FREE wish you a merry Christmas
Whether it’s a PC or a console underneath the tree on the big day, you don’t have to splash the cash on expensive new titles to keep yourself entertained
AS SANTA prepares to do his preflight checks, many will be hoping there’s a shiny new games console on his sleigh just for them.
If you are lucky enough to find an Xbox, PlayStation, Switch or even a gaming PC sitting under the tree on Christmas Day, then it will probably come packaged with a recent big title. But what happens when you get bored with it?
Believe it or not, there are actually some great games you can download that will cost you nothing.
Just be aware parents, that as with all ‘freemium’ games, there are ingame purchases which can be made, so be sure to lock down purchasing rights.
Here are six of the best.
Overwatch 2 (PEGI 12)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch This is the sequel to 2016’s hugely successful hero shooter. Focusing on player versus player (PVP) combat, gamers are split into two teams to battle it out over several maps.
One of Overwatch’s strengths is the sheer number of characters you can choose to play as. There are 35 in total, each with their own unique set of skills.
Unlike its predecessor, gameplay has been speeded up with a reduction in match sizes from 6v6 to 5v5.
Developer Blizzard Entertainment may only have trimmed off two players, but it really does make a big difference.
There are several different modes you can play in too, to keep the action fresh and interesting.
While the game is free to download, you can spend real-world cash to buy in-game currency, with 500 Overwatch Coins costing around £4.39, up to £84.99 for 11,600 coins.
Rocket League (PEGI 3) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
This game may have been around for a few years, but it’s still some of most fun you can have on four wheels.
Rocket League is essentially football in cars, with rocket-powered vehicles chasing around an arena to push an oversized ball into the opposing team’s goal.
The joy of playing this game lies in its simplicity. There are no rules to learn, no fancy button bashing needed, the objective is just to score goals by any means necessary.
Matches can be played as 1v1 up to 4v4, and only last around five minutes, with ‘sudden death’ overtime if the score is tied come the final whistle.
This is a game which can be enjoyed by players of all ages, a great party choice if you have the family around.
While the base game is free, there are packs you buy which give you access to rare and fancier looking cars, starting around £7.99 up to £24.99.
Brawlhalla (PEGI 7)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
Another game that’s been around for a while, but seems to be getting better with age.
Very much in the vein of Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros, the aim is to knock your opponent off the stage by any means possible.
Brawlhalla boasts 56 playable characters, and even has its own World Championship contests.
This 2D platformer pits some of the greatest mythical and historical warriors against each other – including Valkyries, Vikings, medieval knights, mobsters and pirates.
Over the years a number of real world and crossover characters have been added, including Hellboy, Lara Croft, the Ninja Turtles and wrestlers John Cena, The Undertaker and the late ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage.
Of course, the free-to-play version has a greatly reduced roster of characters, with just nine selectable for free from a weekly rotation.
To fully purchase characters requires in-game currency, with 140 Mammoth Coins costing around £4.99 up to £39.99 for 1,600 Mammoth Coins.
Character packs can also be purchased costing anything from £7.39 up to £79.99.
Fortnite (PEGI 12) PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
Unless you’ve been living on the Moon for the past few years, this game can’t have escaped your attention. One of the most successful online video games of its kind, it’s available in three disthe tinct modes – Battle Royale, Save The World, and Fortnite Creative.
Battle Royale sees up to 100 players fighting to be the last gamer standing, while Save The World sees up to four players collaborating towards a common objective on various missions.
Fortnite Creative is more of a sandbox game, giving players complete freedom to create their own mini games such as battle arenas, race courses, platforming challenges, etc.
Of the three modes, only Save The World is pay-to-play, but as ever there is in-game currency you can purchase to spend on characters, costumes and accessories.
It will cost you £6.49 for 1,000 V-Bucks, with 13,500 V-Bucks setting you back £64.99. Bundles and special packs cost from £3.19 up to around £15.99.
MultiVersus (PEGI 12)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, PC
Launched this year, this is another platform fighter looking to emulate the success of Super Smash Bros.
MultiVersus sees players battling on different stages, attempting to knock their opponent beyond the stage’s boundary by dealing sufficient damage.
Where this game stands out is the characters you can play as. There are 23 fighters from various Warner Brothers shows and movies, you can play as anyone from Bugs Bunny, Marvin the Martian, and Taz the Tasmanian Devil, to characters from Gremlins, Game of Thrones and Rick and Morty. There’s even an appearance from DC superheroes like Wonder Woman, Superman and Black Adam.
There are two in-game currencies here – gold, which is earned in game, and Gleamium, which costs real-world money. You’ll get 450 Gleamium for £3.99, and 6,000 will cost £39.99. While there is a free version of the game, players can purchase a season pass for MultiVersus, which gives them access to additional character skins, battle passes and various rare effects. They start at £32.99 and go up to £79.99.
Fall Guys (PEGI 3)
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox X/S, Switch, PC
This uber cute Battle Royale/party game started life as a paid-for title but was made free when its developer was taken over by Epic Games.
Fall Guys draws inspiration from game shows like Takeshi’s Castle, It’s a Knockout, Wipeout, and playground games like tag and the everbrutal British Bulldog.
In fact, it’s been described as ‘Super Monkey Ball for the Fortnite generation’.
It sees up to 60 players competing through round after round of escalating chaos until only one victor remains.
The Fall Guys themselves are adorable little jelly bean type characters, who waddle and wobble their way through a succession of ever escalating stakes.
In-game currency here is Show-Bucks, with 1,000 costing you £6.49 and 13,500 setting you back £64.99.
You can also buy packs and passes which cost from around £3.19 up to £15.99.