It’s easy to fall into the trap of a humble freemium game, especially on mobile. However, we have also seen that the free-to-play market has had some serious success in recent years. From royale battles to MOBAs and amazing indie games, there’s enough variety for every type of player. If you don’t want to spend any cash but want to have hours of fun, here are our picks for the best free games on any platform.
DOTA 2
MOBA or online multiplayer battlefield games are some of the most entertaining and fiercely competitive games you can play. DOTA was a pioneer in the genre and its successor, DOTA 2, continues to improve it to this day. What sets Valve apart from its competitors such as League of Legends, SMITE, and Heroes of the Storm, is that it is a true free-to-play game.
You don’t have to pay a single cent to get the full list of 117 champions. Whether you prefer magic supports or powerful tools for carrying, you can enjoy them anytime. DOTA 2 has a steep learning curve, but it’s addictive and fun when playing with friends. It also gives you access to hundreds of dedicated games, making it one of the best and most versatile free games for PC.
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CS:GO and Valorant
If there is ever a first-person shooter on PC, it’s Counter Strike. The latest version, CS: GO, is now free and better than ever. Blending objective-based strategy experience with high-octane action, the game offers seven modes. CS: GO casual or competitive matches are fast and great with friends. Classic mode pits two teams of five against each other in a race to defuse a bomb or rescue the hostages. However, CS: GO also offers a fast-paced Deathmatch mode with instant redeployment and has recently introduced a battle royale mode called Danger Zone. With so much variety and exciting gameplay, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call CS: GO one of the best free games that you can play on PC.
While the tried-and-true CS: GO formula has maintained the game’s popularity for nearly a decade, the rise of Shooter Heroes has caused some players to look for something less realistic and more awesome abilities. This is where Riot Games’ Valorant comes in. It takes some of the hero mechanics of games like Overwatch and merges it with the simplicity of Counter Strike. Not only does it keep the tense and competitive elements of CS: GO, it also keeps its price tag. Both team-certified tactical shooters are completely free and supported by purely cosmetic purchases.
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Path of Exile
If you’re tired of cartoon RPGs, find Path of Exile. This action RPG is dark, gritty, and best of all – completely free. Path of Exile is set in the fictional world of Wraeclast, and offers more depth than nearly any other game of the genre. There are seven main classes of characters that fall into more specialized categories. You can modify and customize the vast skill trees to produce complex and unique combinations. On the other hand, gems allow you to increase skills, which gives you amazing abilities.
This opens up endless possibilities and gives the game massive replayability. On top of that, Path of Exile can be enjoyed with friends or against foes in PvP races. Available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One, it’s the best free ARPG you can play.
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PUBG Mobile and Fortnite
Although they are different, these two games revolutionized mobile gaming and made the battle royale genre unstoppable the same as together. Unlike its PC counterpart, PUBG Mobile is completely free. It’s gritty and more realistic than Fortnite, offering four maps with different terrain. A hundred people are shot down from an airplane in different parts of those maps. They have to collect weapons and supplies and kill anyone who gets in their way. You can perform this challenge alone or in groups of two or four.
Also read: PUBG Mobile controller support: Here are the top picks on Android and iOS
Fortnite shares many of the same characteristics, but has only one map and color aesthetic. However, the most unique component is construction. You can quickly throw walls and ramps to swing a gun battle in your favor, making Fortnite creative, exciting and unpredictable. However, both games are accessible and easy to pick up and play. Fortnite has an advantage over PUBG Mobile because it is available for free on almost any platform you can think of, including all popular consoles, Mac, PC, and Android devices (sorry iOS users). But, as far as mobile battle royale titles are concerned, PUBG Mobile and Fortnite are the flagships and the best free games of this genre.
CHECK OUT PUBG MOBILE
CHECK OUT FORTNITE
Apex Legends
Respawn brought us this new battle royale game last year. Apex Legends follows the familiar formula of looting, looting, and shooting, but it stands out from the crowd for a number of reasons. The first is the fast-paced action, which requires decision making in a split second. The second is her list of champion. Unlike other games in this genre, Apex lets you choose from twelve legends, each with its own unique abilities.
You play in teams of three and you can take on defensive or aggressive roles depending on your playing style. It is an entertaining, competitive game and one of the best free games that you can enjoy on PC, Xbox and PlayStation.
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Call of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty is a name every player has heard. But while the previous COD games are somewhat out of date, the series has made a comeback with some great new additions. Call of Duty: Warzone is without a doubt one of them. It might be another Battle Royale game, but it has a lot to offer. With 150 players competing in groups of three, teams compete on one massive map. Many of the fan favorites from the previous games call out the main map, creating a familiar atmosphere with a fresh and refreshing gameplay. Call of Duty: Warzone also offers Plunder mode, and we expect more to be added in the future. It’s available on Xbox, PC, and PlayStation and is one of the best free games you can spend time with.
Want to play on your phone instead? Then Call of Duty Mobile is a title you shouldn’t miss. Available for free, it is one of the best and most popular shooting games on Google Play.
CHECK OUT CALL OF DUTY: WARZONE
CHECK OUT CALL OF DUTY MOBILE
Hearthstone
Trading card games are never out of stock, and Blizzard’s Hearthstone is one of the best among them. A highly polished and competitive game, it pits two players against each other in a magic card battle to the death. There are eleven character classes to choose from, all of which should be well known to a fan of Warcraft. But whether you choose Malfurion Stormrage or Valeera Sanguinar, Hearthstone is entertaining and challenging.
Unlike some other free card games, it lets you make powerful and rare cards without spending cash. It also offers interesting game modes like arena and solo adventure. It is one of the best free games available on mobile and PC.
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Auto Chess
Despite its humble beginnings as a mod for DOTA 2, Auto Chess’s popularity was so explosive, it created its own game genre. Today, it can be enjoyed outside of a DOTA 2 client, on PC and mobile. But what is it exactly?
It is a strategy game, which despite its name has nothing to do with chess. Eight players fight simultaneously by placing units of different classes and upgrading them until only one player remains standing. It’s similar to a tower defense game, but it provides a lot of strategic depth that will keep you hooked. You can’t go wrong with Auto Chess! However, we also recommend checking out Valve and Riot’s Teamfight DOTA Underlords tactics – two other Auto Chess-style games that are among the best free games you can play.
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Pokémon GO
Pokémon GO was the game that put augmented reality on the map. The realistic Pokémon hunt became a global phenomenon the moment it was released in 2016. Since then, the hype has faded a bit, but the game still has a large base of active players. In fact, Pokémon GO is better than ever – with boss fights, research missions, and community days and events, there is never a dull moment.
Don’t worry if you’re currently locked out, either. Niantic has recently made it easy to play from home. So, if you haven’t played Pokémon GO recently, give it a try because you might be surprised how much you enjoy it. It is one of the best free mobile games ever.
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Sky: Children of Light
From Thatgamecompany, the studio that brought us Journey and Flower, comes Sky: Children of Light. This ethereal and air indie indie game sends you on a journey in search of the lost stars. But you are not alone: friends can join you in crossing the Seven Sky Realms, as you discover the mysteries of these magical realms. It’s the perfect game to fight social isolation and lift your spirits.
Do not believe us? Sky: Children of Light has been on iOS for some time now and won the iPhone Game of the Year in 2019. It is now available on Android as well and costs no cent. It is one of the best free mobile games that you can try.
CHECK OUT SKY: CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Warframe
It’s hard to stand out in the saturated shooting game market, but Warframe does just that. This game has been around for a long time and its player base has grown steadily over the years. Warframe is a third-person shooter set in a futuristic sci-fi universe. But rifle ignition isn’t the only combat technique you can use.
The game features brilliant melee combat, which becomes more interesting with the unique abilities possessed by 35 different warframes (heroes). It’s fun and exhilarating, even if it can be a challenge for beginners. However, Warframe is one of the best and most premium free games you can get. It’s available on all popular consoles and computers, so check it out today.
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World of Tanks
World of Tanks is synonymous with action-packed MMO. It’s been nearly ten years since the game’s initial release, but it’s more fun than ever. World of Tanks puts you in the driving seat of legendary war machines from last year, pitting you against other players in the fight for supremacy.
The game offers different battle modes that you can enjoy with your clan or with strangers. You can compete in frontline fights 15v15 and 30v30, or take things to a global level and try to conquer areas on the global map. It’s both chaotic and strategic, making it one of the best free-to-play games. The good news is that if battle chariots don’t suit your taste, the developers of Wargaming are also offering air and sea combat MMOs in the form of World of Warships and World of Warplanes.
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RuneScape
If there’s one true classic on our list, it’s RuneScape. Also known as Scape 3, this MMORPG has been around for nearly twenty years in one form or another. Set in the medieval fantasy land of Gilinor, a huge player base still roaming these worlds to this day. The world is growing, developing and constantly changing. If you haven’t played RuneScape yet, there’s no better time to take on all of its challenges with friends – head-to-head on endless missions, explore the land, or take on other players in Wilderness.
For fans of the original game, you can get a nostalgic dash with Old School RuneScape or OSRS. Starting in 2013, it turned back the clock to the 2007 version of the game and kept (mostly) the same gameplay. Fans are voting on whether or not any changes or updates will be implemented, so you can have a big say in the game you’re playing. It’s freely available on PC and mobile, and it’s actually more popular than RuneScape 3.
Whatever game you choose, RuneScape will not disappoint you. They are two of the best free games that you can play.
CHECK OUT RUNESCAPE
CHECK OUT OSRS
EVE Online
When we say no other game quite like EVE Online, that’s not an exaggeration. This MMORPG for the spaceflight era offers a different environment from the fictional worlds typical of the genre, along with size and complexity. Players can explore a vast world, take part in spacecraft fighting, mining, trading, and much more. What makes EVE Online really special, however, are the massive wars that different factions of players can wage against each other. With thousands fighting simultaneously, it takes on a sense of realism that few other games can offer.
EVE Online may be a very challenging game, but even its free, limited edition is among the best MMORPGs on the market. There is also a mobile version that successfully adapts the wide universe to the small screen of your smartphone.
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Destiny 2
Although it received some reactions from fans of the original at launch, Destiny 2 is another good game to play for free. Just like EVE Online, it’s a space MMO saga. However, the combat here is in the hands of your Guardian character. You can choose from three classes with distinct appearances and skill sets, and shoot and loot your way through the solar system. An FPS battle is satisfying and responsive, even if it’s a bit repetitive at times. Destiny 2 is available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, and it’s a game that will keep you entertained for hours on end.
CHECK OUT DESTINY 2
RPG Maker horror games
Not into multiplayer action games? May be some horror split more depending on your desire. Designed with RPG Maker, there are a number of great Japanese horror games that are completely free. It has been hugely popular among live creators and YouTubers a few years ago and with good reason. We’re talking about Ib, The Witch’s House, Misao, The Crooked Man, Mad Father, and more. They all share great artistic style, captivating stories, and scares that are sure to fall under your skin. Many of the games have multiple endings as well, which gives them plenty of replayability. You can legally download english subtitles via vgperson’s website and check out other free games he translated while you’re there too.