With the cost of video games only getting higher, as next-gen games are expected to retail at $70, the market for free-to-play games is more crowded than ever. While this means a lot of great titles, it also means a whole lot of garbage games filling out a player’s junk drawer.
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The best FTP games have oodles of content, interesting systems of progression, and, most importantly, fun gameplay. Some of these games have been around for years and still hold a place as one of the greats of 2020, while others are new to the field but quickly carved out their little niche. Either way, it’s important that players don’t waste their time with the bad, and only invest in the best free-to-play games out right now.
10Fortnite Battle Royale
Fortnitebecame the most popular video game in the world seemingly overnight, much to the developers' delight at Epic Games. This FTP Battle Royale surpassed PUBG as the game that defined the genre. Adding a clever crafting and building system with afun cartoon animation style, it’s impossible to list any list of good free-to-play games without at least mentioningFortnite. With an addicting progression hook, and quick and easy to join game lobbies,Fortniteis always adding new content, making it a solid option for anyone who hasn’t played in a while or has been living under a rock for the past few years.Fortnitecan be played on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and IOS and Android devices.
9Soviet Jump Game
Soviet Jump Gamewas developed by Fantastic Passion in partnership with the Game Grumps. The result was a Battle Royale that brought the genre to a new dimension… or… an old dimension. The 2D side-scrolling Battle Royale has 50 players with funny Russian spoof character models jumping, shooting, and rolling over their competition until only one remains.
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With the premise of the game as a “rediscovered,” Russian ROM with glitches is the dozens,Soviet Jump Gamecarves out a humorous niche in a genre overcrowded by big titles.Soviet Jump Gameisavailable on PC and Mac through Steam.
8Path Of Exile
Free-to-play games don’t often fall into the category of dungeon-crawling RPGs.Path of Exileis a free dungeon crawler that will make fans ofDiablo IIIshout for joy. With a slower pace than most FTP games and a wide depth of mechanics and content, players will love the dungeons this game has to offer. With a skill tree to rivalSkyrimand weapon improvements galore, Path of Exile will keep players crawling through dungeons for hours at a time. If fans are looking for a new RPG and don’t want to shell out the $60 for a new game, they can’t go wrong withPath of Exile. This game is available on PC, Xbox One, and PS4.
7League Of Legends
League of Legendsis Riot Games’ premiere MOBA for PC Gamers. Since its launch in 2009, LOL has remained incredibly relevant to gamers across the world. With prominent esports championship teams and a huge presence on Twitch, It’s impossible to talk about free-to-play games without bringing upLeague of Legends. With150 champions to choose from, who are all available for free (eventually) there’s no reason players shouldn’t give this MOBA a chance.League of Legendsis available for fans to play on PC and Mac.
6Hearthstone
Blizzard Entertainment’s free-to-playWorld of Warcraftspinoff,Hearthstone, is a fantastic deck-building strategy game for anyone interested in feeling like aYu-Gi-Ohmaster. Featuring characters and places from the famous MMORPGWorld of Warcraft,Hearthstoneis sure to resonate with any Blizzard fan. With multiple online game modes and a separate solo adventure,Hearthstoneoffers a wide variety of content to every player. Additionally, with over 3,400 playable cards, there arecountless different strategiesand deck builds players can adopt.Hearthstoneis free-to-play on PC, Mac, IOS, and Android.
5Dauntless
A free and less draining game for fans ofMonster Hunter Worldwould be Phoenix Labs and Iron Galaxy’sDauntless. In this game, players control slayers who venture out into the wilderness to protect human towns from great behemoth monsters.With smooth combat and a solid progression system,Dauntlessis a must-play for any fan of theMonster Hunterfranchise. Playable as a solo slayer or with a group of up to four,Dauntlessis a great game for any players looking to host a hunting party.Dauntlessis playable on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.
4Asphalt 9: Legends
A truly out of this world racing game, Gameloft Studios’Asphalt 9: Legendsis the best free-to-play racing game out right now. Players will have to win races in order to earn enough gas to keep playing, but early on it’s fairly easy to win, and by the time races start to get more difficult players will have multiple cars and won’t have to wait when they want to keep playing.
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With a fun system of buying and upgrading cars and the unending fun of classic arcade racing,Asphalt 9: Legendsis a go-to fun time. This game is available on PC, Mac, Switch, IOS, and Android.
3Smite
Another MOBA with a slightly different perspective, Hi-Rez Studios’Smiteis a third-person, in the thick of it, battle arena game. UnlikeLeague of Legendswhich offers players a top-down perspective,Smiteputs players in the shoes of their Godly characters, not knowing what lies around every corner. The 111 different playable Gods makeSmitean incredibly customizable gameplay experience. Available on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch,Smiteisa great option for any MOBA fanswho bounced off ofLeague of Legends.
2Paladins
Another of Hi-Rez’s online multiplayer games isPaladins,the free-to-play answerfor any fans ofOverwatchwho don’t want to shell out $40 for a 2015 game. Paladins has four different game modes and 45 different champions to choose from, so players can take their pick to get their best experience out of the game. With dynamic fast-paced combat and interesting characters with unique abilities, this game is sure to hook many players.Paladinsis available to play on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch.
1Warframe
Possibly the best free-to-play game on any system is Digital Extremes’Warframe. There is no other FTP game with such a wide depth of story, systems, and overall customization. The content inWarframeis as good as, if not better than any $60 game. Players will feel epic as they boost around maps like unstoppable space ninjas, slay hordes of enemies, and grind for the best loot for hours on end.
All of this is accentuated by an incredibly kind community of players who have dedicated groups for helping newbies find their footing, or for helping returning players get back in the swing of the hours of new content released almost every month. Playable on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch,Warframeis the best online game that money can’t buy.