Enlisted
This Battlefield-esque tactical shooter prides itself on its historical accuracy, providing you with era-appropriate weapons and equipment as you lead your squad of AI soldiers through some of the most famous campaigns of WWII.
As in War Thunder (developer Gaijin’s F2P hit), you’ll also have access to a range of aircraft, tanks, and vehicles to help you on your way to victory, which are unlocked through the distinct skill sets of each of your squad members.
In each battle, as squad leader, you are responsible for leading your troops’ actions, but if the worst happens and a stray bullet kills you, you’ll switch perspectives to a different division member. Certainly, a welcome solution for those of us who have waited far too long to be revived by a teammate with different priorities face down in the mud.
Fragpunk
A powerful shooter is the best way to get your PC working, and FragPunk is an excellent option. It may appear to be similar to other hero shooters like Valorant or Overwatch at first glance, but the 5v5 combat in FragPunk features a unique mechanic called Shard Cards, which give you unique abilities like making your allies’ limbs bulletproof or giving you life-threatening bullets.
A gimmick isn’t the only thing Fragpunk players can expect to enjoy. The game’s gunplay is as good as that of Apex Legends, and the different modes give you a lot of different ways to play. Do you want to compete in a game mode similar to Valorant? Do as you please. Is there a Team Deathmatch mode for fun? Be my guest.
As impressive as the environments are, FragPunk’s arenas feature a lot of verticality and opportunities to surprise your opponents. A temple-like map will make you feel like Indiana Jones, and an underground cavern will give you cover from debris and a central point where you can climb to the top to shoot at your enemies from above.
World of Tanks
One of the mightiest tank games there has ever been, World of Tanks is an accessible and exciting tank simulator built on a foundation of complex game mechanics. In a typical deathmatch, two tanker teams compete against one another.
From agile scouts to massive heavies, there are hundreds of vehicles to unlock across ten different tiers. Wargaming has managed to pack in a surprising number of tanks. If you’re interested, here’s why millions of people continue to play World of Tanks and how to avoid it. World of Tanks: Blitz even has a mobile version of the game, which is a separate but very faithful recreation of the experience.
Star Trek Fleet Command
Star Trek Fleet Command is the perfect game for anyone who has ever wanted to run a space station. Not only can you customize your home base, but you can also build a fleet of spaceships from a variety of Star Trek factions that are popular with fans. You can not only command your own fleet of starships, but you can also appoint famous officers from Star Trek’s past. For example, you could go old-school and use Kirk and Spock, or if you prefer the Next Generation, you could put Picard and Riker in charge.
War Thunder
War Thunder can be enjoyed by anyone, even if you don’t find a group of aviation enthusiasts who share your interests and join their virtual squadron. You don’t have to choose between realism or accessibility, either. After you download it, you can fly, drive, shoot, or even do both at the same time.
This WW2 multiplayer combat game effortlessly incorporates all of the excitement and explosions that tanks and planes can produce. Are you unsure where to begin? Your tank’s cannon will benefit from our War Thunder recommendations. War Thunder is the game for you if you want war games that put you in the middle of the action.
Raid: Shadow Legends
Raid: Shadow Legends has now been around for six years, and playable on PC for five. Many people will already have heard of it or played it at this point. However, if you played it when it first came out or even a few years ago but haven’t really gone back since, you’re missing out on a lot and it’s well worth another look. The Raid of 2025 is not the Raid of 2019, though, at its heart, it still provides an addictive turn-based RPG experience with plenty of PvP and PvE options available.
Some of the most recent playable champions in this RPG are the most exciting new additions. Not only do you get crossovers with big IPs like Masters of the Universe, which is centered on a He-Man event that ran until the end of 2024, but you also get new designs for cool and edgy characters from the past. In addition to reimagining Alice as a formidable vorpal sword-wielding warrior, a current Alice in Wonderland event features sinister new versions of the Cheshire Cat and the Mad Hatter. Every champion is unique, and it’s very rewarding to build your own team and use their skills to dominate online arenas.
Honkai Star Rail
Get on board! The most recent interstellar sci-fi adventure from HoYoverse, Honkai Star Rail, is a journey you won’t want to miss, as our Honkai Star Rail review demonstrates. Like Genshin Impact, the turn-based RPG includes an ever-growing roster of eclectic and colorful characters to pull from Honkai Star Rail banners. We promise that it will be well worth your time to take your favorite characters into battle with the monstrous armies of the Antimatter Legion, the enigmatic Stellaron Hunters, and every Honkai Star Rail trash can.
Make the best Honkai Star Rail builds by equipping the characters on our Honkai Star Rail tier list with the best light cones and relics, then keep an eye out for them. Do you need some help getting your team ready? You may be able to obtain the additional free stellar jade required to pull the subsequent five-star character by using the most recent Honkai Star Rail codes.
Zenless Zone Zero
Zenless Zone Zero is HoYoverse’s most recent offering, and it’s one for fans of fighting games. In the cyberpunk city of New Eridu, the hacker siblings Belle and Wise are the focus of this cyberpunk adventure. They take on Inter-Knot missions as Phaethon, sending them into perilous Hollows to stop hostile Ethereals. They become involved in the cozy dystopia’s political machinations as a result of this risky occupation, which puts them in the path of weird and wonderful characters from various city factions.
Despite being subject to the gacha game grind, our Zenless Zone Zero review praises it for its “slick combat and tile exploration.” Here, you’ll find all the systems you’d expect from a HoYoverse experience. The best characters can be taken from ZZZ banners, which are almost always needed to build the best ZZZ team competitions. However, there are also plenty of ZZZ events to take part in for free characters, items, and ZZZ Polychrome, so you don’t have to rely entirely on luck to ace ZZZ’s various combat challenges and alternate game modes. Check out our Zenless Zone Zero tier list to find out which characters are worth your time and leveling materials, as well as the most recent ZZZ codes for some easy freebies, if you are ready to make New Eridu your home away from home.
World of Warships
If you like the idea of an ocean-based military simulation game, you need World of Warships. The submarine game introduces the navy to the deathmatch concept with easy-to-use controls that allow for interesting strategies.
World of Warships is more entertaining than the naval simulations in Total War, more approachable than Silent Hunter, and significantly more in-depth than the Pirates games. If you’ll excuse the submariner humor, it’s surprising deep. The World of Warships esports scene is also far more exciting than it has any right to be.
Rise of Kingdoms
At PCGamesN, we adore strategy games, but we adore free ones even more. Rise of Kingdoms is a strategy game about building cities that has bright cartoon graphics, real-world civilizations, fun combat, and traditional city-building mechanics all in one relaxing but challenging package.
Rise of Kingdoms offers a straightforward and helpful tutorial stage to help newcomers to these genres get started. In the meantime, if you’ve ever played a strategy or city-building game, you already know what to expect here. However, Rise of Kingdom’s original character collection mechanic gives the genre a new spin. Unlock historical characters from your chosen civilization to assist you as you build your city and fight those who are posing a threat to your neighbors and residents. Each character has their own special skills.
War Robots
Those looking for free thrills may want to check out War Robots, especially if they’re fans of mech-on-mech 6v6 skirmishes. As you whiz through the competition, there’s a good chance that you’ll find something appealing that will keep you coming back for more matches.
Pick from one of 50+ robots and choose from a huge arsenal of guns, rockets, and more to make your mech the very best it can be. There are almost no restrictions on your options, and you can make it fit your playstyle. When you’re ready, choose from one of the 14 maps and destroy your rivals.
Crossout
Crossout is a multiplayer online game about vehicular combat in which you create bizarre automobiles and drive them into battle with other players. The setting is a post-apocalyptic wasteland in the Mad Max style, and the emphasis is on extensive customization, skilled driving, and aiming.
Crossout contains a variety of co-op and competitive game modes, as well as a marketplace full of tradable goods. The sheer number of Crossout factions, different body types, guns, cannons, and armor ensures that there are many different ways to play… although they are all pretty deadly.
Naraka Bladepoint
There are numerous free battle royale games available. However, Naraka Bladepoint is more focused on melee combat and spectacular movement than the vast majority of its competitors, giving it more of a unique edge.
The game’s popularity has skyrocketed since it became free to play, making it one of Steam’s most popular games. As a result, you’ll rarely have trouble joining a competitive match. You can always start with the basics by reading our Naraka Bladepoint beginners guide, but you’ll soon be slashing your way to victory.
Mech Arena
Plarium, the company behind Raid: Shadow Legends, was the one who brought Mech Arena to life. However, these two games share very little in common. Getting into a mech suit and fighting other players in their own mech suits is the main focus of Mech Arena. Although it has a straightforward premise, it can be extremely entertaining.
The fact that there are a variety of arenas in which to fight keeps things interesting, but the most interesting aspect is the abundance of customization options. You will eventually be able to personalize your mech to the point where it perfectly matches your preferred playstyle, giving you a chance to improve your combat strategies.
Star Trek Online
Taking command of a spaceship, exploring the outer reaches of the galaxy, battling perilous aliens, and training an elite crew of pangalactic professionals are all appealing options.
Star Trek Online is your chance to show the internet that you’d make a much better Picard than Picard. In this MMO, each quest is like an episode of the show, and each series of missions is like an arc with occasional filler episodes. This is the only MMO for true Trekkies, packed with the best elements of Roddenberry’s universe.
Neverwinter
Neverwinter is the latest in a long line of ambitious Dungeons & Dragons PC games, including the original Neverwinter Nights, one of the first massively multiplayer online games with graphics, and the BioWare game of the same name. Neverwinter, on the other hand, features the massively multiplayer expertise of City of Heroes studio Cryptic and is the cheapest game to date at a tempting zero dollars.
This is one of the best role-playing games on this list, with action-oriented combat, challenging dungeons, and amazing locations to explore. If you don’t want to pay for Baldur’s Gate 3, this is a good, free D&D fix. It’s also great for Forgotten Realms fans because it lets you meet Drizzt from RA Salvatore and Minsc from Baldur’s Gate.
Star Conflict
Star Conflict is a shiny, vibrant space sim that puts you in a massively multiplayer universe and puts you right in the middle of a PvP and PvE interplanetary battle. Its bustling, man-made surface environments are reminiscent of the tangled tunnels of the Descent series, and its void is as spacious as any other area of space you can think of.
CRSED: F.O.A.D.
Bacon-flavored cola, sincere Spinal Tap fans, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and now CRSED are just a few of the wonderful things that started out as jokes. This free-to-play battle royale game, formerly known as Cuisine Royale, began as a spinoff of the squad-based MMO shooter Enlisted and quickly attracted its own player base. In place of plate armor, you wear pots and pans. The developer Darkflow Software has been able to experiment with mechanics that PUBG wouldn’t dare consider, including demonic powers, Champions, and even jetpacks, thanks to the freedom of being a “joke” game.
Wizard101
Wizard101 is a fantasy MMORPG that was released in 2008 and has remained popular with gamers ever since. In it, you step into the shoes of a student at the Ravenwood School for Magical Arts. You can enroll in the school of Balance, the school of Fire, the school of Ice, the school of Storm, the school of Myth, the school of Life, the school of Death, or the school of Fire. Each of these fields gives you access to a unique selection of magical abilities that will significantly affect how you approach enemies in battle. When you join forces with other players in battle, you’ll be able to test out a variety of tactics as you consider how various kinds of magic work together.
In the meantime, the game has a great story that starts with you facing Malistaire, Ravenwood’s former Necromancy teacher. What at first appears to be a typical story about an evil wizard, soon turns out to be something much more nuanced. You will have the opportunity to visit a variety of exciting fantastical locations during your adventure, including enchanted forests, ancient desert communities, and even a city under the sea. It’s a charming experience.
Friday Night Funkin’
Since its release in 2020, Friday Night Funkin’ is a game that has won a place in the hearts of gamers everywhere. For those who haven’t encountered it before, this simple rhythm game is enormously addictive and packed with endless charm. You play as an innocuous backwards cap-wearing kid named Boyfriend who engages in sing-offs and rap battles against several opponents to impress your girlfriend.
The gameplay is very similar to that of Dance Dance Revolution, but instead of using a dance mat, you use your arrow keys. In the meantime, the electronic voices of the characters and the songs are slapping. It’s one of those games that you want to play for a minute but end up playing for hours because it’s so simple to get into.
Genshin Impact
It’s easy to see why Genshin Impact has drawn comparisons to Breath of the Wild. The open-world game is huge and stunningly beautiful. Nevertheless, there are a lot of resources to collect, craft, and cook with, as well as minibosses and puzzles that can be defeated by using elemental powers on the environment rather than starting a fight. Having said that, if character customization is your thing, you can get your hands on a lot of Genshin Impact weapons and artifacts.
The main story will keep you fighting for the first 30 hours, but the big open world of Teyvat will keep pulling you in every direction with camps to clear, puzzles to solve, and shiny new loot to make the best builds. You won’t be able to participate in all of the world’s activities if you don’t have access to some of the Genshin Impact characters that are hidden behind gacha mechanics. However, you won’t be interrupted by paid mechanics for the majority of the open world and the main story. Our list of current Genshin Impact codes can give you a head start if you’re eager to get started.
Final Fantasy 14
FF14 has earned its spot among the best free PC games the hard way. After a disastrous launch and many months spent in recovery mode, developer Square Enix has managed to right the course of its ambitious Final Fantasy MMO and build one of the best gaming communities along the way. And yes, while the entire game isn’t free, you can invest a solid chunk of time into the free trial version, which caps your progress at level 60.
A Realm Reborn is more than just a great PC game; it actually takes inspiration from everything that has made the Final Fantasy series so popular, including beautiful worlds, quirky characters, stylish cutscenes, and adorable animals. There was a lot of new content in the 2019 expansion, Shadowbringers, which was well-received. The most recent expansion, Endwalker, has been just as popular (it got 9/10 in our Endwalker review). If you want to get up to speed quickly, you should review our guides to FF14 classes, races, and leveling because it can be overwhelming when you first start your adventure.
Deadlock
The MOBA-shooter hybrid was unceremoniously released onto Steam as part of Valve’s not-so-secret project. At this point, the best MOBA games are locked in, and we’ve seen developers try to make hybrids in the past. However, it looks like Valve may have figured out how to make Deadlock.
Featuring a roster of just over 20 Deadlock characters, each fighter comes equipped with various abilities and powers not too dissimilar from what DOTA and League players are used to seeing. Like in most MOBAs, there are cooldowns to think about, level-ups that allow you to upgrade your character, and an in-game store to spend your hard-earned gold. Additionally, there is a zip line mechanic that helps you move around the arena more quickly, saving you a lot of time spent running around the map without doing anything. With so many variables that lead to incredible team synergies, Valve has nailed the mechanics of a third-person shooter, and there is a lot of room for experimentation with builds and item purchases.
At this time, you need to receive an invitation from someone who already has the game to gain access to the Deadlock playtest. You are certain to know someone who has access to the game because it has been played by hundreds of thousands of people.
The First Descendant
The First Descendant is Nexon’s third-person looter shooter that follows in the footsteps of landmark titles Destiny 2 and Warframe for a co-op sci-fi experience that positions familiar mechanics against an original new story. From the lightning-fast mascot Bunny to the icy ex-smuggler Viessa, the characters from the First Descendant take center stage. You can spend money on your favorites to unlock powerful variants known as The First Descendant Ultimate Descendants. These descendants can improve their inherent abilities and easily defeat the most difficult bosses.
The First Descendant’s endless endgame, which features dungeon infiltration, boss challenges, and combat objectives at a higher difficulty level than story progression, is something that dedicated players can look forward to. Redeem The First Descendant codes and Twitch Drops for early freebies if you’re ready to defend Ingris and face the hostile invaders, and check out The First Descendant maintenance schedule for all the most recent server plans.
League of Legends
League of Legends takes the 5v5 base attack concept from the original Dota game and applies it to a new set of playable characters that are constantly being added to. Many players find League of Legends is easier and more accessible than Dota, but it is still incredibly nuanced; it has one of the highest skill ceilings in gaming, and the best players are considered tactical geniuses.
You won’t have any trouble finding a game because more than 100 million people play it every month. You’ll also probably find a few League of Legends champions that you can’t stop playing.
Dark and Darker
Dark and Darker had an equally amazing and challenging start, beginning as a surprise hit during an open Steam beta before being removed from Steam and other platforms due to significant legal issues. The dungeon crawler has returned to Steam with a complete free-to-play “version” after all of that has been resolved.
Dark and Darker is a PvPvE game where you fight both deadly enemies and real-world players to steal as much as you can while exploring dark, gloomy dungeons full of skeletons and goblins and lined with torches. There are a variety of Dark and Darker classes to choose from, each with its own set of weapon skills, and a well-balanced team can deal a lot of damage.
The “standard” mode of the multiplayer game is free to play in the free version, but paying players can only access the “High-Roller” mode, which features harder dungeons and better loot. However, if you just want to play for free, there is a lot to learn here.
Fallout Shelter
There is no better time to play a few Fallout games now that the apocalyptic video game series has seen a resurgence thanks to the TV adaptation. Fallout Shelter is the only Fallout game you should try if “free-to-play” is one of your requirements, even though it may not be at the top of our list of the best Fallout games.
Just because Fallout Shelter is free, though, doesn’t mean it’s not a great little time sink and a lot of fun. Again, it is not the best Fallout game because it is so different from the gorgeous, vast single-player adventures of Fallout 4 and New Vegas. However, it is still a great way to see the franchise in a different setting.
Fallout Shelter is, instead, a cute, 2D base-building game, in which you oversee the day-to-day running of your vault. Start small with a few new vault dwellers and increase in number as you teach them to build, craft, and reproduce. Make sure your Dwellers have enough food, water, and time to rest, encourage them to form romantic relationships, and occasionally fight off enemies to keep them happy. If they make it back alive, you can eventually send residents into the post-apocalyptic hellscape to retrieve additional materials and even bring in new Dwellers.
Lost Ark
This game, one of our favorite new MMOs, was initially released in South Korea for some time before being released in the West in 2022. It’s a strange cross between Diablo and Final Fantasy XIV. You can choose from a variety of classes and level up your build as you choose your preferred Lost Ark server. To gain access to Lost Ark Awakening skills and exclusive rewards, complete epic quests. Although Lost Ark is free to play, a seasonal battle pass that includes both free and premium rewards is included with the game.
You can check out some starter packs if you really want to spend some money:
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Thanks to CCG titan Hearthstone, there are many more card gaming experts around than there used to be. Recent card-gaming converts can move onto games like Gwent or The Elder Scrolls: Legends for themed twists that boast a few new mechanics, but if you want a real challenge, you can’t beat Magic: The Gathering Arena.
Since it is based on the trading card game that has been around since 1993, you can only imagine how many cards and keywords are in play in Wizards of the Coast’s most recent digital port of the adored paper card game. All of the board animations and sensory delights that we have come to expect from contemporary CCGs are present in Magic: The Gathering Arena, which does an excellent job of shedding some of that historic baggage while maintaining most of the complexity that makes Magic so distinctive.
Tower of Fantasy
One of the most widely played free PC games ever since it arrived in the West in the middle of 2022 This open-world, action RPG is similar to Genshin Impact in that you play as humans living on the planet Aida hundreds of years in the future. The population of the settlement was greatly reduced as a result of a catastrophic event, and Aida’s landscape was littered with strange monsters.
You and other players share a world, so you must explore the enigmatic Aida landscape while fighting the Heirs of Aida, who oppose using the energy source omnium (the cause of the historic catastrophe). There are plenty of things to do in Tower of Fantasy, whether you want to play around with friends and fight monsters, gather resources to make all of the game’s recipes, or try to use the gacha system to unlock all of the characters. The best simulacra weapons for leveling are on our Tower of Fantasy tier list, and our Tower of Fantasy map primer will keep you on the right path.
Conqueror’s Blade
In Conqueror’s Blade, engage in epic siege warfare and channel your inner knight. Choose a hero from a variety of medieval classes and lead them into battle, leading a small battalion of soldiers through sieges that appear to be insurmountable.
The 30-player medieval game alternates between top-down and third-person perspectives, so it’s critical to make the most of your siege equipment and give wise tactical orders to ensure that your troops survive and emerge victorious.
Warframe
By introducing ninjas into space, Warframe demonstrates that everything is better in space. It is a third-person co-op game in which teams of ninjas don powerful “Warframe” armor and either go out and slash enemies or hang out at the dojo. It’s slick, exciting, and very social because it combines some MMO elements with the sensibilities of a more straightforward action game.
It also has a lot of depth; perfecting Warframe builds can easily take hundreds of hours. Warframe players will even claim that the game is significantly superior to Bungie’s triple-A shooter, even though it is frequently compared to Destiny. Warframe continues to be “creatively independent” despite Tencent’s purchase of the original developers.
Trove
Although Trove resembles Minecraft in appearance, it is actually a full-fledged MMO with classes based on classic sword and sorcery games. Trove is a great hobby game because, like those great MMOs, it’s all about grinding for more and more gear. This makes it a great hobby game, especially since it gets big updates that add new dungeons and PvP game modes for you to try.
Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 is one of the best MMOs available. Even better, a good portion of it can be played for free. There’s a lot to do, from traditional questing for NPCs to zone events where everyone can suddenly get involved and work as a massive team to bring down a boss or help a burning village. The free-to-play base game is huge, and the devs continue to produce huge expansions like Secrets of the Obscure which launched in August
Eve Online
No MMO can claim to be as player-driven as Eve Online, with the space game boasting mega-corporations run by legions of players and, very occasionally, gigantic space battles with upwards of 5,000 participating pilots.
With Eve Online’s free-to-play model, players don’t have to pay a subscription fee to experience all the space chaos (with the exception of some end-game ships and skills). If you’re just starting out, we highly recommend reading our Eve Online beginner’s guide because of its steep learning curve.
Albion Online
The classless sandbox MMO from Albion Online is a refreshing journey into a medieval world where you can play however you want. In Albion, the focus is less on character creation and more on strategy and tactics in a PvP setting where the goal is to form a guild with other players.
It’s a risky venture that quickly leads to battles that quickly flip. The player-controlled economy and unforgiving loot system in Albion Online make for hours spent battling enemies, exploring dungeons, and riding through lush green fields on your faithful horse, despite the fact that the environment of the game leaves much to be imagined.
Dauntless
Dauntless is a free PC game that features the same brilliant monster-slaying gameplay as Monster Hunter, despite the fact that the game has finally made the transition from consoles to PC. You can play Dauntless in co-op with up to three friends and take on a series of increasingly difficult Behemoths (our Dauntless tips guide can help if you need it), each with a new set of skills and attacks to learn and master. Just make sure that your party is packing various weapons, as you must chain skills and combos to stand any chance of taking down these challenging beasts.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Warzone’s integration with Black Ops 6 is yet another year old. The Black Ops 6 Season 1 update introduced a brand-new Warzone map, Black Ops 6 weapons, and the omnimovement system, which provided players with additional options for movement on the battlefield.
Warzone stands out from some of the first major battle royale games, such as PUBG and Apex Legends, by focusing on earning money to spend on Warzone weapons and outfits. You can access powerful tools and weapons with money, giving you a significant advantage over rival squads.
For returning players, you may be pleased to hear that Verdansk, Warzone’s first map back in 2020, is set to make a return in 2025. Warzone is a unique experience that is surprising different from the extremely popular multiplayer mode. To top it all off, it is completely free and features both large and small maps.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends has earned its place among the best battle royale games by swooping in from a well-placed zipline. Apex Legends, developed by the same people who made Titanfall, takes the BR formula and adds a cast of intriguing Apex Legends characters. These characters give you new tactical options for each round, depending on your team’s composition. In addition, they’ve shaken up the genre by introducing intuitive contextual pings, which make it easy to communicate with your team, and the ability to respawn downed teammates, so you can blame your team at least twice a game.
As we discuss in our review of Apex Legends, the game’s movement is particularly satisfying—you’ll be skidding down slopes, clambering through buildings, and launching yourself into the sky to reposition yourself—and character abilities give you the impression that you have the ability to take the fight to the champion squad. Check out our Apex Legends tier list and the best weapons to pair with the best character if you’re ready to get started.
Destiny 2
Destiny 2 arrived on Steam with the Shadowkeep expansion in October 2019 and simultaneously opened up the base game, the Leviathan raid, and several PvP modes to everyone for free. Go on adventures with your friends to find shiny items like exotic weapons from Destiny 2 or compete against other players in The Crucible. Destiny 2 has something to offer everyone, from casual players looking for somewhere to hang out to hardcore raid fans and collectors. There is a surprising amount of nuance in the Destiny 2 classes, but crafting the best builds will require some effort.
The Sims 4
The Sims series has been the quintessential life game ever since the turn of the millennium. EA has decided to make The Sims 4 free to play after the Sims 5 release date, igniting a fire in its thriving community. You can design your Sims in any way you want, from their looks to their sparkling personalities, with the extensive Sims 4 custom content tools and mods. If you’re partial to construction, you can also build their house from the ground up and fill it with as much kitsch as their budgets will allow – or you can use the extensive Sims 4 cheats to build to your heart’s content. From there, it’s getting to know the neighborhood, establishing your Sim’s career, and eventually starting a family. The Sims 4 is a game about life, death, and everything in between.
The free-to-play version of The Sims 4 provides a solid foundation to experience the game without spending a single penny. However, we wouldn’t be remiss if we didn’t mention the plethora of Sims 4 expansion packs that can help you broaden your horizons. There are also a plethora of Sims 4 CC creators and packs that can be installed for free.
Overwatch 2
The hero shooter from Blizzard is back in a free-to-play format. While it has received some well-deserved improvements to the game’s quality of life and a new battle pass, the game remains fundamentally the same as it was in 2016. Players can participate in standard match formats like escorting a payload or capturing a point by traveling to various locations on the Overwatch 2 maps. Additionally, it has been expanded to include an arcade suite for non-standard game modes like “Capture the Flag” and “Team Deathmatch,” both of which are standard features of the best FPS games.
However, the biggest draw for Overwatch 2 is its ever-growing roster of heroes. There are more than 30 Overwatch 2 heroes to choose from, so you’re bound to find one whose look and playstyle you like. A carefully timed ult can change the outcome of a match in 5v5 combat, which encourages you to change your hero to counter the opposing team. Overwatch 2 PvE mode and abilities to improve your hero’s performance are just two of the many new features coming soon. In order to advance through the Overwatch 2 ranks more quickly than ever before, be sure to check out our Overwatch 2 tier list for the best heroes and their roles.
Legends of Runeterra
Legends of Runeterra, one of the newest card games, came out in early 2020 and has been a big hit. With a back-and-forth approach, Legends of Runeterra, developed by the creators of one of the best MOBAs, promises to shake up the stagnant card game scene.
Legends of Runeterra, in contrast to some of its card game rivals, does not require you to pay real money for digital cards but rather lets you earn card packs through gameplay. Learn how to play Legends of Runeterra and the cards that come with it with the help of our guides.
Shadowverse
With good reason, Shadowverse quickly became the most popular strategic card game in Japan when it was released for mobile devices in 2016. With its tutorial and single-player story mode, this charmingly designed CCG makes you feel at ease and keeps you coming back with its complex gameplay and new card packs every three months.
There are seven distinct leader classes from which to choose, each of which provides significant strategic depth. Whether you are an aggressive, cautious, or sneaky player, Shadowverse will cater to your playstyle.
Gwent
The card-based collect-a-thon that Temeria played in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt doesn’t get any more detailed or addictive when it comes to minigames. Even though menacing men in masks and an all-consuming frost posed a threat to the world, Gwent was where we spent the majority of our time.
The much more in-depth Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, with its prettier graphics and higher production values, was just what Sapkowski’s fantastical world’s fans needed. The increased variety of unit types and abilities leaves the original mini-game in the dust. What’s more, you can do battle with this free-to-play online game in casual and ranked matches, too – make sure you check out our Gwent decks guide before you jump in. Since CD Projekt Red stopped supporting consoles on December 9, 2019, this free PC game only receives updates for PC and mobile platforms.
Fortnite
Do we need to tell you what Fortnite is? You probably already played it since Fortnite’s player count is well over 250 million. Celebrities, sports stars, and the biggest Twitch streamers are among them. Epic’s battle royale is the most significant cultural shift in gaming since League of Legends, so it doesn’t really need to be said.
Fortnite has outperformed the competition for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it is free to play. This cartoony last-man-standing is the ever-evolving foundation for weekly updates, seasonal changes, and genre-defining new ideas, despite being assembled in a few months and bolted onto the side of the original Fortnite: Save the World game.
Regardless of how frequently you log in, there is always a new challenge to complete, and the Fortnite Battle Pass system gives a lot of rewards to the most dedicated players. However, the game’s straightforward shooting mechanics and rules make it accessible to casual players, and the building mechanics provide depth to pursue. Are you unsure where to begin? You’ll get to a Victory Royale with the help of our Fortnite tips.
Counter-Strike 2
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was a popular game for more than a decade. During that time, many new free-to-play first-person shooters emerged, so Valve decided to make Counter-Strike 2. CS2’s gameplay is grounded in a way that sets it apart from more recent military shooters, which typically include power-ups and perks that can significantly alter the outcome of a match. This dedication to realism is one reason why it is so appealing. The end result is a highly balanced first-person shooter that keeps its audience hooked for the long run thanks to its deceptively high skill ceiling and emphasis on skill and strategy rather than luck.
Check out our Counter-Strike 2 review to find out what we thought of the game now that it has finally launched. Check out our best CS2 crosshairs guide if you want to start playing Counter-Strike for the first time and find the ideal aiming reticle. We also have a CS2 ranks and ratings guide to help new players understand the competitive modes on offer.
Paladins
Paladins is a team-based hero shooter that pits heroes with a wide range of abilities against one another. Yes, it is a bit like Overwatch, but it shares many of Blizzard’s titan’s merits as a tactical murder simulator and provides them at a fraction of the cost. You can play as a mecha-goblin or a massive rolling bomb, and you and your friends will work together to eliminate as many of your opponents as possible before entering the objective. A bonus is that everyone gets their very own horse. If you don’t know where to begin, our list of the best Paladins champions can help.
Hearthstone
The most popular card game in the world from Blizzard is about as good as chips. Who has ever eaten too many chips? You’ve always got room for more chips, and you’ve always got time for another game of Hearthstone. With a gargantuan selection of cards, the game now supports hundreds of different play styles, which you can easily tailor by building your perfect Hearthstone decks. While competitive multiplayer matches make up the core of Blizzard’s CCG, Dungeon Run offers a fantastic and enjoyable solo card experience that few other games can match.
Hearthstone has its own pub-themed version of autobattler games called Hearthstone Battlegrounds. In Hearthstone Battlegrounds, you compete against seven other players and receive a random selection of Hearthstone Battlegrounds cards each round to build your hand.
Dota 2
Before going into battle to demolish their adversary’s base, two teams of five select their Dota 2 heroes from among hundreds. Given that both teams’ bases are guarded by formidable towers and spawn waves of creatures, it is no easy feat. In this sport-like game, each player will need to make the most of their hero’s abilities.
It is difficult, complicated, and its fans are driven to fanaticism. It has hundreds of thousands of daily players and is one of the most played Steam games. Our Dota 2 beginner’s guide goes over the fundamentals of how to play and, hopefully, win your first match if you’re feeling a little intimidated.
Team Fortress 2
Valve’s class-based shooter, Team Fortress 2, has achieved legendary status thanks to its varied game modes, impeccable sense of fun, and being home to more hats than the world’s millinery stores combined. The whole game is free-to-play these days, from the standard shoot-everything-that-moves deathmatches to the fantastic Mann vs. Machine co-op mode where teams fend off waves of robots. Not to mention it’s constantly being cared for with regular seasonal updates.
Path of Exile
Path of Exile is one of the most polished and well-executed games on this list, a Diablo-style action role-playing game. In this dark fantasy world, you and a few friends can go on an adventure through hundreds of areas and click on a dizzying array of monsters until they repeatedly squish. Although there is a microtransaction system in Path of Exile, it is admirably minimal. If you’re partial to hack-and-slash looters, we have a list of the best games like Diablo, just for you. That said, if Path of Exile is the one for you, check out the best PoE builds and how to craft them.
Lord of the Rings Online
Standing Stone Game’s free-to-play MMO transports you to perhaps the most famous fantasy setting there has ever been. Build a character that is worthy of competing against Sauron himself by exploring Tolkien’s Middle-earth, from Mordor to The Shire. Premium players can spend pennies in the Lord of the Rings Online store, but thrifty adventurers can just as easily get lost in Middle-earth.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic is now a great MMO, especially thanks to the Knights of the Fallen Empire expansion, which is basically “BioWare does a proper KOTOR sequel” after a long and slow start. It is a fast-paced action role-playing game with lightsabers, space combat, Jedi houses, bounty hunters, and the ability to fire lightning from your fingertips if you go all dark. It’s one of the best Star Wars games out there.
Smite
Following the same formula as League of Legends and Dota 2, Smite has teams of five players trying to fight their way into their opponent’s base. However, instead of presenting the battlefield from a top-down perspective, it adopts a third-person perspective, shifting the game’s focus from strategy to action. In addition, rather than a roster of vibrant fantasy characters, each player assumes the role of powerful Smite gods based on real religions, such as the Chinese, Celtic, and Norse. Check out our launch guide for Smite 2.
Planetside 2
There has never been a larger battle. With hordes of infantry and tanks, trucks, and fighter planes, picture warring continents. PlanetSide 2 is a never-ending conflict on an incredible scale set in the far future, and it looks pretty damn good. When it comes to free Steam games, there is nothing like this anywhere else.
Brawlhalla
Another platform fighter that draws inspiration from Super Smash Bros. is Brawlhalla. While Brawlhalla’s core roster consists of a selection of original characters – otherwise known as legends – that wield a variety of weapons, from pistols to rocket lances, the main draw is the selection of crossover characters available from various established IP. You can play as Chun Li in Street Fighter, Ezio in Assassin’s Creed, Rayman, or even Shovel Knight based on the weekly rotation schedule. Although Brawlhalla employs a variety of arcade modes, online competitive ranked, and casual free-for-all formats, this eclectic mix of fighters is compelling on its own.
D&D Online
Do you want the chance to explore some of the most well-known fantasy worlds ever? Step into the well-worn boots of a thief or a spellcaster as you fight dragons and demons in the Forgotten Realms and the land of Eberron with D&D Online. High fantasy is rarely available for free.
Runescape
This classic is still one of the largest massively multiplayer online role-playing games ever made, and it holds the record for being the game with the most recent updates in history. There are a lot of people playing Runescape, and the game has a huge, ever-changing world full of challenges you can choose from. Do you want to battle, complete missions, or play minigames? It’s entirely up to you in Runescape.
Spelunky Classic
One of the best platformers we’ve ever seen is still free, which speaks to the uniqueness of PC gaming. Spelunky is based on the best 8-bit games, but its levels are procedurally generated, so you’ll always find something new to explore each time you play. In addition, there are boulders, ice caves, snakes, and more bats than you can shoot at with a shotgun—if you can spot one in the dark.
Valorant
Valorant is a 5v5 hero shooter that is a little bit more strategic than games like Apex Legends or Overwatch. All Valorant characters, just like in CS:GO, start a game with a basic weapon, but you can upgrade it with the points you earn from completing objectives and defeating other players. But Valorant agents also have signature powers that help them fulfill their assigned role on the team and give the game a little more flavor than you’d expect from a hero shooter.
While only five agents are available to play at the game’s outset, Valorant allows you to expand your roster by completing individual agent contracts without opening your wallet. In addition, there are a plethora of game modes, ranging from the standard competitive and unranked matches to more unusual ones like Deathmatch, Escalation, and Replication. It’s a good idea to brush up on the best Valorant weapons to prioritize during a match if you want to progress through the ranks or just play casually.
Super Crate Box
The platformer Super Crate Box is extremely fast and dangerous, with enemies constantly falling from the top of the screen. Instead of killing them, you can get points by collecting crates that contain new weapons, some of which are much better than others. Let any of the monsters past you and into the fire below, and they respawn more potent than before. Repeat this formula and enjoy ad infinitum. Even though Vlambeer is no longer available, at least we can still play it.
Teamfight Tactics
Riot’s free Autobattler game pits the most beloved League of Legends characters against one another on a chess-like board until only one team is left standing. Playing against several opponents, you can pick a hero from a shared pool and slowly build a team by earning coins and trading heroes.
This fast-paced Autobattler offers a lot of strategy options, such as making sure your heroes complement one another, including a counter for each type of enemy, or combining items to boost character stats. By aligning traits and benefiting from synergies and class bonuses, you’ll build a strong team. TFT, like League of Legends, receives regular balance adjustments and updates, like rotating the hero pool or adding new items. It never gets old, no matter if you want to play casually or in ranked mode.
Rocket League
Among the games on this list, Rocket League may have been the most unexpected given its meteoric rise in popularity. Rocket League, which is essentially soccer with rocket-powered cars, was a huge success because of a number of factors, including the fact that it was released at a quiet time, Psyonix’s partnership with Sony’s PlayStation Plus to give the game an immediate audience, and the excellent game itself.
The Rocket League community continues to expand as more people become aware of the game’s impressive esports scene. The game is free to play and fully cross-platform compatible. Give our Rocket League tips guide a read to learn how to control your car to a high-level standard. Check out our interview with Psyonix, which covers the development of Rocket League, if you want to learn more about the game.
