Free Online "Create Your Own Country" Games (Persistent): None Truly Free & Permanent

No free game offers a truly permanent, player-run country with zero cost. Persistent worlds require expensive servers, moderation, and anti-griefing systems—costs covered by subscriptions or microtransactions.

Closest Free Experiences

• Forge of Empires (browser): Build a civilization across eras; free with optional premium.
• Politics & War (browser): Nation-sim with diplomacy, war, economy; free, player-driven.
• Minecraft (Java/Bedrock) + Towny/Earth servers: Create towns/nations on community servers—free after game purchase.
• EVE Online (free-to-play "Alpha"): Player-run corps/alliances control star systems; steep learning curve.
• Warlight / Warzone (browser/app): Risk-style strategy with custom maps and diplomacy.

Reality Check

• "Forever" persistence doesn't exist—servers shut down, communities fade.
• Free tiers often limit turns, map size, or features.
• Griefing and imbalance are common without active moderation.

Try a few browser-based nation sims (Politics & War, Forge of Empires) first—they're zero-cost and instantly accessible.