Games don’t grow on trees. Most of them are $30 to $60 each, sometimes more for special editions or unique packages, like “Rock Band” with its custom instrument controllers. And that’s not even taking into account hardware costs and extra controllers and yearly subscriptions and you get the idea.

Bottom line: Gaming = expensive. But it doesn’t always have to be. If you have a computer, there are countless games available for free on the Internet. I’m not talking about pirated “warez” or otherwise illegal downloads. These games are legitimately free for all.

My plan is to feature one of these gratis games each Friday. And look, here’s the first one:

Title: N
Developed and published by: Metanet Software
For: Windows, Mac OS, Linux
ESRB rating: None (Xbox 360 version rated Everyone 10+)

“N” is an action-oriented puzzle game. You’re set loose as a jumping, wall-clinging ninja in a gray room, and have to get through the exit door before time runs out to reach the next room in the current set (collecting gold adds to the timer, which carries over from level to level).

Did I mention there are traps and hazards galore? Well, there are traps and hazards galore. Take a long fall or a single hit from anything and your little assassin is instantly struck dead (there’s often a small amount of unrealistic blood, and sometimes the ninja breaks apart into pieces). There are numerous levels in the game, and you can create more with the built-in level editor, or download mind-twisters that other players have constructed.

(Image courtesy of Metanet Software)