Best Free-To-Play Online Games that Guarantee Fun
If you’ve been feeling bored lately, you surely haven’t made the most of every single entertainment option that the internet comes with. From watching Netflix and Disney+ to laughing at clips of animals on YouTube and listening to music, there is so much to do online.
Another great alternative that you can turn to is online games. Fortunately, countless options are available for free, from life simulations and open-world adventures to battle royale and shooters. Here are just some of the titles you can consider if you’re looking for something to play.
Fortnite
Fortnite is a game that comes with three distinctive modes. While you have to pay for Save the World, Creative and Battle Royale modes are free to play. Moreover, as you can access Fortnite from a variety of devices including PC, PS4 and PS5, Switch, Xbox One and Series X/S, and Android, its success shouldn’t come as a surprise. It is truly a cultural phenomenon that hosts musical performances and virtual hangouts. In case you’ve never played, you can easily find some useful Fortnite beginner’s tips.
Genshin Impact
One of the best free games that you can find online is Genshin Impact. This open-world adventure game is available on iOS, Android, PS4, PS5, and PC while a Switch release is also coming. If you like anime, you are sure to enjoy the vistas and characters. Taking place in a fantasy world, this 2020 title follows the Traveller who is separated from their twin and searching for them in addition to becoming involved with the locals. Even though the game is free, the developers still make money through gacha game mechanics that allow players to get new weapons and characters. Plus, the game is regularly updated and expanded.
The Sims 4
You might not be aware of the fact that The Sims 4 has been free for players since October 2022. This, however, only means that the base game is available to players while they have to pay if they want any of the many expansions, game packs, or kits that EA also offers. Moreover, with the base game, you don’t have some fun features like seasons, going to high school or university, and getting famous. This life simulation game can be played on the PC, PS4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X/S. The developer did announce that they are working on the sequel to this iconic game, but it is still years away and there is plenty of gameplay to make the most of here.
Final Fantasy 14
No matter if you’ve played Final Fantasy before or not, you should check out the 14th installment in this series. It’s full of amazing storytelling and breathtaking worlds. While it’s not completely free-to-play, you could do a trial run of the original A Realm Reborn and the first expansion to see whether you would like it. If you get drawn in, keep in mind that you will have to pay, but it’s sure to be well worth it for this MMORPG. It’s available on Windows, PS3, PS4, PS5, and OS X.
Online slots
While this is not a single title but more of a collection of similar games, thrill seekers can also look for online slots. These games don’t require any knowledge of the game apart from how it’s played and which bonus or wild does. Online slots are quick and don’t take up too much time, which might be great for you if you’re always in a rush and can’t sit down and dedicate hours to a game full of plot. When looking for free play slots, it’s always recommended to check out review websites that list various pros and cons of each provider. That way, it’s easy to find a game that offers a huge jackpot or has a high payout rate.
Apex Legends
When looking for battle royale games, you don’t want to overlook Apex Legends. Published by Electronic Arts in 2019, this game is currently available on Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Android, and iOS. There are two gameplay modes, Battle Royale and Arenas. It shares the fictional universe of Respawn Entertainment’s Titanfall series. You are sure to love shorter downtime between matches and a colourful cast of characters that all stand out in their own way.
Valorant
Although Valorant is only available on PC, this tactical hero shooter is still very popular all over the world. Developed and published by Riot Games, Valorant is a free-to-play game that sort of combines Overwatch-like heroes with multiplayer inspired by Counter-Strike. For free, you will have access to certain heroes while you can get more by finishing contracts and buying them with in-game purchases. If you get bored with basic cosmetics, you can also opt for microtransactions.
Call of Duty: Warzone
In case battle royale is what you’re looking for, don’t fret as there are many other titles in addition to Fortnite and Apex Legends. If you’ve played them countless times before, you can also consider Call of Duty: Warzone – the best of the series when it comes to battle royale games. Available on Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4, you can choose from two modes, Battle Royale and Plunder. Cross-platform play and progression are also available. Here, you’re dropped on a map among 150 people and you get to fight and search for loot.
Dauntless
If you’re in the mood to hunt some monsters, look no further than this co-op. Dauntless is a 2019 video game distributed by Epic Games that can be played on Windows, Xbox One and Series X/S, PS4 and PS5, and Nintendo Switch. It takes place in a fantasy world where monstrous creatures, Behemoths, prey on humans. You will play as a slayer that is tasked with taking down monsters, collecting loot, and creating and upgrading your equipment to battle more powerful Behemoths. You can play this by yourself as well in case you’re not a fan of cooperative games.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Even though it has been out for over a decade, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is still very popular. You can find many tournaments that allow players to compete for the title of the best. While it was released in 2012, it became free in 2018 when Valve decided to get its revenue from in-game purchases of cosmetic items. This first-person shooter is mainly played on Windows while it is also available on OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Dota 2
Another Valve title that is free-to-play is Dota 2. This 2013 MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena) game that’s available for PC is without a doubt one of the most popular games of all time. It basically entails matches between two five-player teams as each of them occupies a certain territory that they have to defend while attacking the opponent and destroying their “Ancient” – a structure that every team has within their base. They gain experience points as well as items that can be used in the game.
Warframe
Warframe is another game that was released in 2013. Digital Extremes made this free-to-play third-person shooter multiplayer title that is in a perpetual open beta. It was first released for Windows, which was followed by PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Moreover, cross-platform play was also made possible in 2022. In the game, space ninjas fight all sorts of enemies and have an open world.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Fans of the Star Wars franchise can take part in this massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). First released in 2011, it was not free in the beginning. However, it has since become free-to-play. It is available only on Microsoft Windows, which might limit you if you prefer playing on a console. Chronologically, it takes place shortly after the peace between the Galactic Republic and the re-emergent Sith Empire was established.
Pinball FX3
You may miss some more old-school games like pinball. Worry not as these have also made their way to the internet. Pinball FX3 is available on PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One. You can play on one table for as long as you like, but there are many additional tables that you can spend money on. These feature Star Wars and Harry Potter, for example. You will surely spend some serious time on this game and have tons of fun.
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is an online digital collective card game. It’s perfect for individuals that grew up playing card games like Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and Magic: The Gathering. Here, you can cast spells and summon creatures during your turn. Coming up with a strategy is also a necessity for this game, so if you like that, Hearthstone is the right choice. Originally subtitled Heroes of Warcraft, this game was released in 2014. It is available for PC, iOS, and Android.
As you can see, there are countless free-to-play games that you can choose from. From pinball and card collecting to shooters and MOBA, there is truly something for anyone.