Free Games
Best free games to download & play on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
EPIC/EA/MICROSOFT/ACTIVISION
Free games are great because they require the bare minimum of you, that usually being hardware to run the game on. They allow you to gather your friends and try out different titles, or get your bearings if you are a newcomer to gaming, without spending a single dime.
The best free games naturally tend to offer additional paid extras such as cosmetics or battle passes, but if you jump in without spending anything you’ll still have a great time.
From entries in some of gaming’s most popular franchises to games that were once fully priced, there are plenty of amazing free games to download on PC or console.
So, without further adieu, here are our picks for the best free games in 2023 for you to download on PC, PS5, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch to play right now.
Alternatively, be sure to check out our list of the best MMO games to download in 2023, the best mobile games, and the best JRPGs of all time for even more recommendations.
Apex Legends
RESPAWN ENTERTAINMENT
Apex Legends releases new content every few months.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
EA may have sent Titanfall 2 to die back in 2016 up against Battlefield and Call of Duty, but the best thing to come from it was Apex Legends. A spin-off of sorts that in many ways has eclipsed the original, Apex Legends is a battle royale with unique characters called Legends.
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Each has its own set of abilities, which combine with fluid movement and shooting mechanics to create a squad-based battle royale that feels unique from others in the genre.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2
ACTIVISION
Al Mazrah is a huge new map to explore.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC
Another battle royale, Warzone 2 is finally here and offers two games in one. The first, Battle Royale, will be immediately recognizable to anyone that played the first game, while the second, DMZ, is more akin to Escape from Tarkov.
Both lean on Call of Duty’s satisfying gunplay, and progression carries over into Modern Warfare 2.
CS:GO
VALVE CORPORATION
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one of Steam’s most popular titles.
Platforms: PC
CS:GO, or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive if you’re feeling formal, is arguably the grandaddy of tactical shooters. The game is a highly competitive one that rewards quick thinking and even quicker reflexes, while also being one of the longest-running and most popular esports in history.
Valve’s shooter may offer weapon skins that can cost more than a car, but you can try it out for nothing – making it an ideal choice for one of the best free games in 2023.
Dauntless
PHOENIX LABS
Dauntless is great fun with friends.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
Dauntless takes the core Monster Hunter formula of killing giant beasts to turn them into weapons and armor, but strips out a lot of the more impenetrable elements and boils it down to a great co-op action title that won’t cost you a penny.
The game keeps growing, and offers cross-play and cross-progression, too, meaning you can pick up where you left off.
Destiny 2
BUNGIE
Destiny 2 is all about earning sweet loot.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC
Working as a bizarre hybrid of a first-person shooter and an MMO, Destiny 2 may have launched in 2017 but it’s really hit its stride in the last 18 months or so. That’s largely thanks to its story focusing on more personal moments, as well as the combat being some of the most satisfying in gaming today.
While the free-to-play version has been cut down considerably, there’s still plenty to see and do, and it’s great to play with friends, too.
DOTA 2
VALVE
Dota is full of colorful characters.
Platforms: PC
DOTA 2 is as complex as it is addictive, building from humble beginnings to become one of Steam’s most popular titles. Sharing to MOBA crown with League of Legends, DOTA is full of powerful heroes and tactical considerations.
It may take you hundreds of hours to feel like you’ve gained a strong grasp of its deeper mechanics, but there’s nothing quite like it when it clicks.
Fortnite
EPIC GAMES
Fortnite has even added Indiana Jones.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
No list of the best free games in 2023 would be complete without arguably the biggest game in the world right now, and Fortnite’s Chapter 4 Season 2 update brings a crossover with Attack on Titan to the table.
Then there are the dozens of crossovers to look forward to, with anything from Marvel, DC, anime, Star Wars, and even real-world sports stars being fair game as character skins to purchase.
Halo Infinite
343 INDUSTRIES
Halo Infinite has its issues, but there’s still nothing quite like it.
Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PC
While Halo Infinite’s campaign is very good, it’s multiplayer that’s likely to keep players logging in over the coming months. Capturing the magic of Halo 3, this free-to-play suite offers plenty of maps and modes, as well as a battle pass to earn unlocks for free.
While Halo’s unique pace will take some getting used to, Halo Infinite rewards skilled players while also making newcomers feel at home with a lengthy tutorial and a bot-based playlist. It’s worth noting, though, that the game’s community has dwindled since launch due to a lack of sizeable content updates – here’s hoping it’ll grow again soon.
League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics
RIOT GAMES
LoL’s array of skins is incredible.
Platforms: PC
League of Legends is famous for its huge array of Champions, and with well over a hundred to choose from, there’s something for every playstyle.
That’s a good thing because once you feel a connection to a Champion, you’ll start to build a competitive understanding of their role in the game’s ever-shifting meta and team composition.
As a bonus, League of Legends includes Teamfight Tactics, a fiendishly addictive auto-battler that brings the roster of characters into a whole new genre while sacrificing none of the depth.
Overwatch 2
BLIZZARD
Overwatch 2 is one of the newer free games to be released.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
Overwatch 2 is undoubtedly one of the best free-to-play games you can download in 2022. The first-person shooter includes a free Battle Pass and multiple skins, allowing you to feel a key part of the game without spending any money. What’s more, there are even a few new heroes that can be played, all with their own unique abilities to bring into each match.
With multiple different roles to play, from Support to DPS and Tank, there are different playstyles for every gamer – and what’s more, Overwatch 2 is even available to play on Steam Deck, making it the perfect pick-up and play title.
Rocket League
PSYONIX
Rocket League is easy to pick up, but tough to master.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
Rocket League is perhaps one of gaming’s simplest concepts to explain, even to non-gamers — it’s football (or soccer), but with cars. Don’t expect anything as basic from the gameplay, though, as Rocket League has one of gaming’s most notoriously high skill ceilings.
While it’ll take time to find your feet (or should that be wheels?), you’ll soon be flying through the air to score a stunning, tournament-winning goal in one of the best free games you’ll find today.
The Sims 4
ELECTRONIC ARTS, MAXIS
Jump into The Sims 4 for free.
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
EA and Maxis’ life-sim has finally gone free-to-play, and it’s easy to fall in love while creating a family, building a home, and getting to know the neighbours while keeping them as happy as you can.
While The Sims 4 has dozens of expansions, you can get to grips with the base game on PC and console for the price of zero Simoleons.
Valorant
RIOT GAMES
Valorant is exhilarating.
Platforms: PC
Riot may be dominating a lot of this list, but Valorant is the developer’s latest free-to-play sensation. Standing on the shoulders of what came before (in this case, it’s CS:GO), Valorant is an insanely popular shooter that rewards precision and patience.
With regular updates adding new Agents, maps, and more, the game has become an esports juggernaut already.
Warframe
DIGITAL EXTREMES
Warframe’s selection of playable Frames is stunning.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, PC
Ninjas are cool, there’s no questioning that, but space ninjas? They’re even cooler. Warframe smartly wraps this understanding into every facet of its ever-expanding universe. Not only does Warframe offer diverse character classes, but it also keeps growing.
What began as a corridor shooter now has open-world segments, huge ship-to-ship battles, and multiple single-player storylines that weave a universe’s worth of lore throughout.
