The exams are almost over by now. Students often feel stressed out due to the excessive burden of long study hours. Thankfully, Windows 8 has quite a few apps and games that can help refresh the mind. And it's not just kids who would enjoy those, but also help anybody turn back time and unwind after a long day. We have a set of five such amazing apps that don't cost a dime, but are worth more than some of the paid apps. So take a break and have fun.

Pinball FX2

Pinball is a game that needs no introduction. This popular arcade game has been around since quite some time even before the PC version in the form of coin-operated machines. The button-mashing game involves driving one or more steel balls through a maze by tilting the table or via flippers to hit targets on the board and score points. Microsoft had included the game with the Consumer Preview version of Windows 8, but somehow left it out with the final release. However, the good thing is that this freeware game with amazing graphics and sound is just a download away on the Windows Store. Try it, we guarantee you will be addicted for life.

Publisher: Microsoft Studios
Size: 126 MB
Download: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-in/app/pinball-fx2/cb9608e7-ac6b-4127-85b7-f81e27c9ebf0

Brain Cube Reloaded

After some refreshing mindless gaming with pinball, we better take a look at a game where you will have to apply your brains. Brain Cube Reloaded is a puzzle game with the almost cubical RoboCube as the main character. Your primary objective is to move RoboCube in a limited map space made of square tiles to a designated green tile. However, it is not as simple as it sounds because RoboCube has a rectangular cubic shape and needs to be rolled around through tight spaces. Adding to the difficulty as the game level progresses are several booby traps in its path. However, there are also power-ups that can help RoboCube navigate to its destination. To make it more interesting, the game also incorporates Bosses who are really hard to beat.

Publisher: XIMAD INC
Size: 34 MB
Download: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-in/app/brain-cube-reloaded/b6521a5f-2b25-4b1f-a91f-dbfa2bfd6b6d

Sudoku Free

Here is a game that took the world by storm a few years ago. For the uninitiated, Sudoku is a mathematical puzzle game that involves a 9x9 grid divided into nine sub-grids of 3x3. Your objective is to place numbers in the grid in such a way that no number is repeated in a row or column of the entire grid. Furthermore, no number may repeat in each of the 3x3 sub-grids. Sounds easy? It isn't so unless you have a penchant for mathematics and logic combined. The game really exercises your brain and will compel you to put your visual scanning power to good use.

Publisher: Reflection IT
Size: 4.83 MB
Download: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-in/app/sudoku-free/986c6c16-f248-44e9-bb47-77f526bf9b84

Pocket Tanks

Pocket Tanks is a simple but interesting game in which, there are two tanks pitted against each other on a mountainous terrain. Each tank is allotted an arsenal of weaponry to hit the opponent, inflict damage, and score points after the fixed number of rounds. The scene remains stationary on the screen and the player can adjust the firing angle and power before hitting the Fire button. Since this is more of a strategy game, there is no time restriction and you can play at your own pace. The game can be played in the single player mode against the AI enemy tank or in two-player mode against each other. While this is a completely free version, 35 weapons are accessible. A paid Deluxe version is also available with 110 weapons and weapons packs, but we still think that 35 is a fairly big number to play around with. Addiction guaranteed!

Publisher: BlitWise Productions, LLC
Size: 32.7 MB
Download: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-in/app/pocket-tanks/7a48868f-9af0-4893-9fc3-1772eed8c237

ACK Comics

Is there anyone who hasn't read Amar Chitra Katha comics in his/her childhood? If the answer is yes, I pity you. But all is not lost. Whether you have read it or not, the comics are now available on Windows 8 via its own official ACK Comics app. The app claims to provide over 400 comics in more than 20 languages. These include great epics from India, mythology, history, literature, oral folktakes such as the Jataka, and more. It is certainly more interesting to read comics with images than just read long text passages. Furthermore, this is an exciting way of re-introducing yourself to Indian culture via its ageless tales of moral values.

Publisher: Amar Chitra Katha Pvt Ltd
Size: 1.33 MB
Download: http://apps.microsoft.com/windows/en-in/app/ack-comics/d35b8045-7f57-4d58-a746-7c6598e22d36

That's it for now. Hope these apps help you relax and recharge yourself without compromising on the fun factor.

Tags : Apps, Gaming, Windows, Culture