getting hit by the others. The catch is that the others are bouncing around and multiplying. KSame – The KDE version of the classic SameGame. KSpaceduel – Two satellites orbit the sun, but they are not allies. Eliminate your opponents satellite to win. KTron – A clone of Tron. Need I say more?
Board Games
Bovo – Like a rather large-scale tick tack toe, you must connect five X’s or O’s in a row and prevent your opponent from doing it first. KBattleship – In this Battle Ship game, you must sink the opponent’s strategically placed ships by firing into locations where you think they might be. Kigo – This is KDE’s version of the popular game called “Go”. It involves very complex strategy. KMahjongg – A classic favorite, this Mahjongg solitaire game involves matching like tiles on a board. It requires strategy and patience. KReversi – Capture your opponent’s pieces and dominate the board. This is single player vs. computer only. KShisen – Similar to KMahjongg, the player must use tiles with symbols, but instead of stacked layers, the player on gets a single one. Palapeli – This is a singer-player jigsaw puzzle game where you can create your own puzzles using your images. Kfourinline – This is similar to “Connect Four” and other such board games.
Card Games
KPat or KPatience is probably one of the most classic ways to pass time when you are suppose to be productive. The classic Solitaire games are all there: Aces Up, Forty & Eight, Freecell, Golf, Grandfather, Grandfather’s Clock, Gypsy, Klondike, Mod3, Simple Simon, Spider, and Yukon.
LsKat – A two player card game where each player throws a card in to face off one-on-one. The higher card (according to the game’s rules) wins. Kiriki – A dice game, and like any dice game, you have to roll the right combinations to win.
Logic
KAtomic – This game employs principles of molecular geometry. Rearrange atoms to form the require molecule, but it is not quite as simple as it sounds. KBlackbox – Use lasers to find atomic particles hidden inside a black box. KMines – What game suite would be complete without a clone of Minesweeper. KDE has it. KNetwalk – You must connect terminals to create a network. The fewer turns you take, the higher your score. KSquares – Like the game you play with pencils and paper, this one simply involves drawing lines to make boxes. The person with the most boxes at the end wins. KSudoku – The logic game that has become a craze (Sudoku) is now on your free desktop.
Strategy
Konquest – Conquer planets with your ships and build your own galactic empire. You know you want to. KsirK – If you have heard of Risk, this game will ring a bell. The goal is simple: conquer the world! KJumpingcube – The goal is to win all of the squares on the board. Doing this involves a complex strategy of seizing ownership one square at a time. KTuberling – What began as Potato Guy (like Mr. Potato Head) has become so much more. This is one kids will love, at least for as long as kids pay attention to anything).
