Free games may not seem that impressive and exciting at first glance. They also seem not to have the uniqueness or big-budget resources inherent in pricey games. Nevertheless, they can also be much fun. The fact that they don’t need an upfront entry fee doesn’t necessarily mean that free PC games can’t be among the most popular games out there.
Let’s admit – entering the PC gaming world is not cheap at all. Whether you’re purchasing the smart gaming keyboards or the fancy gaming mouse or just deciding whether to buy the most exciting PC games, it can add up pretty quickly. Luckily the best free games are a great way to spend some time relaxing and immersing in the reality of other worlds.
To help you take in free gaming on your PC, we’ve rounded up the best games here. You’ll forget all about those expensive games when you have so much fun with these adventures.
Everquest
Everquest’s future was a bit shaky after Sony sold its online entertainment division in February 2015. Still, Everquest is back with retribution, boasting new extension packs and ongoing support by Daybreak Game Company. That’s one of the multiple reasons why it’s worth being listed here.
The first among its rivals to commercially succeed with a 3D game engine, Everquest was launched in 1999 as an MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game) and has since been described as one of the most significant releases in gaming history.
Offering steadily massive expansion packs with vast new territories and opportunities, Everquest provides nearly everything you could desire or need from an MMO. Besides, it’s far better at handling co-op than its MMO siblings.
Fortnite Battle Royale
The Battle Royale is tremendous right now, and Epic Games has adjusted it to perfection with Fortnite Battle Royale. Created as a kind of addition to Fortnite, Battle Royale boosted in a way nobody assumed, rapidly becoming among the best free games 2020 on the market.
Fortnite Battle Royale is mainly based on a simple scenario: you’re dropped in a map with 99 other players in a relentless battle, and the last one to survive in the end wins. Because of its astonishing success, Epic Games is doing its best to integrate new game modes and unique features. Playground mode, for example, drops you in the map and lets you build up frames for a certain amount of time before the gateways open and the massacre begins.
What’s particularly nice is that with Fortnite, you can enjoy gaming with your friends, no matter which platform they’re on: PC, Xbox One, iOS, Android, or PS4. The games enable you to match up against millions of other players from all these different devices.
Dota 2
The Dota universe once evolved from a WarCraft 3 mod, but Dota 2 represents its unique entity and is regarded as one of the best free games of 2020.
The gameplay is very dynamic and energetic, attracting multimillion-dollar prize funds for advanced tournament players. Yet, it’s not just for the most savage gamers.
A brief tutorial may teach you how to play. However, don’t expect a warm welcome or an easy learning curve from its complicated gameplay system. Just invite a few friends, and Dota 2 will get you hooked on one of the biggest entertainments in PC history.
Runescape
Runescape is one of the most significant free-to-play MMOs available, and now it deserves to have a closer look at. In 2013, it experienced its third restart, so this is actually ‘Runescape 3’.
Despite the entire rebuilt, it’s not the coolest MMO on the planet, but its large community proves it’s doing something right. The most significant change introduced in Runescape 3 that made it more modernized was the ability to see much further. In Runescape 2, the horizon quickly blurred in fog – not like now.
You can easily download the game for free or run it in your browser using Java, which makes it much easier to play than most other online role-players of this enormous scale.
Maplestory
If you feel tired of the dark fantasy environment of most MMORPGs, you’ll undeniably appreciate Maplestory’s creative and inspired ambiance. Nexon described it as the original 2D side-scrolling MMO. Maplestory develops the classic Dungeons and Dragons-inspired scenario and makes it kawaii.
The lighter tone and unique features of Maplestory make it seem more like Harvest Moon than Rift or World of Warcraft. And, it has more focus on improving the aesthetics than many other MMOs, enabling its users a lot more customization of characters.
Maplestory can even boast in-game weddings and dinosaurs playing the guitar. Unfortunately, the only thing missing from Maplestory is an Oasis-inspired soundtrack.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit was released as an introduction to Life is Strange 2, and it is one of the most fantastic modern adventure games on PC. Launched in 2018, the game puts you in the shoes of 9-year-old Chris, and his alter ego, Captain Spirit. Luckily, the game is free-to-play, and it is an excellent way to experience this exciting adventure – a lovely entrance to Life is Strange 2. Just don’t expect the gameplay experience to last for long, as you’ll likely finish it in just a couple of hours. However, this doesn’t stop it from being one of the best free games on the market.
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment and originally titled Heroes of Warcraft, Hearthstone is based on the existing ground of the Warcraft series by using the same elements, relics, and characters.
As a typical Blizzard release, this representative is genuinely remarkable. It’s instantly engaging, lacking the horrifying learning curve you would expect from an online fantasy card game. Hearthstone plays fast, has a very natural visual side, and yields from a simple ruleset, all of which add up to a very obtainable card battler that provides plenty of exciting things – especially if you’re keen on World of Warcraft.
Deceptively simple and insanely fun, Hearthstone undeniably gets our vote for one of the best free games to date.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic managed to succeed Sony’s Star Wars Galaxies as the main Star Wars MMORPG, and Galaxies went entirely offline shortly before The Old Republic’s release in December 2011. Star Wars: The Old Republic was not intended to be free. However, following the lead of competitors, it was later decided to follow the free-to-play model.
If you are eager to satisfy your inner Sith, this is the perfect idea to do that for free. Subscriptions are available for more in-game opportunities, but, nevertheless, all the story missions are still free – it just may take a bit more time now.
The Old Republic is worth your attention just to enjoy the Star Wars universe from different sides, like the super-intelligent Imperial Agent and Bounty Hunter. If you prefer to go with the trivial option and just choose an ordinary Jedi Knight – you can do this as well.
Starcraft II
The most exciting game to ever hit the PC environment is Starcraft II, a competitive real-time strategy game. Once, it was a tremendous success in South Korea, but the situation worsened when League of Legends and Dota 2 appeared on the market. Perhaps that’s become a reason why Blizzard decided to convert Starcraft II to the free-to-play release.
As a result of its exciting strategy game mechanics, combined with creatively designed scenes and a breathtaking story that only a video game can tell, Starcraft II is among the most enjoyed and free eSports games on the planet.
Of course, being a Blizzard release, the game requires a Battle.net account to access it. Nevertheless, both the campaign and the multiplayer are free to enjoy. Only certain characters need to pay for.
Dauntless
Dauntless is the first release of Phoenix Labs. It was much inspired, as well as frequently compared to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series. It offers a surprisingly similar experience that’s entirely free on your PC.
The action takes place in a fantasy environment, where a disastrous event has split the world, releasing bloodcurdling creatures known as Behemoths that haunt the surviving humans.
The gameplay is much more straightforward, free of some dumb gameplay schemes that you either love or hate about the Monster Hunter series. However, the core DNA of the game is to hunt down boss-sized monsters, craft deadly weapons and powerful armor, team up with millions of players – all these things make Dauntless one of the best free games to try right away.
World of Tanks
World of Tanks significantly differs from other MMOs, as you may have already noticed from the title. Team-based, massively multiplayer online action with a wide range of war vehicles to drive into battles awaits, with newcomers able to join the combat straight away.
The vehicles are copied from their real-life counterparts. However, specific parameters have been adjusted to fit game mechanics and also better gameplay. World of Tanks enables you to customize your vehicles to a certain extent, either visually or technically, with most parts purchased from the game’s tech tree. But be careful: once you get sucked in, you may find yourself spending a fortune on upgrades of virtual metal.
Some premium tanks cost just a few dollars, while others may require a significant sum of money. Indeed, purchasing some premium features will let you easily advance your game career. However, even without extra money spent on additional options, World of Tanks is one of the best free games right now.
