* Mazes and Minotaurs: This is a really impressive free game, and there's both a "Basic" and an "Advanced" version, as well as compendiums and a Gazetter. Lots of good Greek/Roman fantasy ideas as well as some more expanded / generic fantasy around the edges.

* ZeFRS: Based on Zeb Cook's roleplaying game engine used for TSR's Conan RPG. Not an amazing game, but like many free games, definitely worth getting and reading if for nothing more than idea mining.

* Barbarians of Lemuria: Either the free "Basic" version or the expanded & revised version which costs you a few bucks. This game for me defines "beer & pizza gaming". Some really amazing stuff in both versions, and I especially like the career-based non-combat skills mechanic. It does exactly what it needs to do – no more, and no less.

* The Basic Fantasy RPG (BFRPG): A good (great?) alternative to Labyrinth Lord. Has a few "new" ideas creeping into it, but nothing that prevents it from being a rock-solid "retro-clone" RPG.

* Swords & Wizardry: Although not personally a fan of the game, a lot of bloggers out there stand by it, and there's more and more support for this game out there every day. Oh, and it's free.

* Broadsword RPG: Jeff "Evil DM" Mejia's 1PG System "80's fantasy movie RPG" is well worth the few bucks the PDF cost me, and his "World of Broadsword" campaign setting is likewise worth the price if you want to have a handy default setting to turn to on those nights when you and your buds sit down to do some hackin' & slashin' but don't know just what to play.

* Castles & Crusades: Although you gotta pay $20 for the PHB and $20 for the Monsters & Treasures book, the rules are simple and straightforward enough that a $40 investment for the GM and a $20 investment by a player or two (so there are "pass around" copies of the PHB) is well worth the price. Yes, you could go with Osric, but the C&C system is clean, simple, straightforward, and the books are quite nice – mine have stood up rather well to the abuse I've put them through.

Whew – long list, sorry!

Look for it on RPGnow – it's a free release from E.N. Publishing.
.-= Dyson Logos´s last blog ..[BECMI] Artifact – The Throne of Bone =-.

Also, there's Pokethulu. 'nuff said.

Judging by the number of unplayed books on most peoples game shelves, I can't see a reason NOT to skim through as many free RPG's as possible.
.-= Zzarchov´s last blog ..Meeting interesting and stimulating people of an ancient culture… and NOT killing them =-.

Also, homebrewed games are typically cheap and can take inspiration even from commercial sources with impunity.