Essential free games
29 Call of Duty: Warzone
We mentioned it in the intro, so there’s no shock that it features in our list. The bottom line here is that you get the same Call of Duty quality we all know and love, but for free. Of course, you only get the battle royale mode, not the campaign or standard online features, but battle royales are taking over, and the COD franchise sure knows a thing or two about producing a solid visually brilliant first-person shooter. Put two and two together and you have a great free game. www.callofduty.com/warzone
30 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
CS: GO has been popular for years, and by the looks of things, it’s not going anywhere soon. At some point, you’re bound to have played or watched it, and now it’s free on Steam. For the uninitiated, it’s an online team-based shooter; if you want to play casually with friends, you can, if you want a highintensity competitive experience, you can have that, too. CS: GO works across all sorts of performance levels, so is a very accessible PC game. http://store.steampowered.com
31 Old School RuneScape
If you love RuneScape and need to fill the nostalgia void, Old School RuneScape should do the trick. After a poll to revive it received over 50,000 votes, a separate older version of the already massive RuneScape was released in February 2013 to subscribers. By 2015, it was free to the public. It’s one of the best retro MMORPGs to date – check it out now. https://oldschool.runescape.com
32 Fortnite
Although you might be sick to death of this game, you can’t deny its mass popularity, competitive nature, and attractive bright art style. It’s certainly not going away anytime soon, and it continues to bring huge amounts of traction to gaming. Its building capability, paired with shooting and bringing the battle royale game mode to the forefront, are what sets this game apart, and why it continues to be one of the best free games on the market. If you want to hop online with your buddies, it’s a great place to have a laugh, but also somewhere you can get carried away in its intense competitive underside, too. www.epicgames.com
33 War Thunder
War Thunder was first announced back in 2011, with its worldwide release falling in 2013, and since then it has been one of the most prominent vehicular combat multiplayer games available. Its main focus is on richly detailed aviation battles, with over 1,900 aircraft, ground vehicles, and warships to immerse yourself in. The graphics are stunning when running on full settings, and you can’t ask for more when it comes to a completely free MMO. http://store.steampowered.com
34 DOTA 2
A top-down arena battle game that’s almost certainly one of the best-known MOBA games to date, DOTA 2 essentially spawned from a mod for Warhammer III: Reign of Chaos, but it’s made a name for itself, especially in the esports scene. It was developed by Valve, with major involvement from the original creator of DOTA. If you’re into real-time strategy and tower defense games, this MOBA is a brilliant free addition to your arsenal. http://store. steampowered.com
35 Destiny 2
Closely following the construction of an open-world game, you can wander freely around this gorgeous game, either to explore every nook of the map or find quests to complete the campaign. The mythical sci-fi-inspired world is captivating, with its shared-world-style multiplayer. There are elements of PvE and PvP throughout, and with a triple-A FPS RPG like this costing nothing, it’s worth giving it a go. http://store.steampowered.com
36 RaceRoom Racing Experience
RaceRoom is one of our favorite car simulators. Its addictive yet realistic gameplay is a great example of what you can get from a free game. It’s not quite full-fledged, like the paid alternatives, but the visuals are still stunning. RaceRoom is home to official race series such as DTM, WTCR, the WTCC, and ADAC GT Masters. If you want to race like a professional, jump into the driver’s seat right here. http://store.steampowered.com
37 The House in the Woods
Why not throw a horror title into the mix? If you’ve seen The Blair Witch Project and weren’t scared enough (props to you), try out this game, then see how you feel. The story sees you out on a camping trip in the deep forest, when your friend vanishes during the night. You step away to investigate, but then you get lost, too. Classic scenario, but you’ll certainly get the chills here. Whether you want to freak out your pals or enjoy the adrenaline that horror games give you, The House in the Woods is sure to satisfy. www.itch.io
38 Genshin Impact
What you get here is a stunning open-world experience that uses elemental magic, character switching, and great brawls to draw you in. Visually, this fantasy adventure draws inspiration from the likes of Breath of the Wild, but we view that as nothing but a positive. There are tons of resources to collect, craft, and cook with, plus mini-bosses to fight and puzzles to complete, so Genshin Impact will still keep you on your toes even when you aren’t following the campaign mode. https://genshin. mihoyo.com/en