The 15 best free-to-play games on PC

Free-to-play has a bad reputation, and some of it is earned. The games below are the ones that get it right: you can download them, play for hours and never feel like you’re being squeezed.

The picks lean on fair monetisation, mostly cosmetics and optional extras rather than walls you have to pay to climb. They also have to be good, with real depth and communities that stick around.

There’s a spread of shooters, MOBAs, MMOs and oddities, so there’s a good chance something here suits your taste.

1. Counter-Strike 2

It’s the tense, tactical shooter that other shooters get compared to. One misjudged peek around a corner can cost you the round, and a well-timed smoke can win it. Skill matters far more than your loadout, which is exactly what you want from a free game. It takes a while to learn, but the first clutch you pull off feels fantastic.

Play it if: you like your shooters tactical, team-based and ruthlessly fair.

2. Dota 2

Deep, daunting and endlessly rewarding. Every hero is available from the start, so there’s no grinding to unlock your favourites. Learning the ropes is a commitment, but the moment a team fight comes together is hard to beat. Spending is limited to cosmetics, so everyone plays on equal footing.

Play it if: you want a MOBA with a huge skill ceiling and are happy to learn as you go.

3. Warframe

You play as a space ninja in a biomechanical suit, and the movement is joyously fluid. There’s a mountain of content, from open-world zones to story quests, and nearly everything can be earned by playing. Trading with other players lets you get premium items without paying. It’s generous to a fault.

Play it if: you love loot, grinding and feeling steadily more powerful.**

4. Path of Exile

A sprawling action RPG with a skill system so big it has its own learning curve. Building a character that melts screens of monsters is the real game here, and the free version doesn’t hold anything back. Purchases are mostly cosmetics and extra storage.

Play it if: you like theorycrafting builds and chasing loot in a dark fantasy world.

5. Valorant

Precise gunplay meets character abilities, so every round has a puzzle to solve as well as a firefight. Agents are tied to roles, which makes it easy to find a place on a team. Money goes on skins, so your wins come from aim and smarts.

Play it if: you want a tactical shooter with a bit of hero-shooter flavour.

6. Fortnite

Building walls mid-fight is still a brilliant bit of chaos, but there’s much more here now. Battle royale, creative modes and community-made islands mean you can drift between very different experiences. The free game is the full game, with purchases limited to cosmetics.

Play it if: you want variety and a game that keeps changing.**

7. League of Legends

The MOBA with a huge roster and an equally huge community. Matches have a satisfying arc, from careful early laning to the all-in fights that decide a game. It’s easy to get into with friends, and there’s always another champion to learn.

Play it if: you want a polished, team-focused strategy game with a long-lasting community.

8. Team Fortress 2

Nine wonderfully distinct classes, each with a clear job and plenty of personality. It’s a goofy, colourful shooter where a Heavy and a Medic working together can steamroll a map. Years on, it’s still a cheerful way to spend an evening.

Play it if: you like silly, class-based shooters with loads of character.

9. Genshin Impact

A huge open world to climb, glide and explore, with combat built around swapping characters and chaining elemental reactions. You can play for ages without paying, and the story content is open to everyone. The character-collecting side is optional, if tempting.

Play it if: you want a beautiful single-player-friendly adventure with co-op on the side.

10. Rocket League

Football with rocket-powered cars is a brilliant idea, and it plays even better than it sounds. Matches are short and easy to grasp, yet mastering aerial plays takes ages. Cosmetic items are the only things for sale, so skill decides every match.

Play it if: you want quick, joyful competition with friends.

11. Marvel Rivals

A hero shooter with a roster of Marvel characters whose abilities feel suitably super. Team-ups between heroes and destructible maps keep fights lively. The game is free and focused on cosmetics, so you can jump in and try different heroes without a barrier.

Play it if: you like hero shooters and comic-book spectacle.

12. Destiny 2

Gunplay with a lot of crunch, wrapped around a space-fantasy world you can explore with friends. The free portion has a lot to do, including strikes and the Crucible. Raids and big story expansions are paid, but the core game is a good way to try it.

Play it if: you like loot-driven shooters you can play with a fireteam.

13. Brawlhalla

A friendly platform fighter where knocking opponents off the stage is the whole point. It’s easy to pick up, with simple inputs and a rotating set of free characters. Local and online play both work well, so it’s great for sessions with friends.

Play it if: you want an approachable brawler with a real competitive edge.

14. Lost Ark

A big, flashy action MMO with an isometric view and combat that rewards quick reflexes. Skills explode across the screen, and dungeons and raids give group content plenty of heft. There’s a lot to do without spending, though the game has a lot of optional shop items.

Play it if: you like loot-focused MMOs with showy combat.

15. Overwatch 2

Colourful heroes, clear roles and fights that swing on a single well-timed ultimate. It’s easy to pick up a character you like and feel useful quickly. The core game is free to play, and there are plenty of modes to try.

Play it if: you want a team shooter that’s easy to love and hard to master.