Didn't Desktop Dungeons used to be freeware? I still have an older copy backed up on a HDD. Fun little game though when you don't have hours to spend.

Well AFAIK only alpha version (0.2 or something) of Desktop Dungeons was (and still is) free.

Yes, the alpha remains free. They also had a couple promotional weeks where they made the beta publicly available. The final game is much more polished than the alpha.

Dang just saw this game and it looked quite interesting. Sadly they don't seem to have a decent demo to try out. Only an older prequel it seems that is still free.

Guess I will have to try out that alpha version but really makes me wonder if it would be like trying Heroes of Might and Magic 1 when I want to buy HoM&M 3.

The old alpha is indicative of the overall gameplay, but both the graphics and the variety of gameplay have improved a lot. You may take or leave the town building metagame - it's decent, but kind of standard, and not as integrated into the overall gameplay as much as it is there as a gatekeeper intended to pace things by providing a slog to unlock stuff. The full scope of available gameplay might be a bit overwhelming without it, though, so it's kind of nice.

I think the early alpha is a pretty fair piece of freeware that strikes a good balance of giving you the overall feel without giving you the whole game for free.

But HOMM1 is a very good game (albeit with many flaws) Honestly if someone told me HOMM1 was the alpha of III I think I'd be more than willing to give III a shot. In many ways it's s similar circumstance, as III only brings better balance, variety, and graphics too 1.

But in this day in age when it is so easy to just give a brief free demo of even 1 level it doesn't make sense not to.

In the old days their wasn't much choice but not there are so many more options they should be taking advantage of.