Most humans love socializing. When people get together they can share ideas, make memories and build things together. While socializing was once seen as a face-to-face activity though, it can now be done online with social media, YouTube, and, of course, video games leading the charge.
Exploring a virtual world can be incredibly enjoyable by oneself, but even more so when it’s done with friends. It needn’t be an expensive pursuit either thanks to the ever-increasing number of high-quality free-to-play games that are available online. As a result, the only thing that players really need to invest is some quality time with their friends.
Updated September 18th 2023, by Amy Cowley:The gaming business is an industry that never sleeps, and thus are always churning out new and great titles to play on brand new shiny consoles. But all these new technologies come with a shocking price tag that many gamers simply can’t afford. But this doesn’t mean there is any shortage of games for these gamers to enjoy, as the PC comes with many free to play games with optional purchases without sacrificing quality. As such, this list has been increased to add more entries as well as the genre and devlopers of the games so players don’t need to waste time researching and can immediately jump in and play.
1Smite (80)
Another excellent MOBA for players to rope their friends into isSmite, with one of its big draws being the cool godly themes of the game that incorporates many different pantheons such as Greek,Egyptian, Norse and many more. Though it is often compared toLeagueas MOBA fans are wont to do,Smitestands out as its own excellent game with its own unique features.
Players will pick one of five character archetypes and battle it out against AI or other players. And with this game now released on multiple platforms, gamers can also enjoy this free-to-play game on consoles as well, and even team up with friends that play on a different platform.
2Guild Wars 2 (90)
By now the market is oversaturated by many MMO’s all boasting unique worlds with different themes, and as such it can be quite difficult to decide which one to go for. But offering free play and a fantastic game experience at the same time should be enough to sway players in the direction ofGuild Wars 2.
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Filled with unique races and classes that all feel fun and different to play and a rich world full of fantastical lore,GW2is a masterclass in MMO excellent, and made even more fun with friends. Plus, it is free to play, what more could gamers want?
3League of Legends (78)
For some exciting fun with friends, players don’t need to look any further thanLeague of Legends, one of the most competitive games on the market with a highly successful e-sport tournament. In this MOBA game, teams of five split across three lanes to advance on the enemy’s territory and take down their defenses, each player assuming a different role to assure perfect party balance.
With one of the biggest character rosters in gaming, gamers are left with many viable choices to ensure there are multiple champions that fit their preferred style of play. Whether they like to take ona more supportive role healingand buffing allies of deal out hefty amounts of damage themselves, there is something for everyone inLoL.
4Warzone 2.0 (80)
Released in November of 2022,Warzone 2.0is the latest iteration of Infinity Ward’s free-to-play FPS title, allowing players to tear it up on their own or team up with their friends in a bloody and brutal battle royale. With up to 64 players per game, things really can get quite hectic.
ThoughWarzone 2.0has its fair share of problems, the game still offers an incredibly fun experience when played with friends. More than 125 million people have triedWarzonesince its launch back in 2020, and although the number of active players is significantly smaller, players will never need to wait long to get into a game.
5Dauntless (78)
Given that most free-to-play games tend to revolve around team-based combat,Dauntlessis somewhat refreshing. It’s an action RPG title centered around co-op gameplay, with a light sprinkling of crafting and survival mechanics just for good measure.
Dauntlesswasn’t a particularly good-looking game when it first launched back in March of 2019 and it is even less so now. However, what the game lacks in graphical fidelity, it more than makes up for in charm and creativity. More important perhaps, is the fact thatthe game is a lot of fun, particularly when played with a few friends.
When it comes to free-to-play games that break the mold,Realm of the Mad God Exaltis one of the first that springs to mind. Released all the way back in 2012, it’s a top-down MMO bullet hell nightmare, with enough content to keep players busy for hours on end.
Sadly, the free-to-play nature ofRealm of the Mad God Exalthas changed a little over time, with the game now sporting a battle pass and several pieces of paid DLC. Even so, it can still be played for free and remains highly enjoyable without the extra content, as evidenced by the game’s Very Positive rating on Steam.
7Paladins (83)
There are plenty of great team-based hero shooters on the market these days, many of which are free-top-play.Paladinsarguably tops the list, however, at least when it comes to good clean fun. There’s also a surprising amount of customization on offer in the title, something that’s not all that common in most modern fps games.
Though perhaps a little too intrusive in its presentation, the monetization in the game really isn’t too bad either, with chests and battle passes offering cosmetic items rather than pay-to-win features. The card system also provides an interesting approach to managing loadouts and really helps to set the game apart from some of its peers.
8Halo Infinite (81)
Given that the series is best known for its fantastic multiplayer combat, the decision to makeHalo Infinite’s multiplayer mode free-to-play took a lot of people by surprise. Despite one or two teething issues, it offers up an incredibly enjoyable experience, though much of this can be attributed to the introduction of the grappling hook.
How exactly the experience will evolve in the months and years to come remains to be seen, but only a fool would bet against 343 Industries further improving things over time.There are still many classic match types that could be added,for example, not to mention the prospect of new maps, weapons, and arenas.
9PlanetSide 2 (84)
PlanetSide 2once set a Guinness World Recordfor the largest first-person shooter battle ever fought; with over 1,283 players taking part. The size of the player base has shrunk quite a bit since then, although there are still plenty of people playing the game in 2022.
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Sony doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to supporting its MMOs, but, to its credit, the Japanese giant has stood byPlanetSide 2for almost a decade now. With its crisp visuals and well-refined combat mechanics, it serves as a solid alternative for those who are fed up with the plethora of battle royale games that have flooded the market in recent years.
10EVE Online (88)
Although a subscription is required for some of the game’s extended content, the vast majority of theEVE Onlineexperience is completely free to play. Given just how much there is to see and do in the game, it’s hard to argue that it isn’t worth the price of admission.
Best known for its insanely large space battles,EVE Onlineis one of the largest MMORPGs in existence; both in terms of the size of its player base and the universe that it provides for players to explore. Fans of role-playing owe it to themselves to check this one out, although it will also appeal to fans of sci-fi andspace exploration titlesas well.
