I think SimCity 2000 was considered abandonware, or was it only the first SimCity game? I'm not really sure about it. But the first 4 games are definitely playable without any internet connection whatsoever.

According to Wikipedia, original SimCity is available on Wii (virtual console) and iOS, and 2000 is still available on PSN. Hardly abandoned. And playable without an internet connection is far from "available for free".

Available for free in practical terms vs available for free in legal terms..

Abandonware isn't actually a legal concept so whether it's considered abandonware would be up to the person you ask, I guess.

Not free, but I saw SimCity 4 for sale on Steam for a small sum of about £3.99 the other week. I nearly bought it, if only to end the requirement to have the CD in to play it!

And where?