Video games have enjoyed popularity for decades, but especially in the age of personal computing, they're enjoying new levels of interest. While many people purchase their games from retail outlets, either online or from traditional brick and mortar stores, the trend towards downloadable games is growing, as people increasingly look for easier and less expensive ways to get their hands on the latest releases.

One area where game downloads are growing in popularity is casual gaming. Casual games refer to the class of video games that have a very low learning curve, and require little strategy or commitment. These are very frequently found online at popular gaming sites, but increasingly, casual game manufacturers are making their games available via download. Downloadable games can be found at many of the sites that offer online versions, and are often available for free on a time-limited trial basis.

Even hot new titles are available as downloadable games. Game demos give software companies an excellent opportunity to attract potential customers by giving them a taste of what's in store, and intriguing them enough to eagerly anticipate the full release. Game demos also allow players to decide whether a title is right for them, and whether it will provide them the type of entertainment they're looking for.

There are also sites that focus solely on offering downloadable games. These include freeware (titles that require no purchase), shareware (games that may have time or functionality limits) and demos (usually limited to an introductory portion of the game). These sites often carry thousands of titles, giving gamers a chance to quickly download titles and try them out.

The advent of peer-to-peer (P2P) filesharing also brought access to downloadable games, though the legality of this method of game downloads is under the legal microscope. While it is up to the user to decide on the wisdom of using these sites, it is important to note the legal questions surrounding their use. Games found on these sites are frequently pirated - either altered to circumvent protection measures instituted by the game's distributor, or including information necessary to verify the authenticity of the title.

In response to the increase of P2P transfers of software titles, game makers are increasing the availability of legal, authentic downloadable games. Many sites now make their most popular titles available via download, and institute a strict registration process to ensure downloaded files are not shared inappropriately. This method of download does require a high speed connection, as these files are generally very large and can require lengthy download times.

As with music files, downloadable games are becoming increasingly popular. From freeware titles with no cost associated, to best-selling titles selling at or slightly below retail, there is a wealth of downloadable games available online. These games represent every genre and subject, making it possible for anyone to find a game that is right for them.