Fortnite might not be at the peak of its power anymore, but it's impossible to deny the phenomenal impact that Epic's battle royale has had. After a swift pivot away from the original Save the World, Fortnite became a family-friendly alternative to the rapidly-growing last-man-standing genre, complete with its iconic building mechanic. Since then, it's set a new benchmark for the pace of change for evolving games, with an ever-deepening narrative, ambitious crossover events, and in-game virtual concerts that draw in audiences in the millions. Premium currency 'V-bucks' is reserved solely for cosmetic purchases. Halo's premium Xbox heritage might once have made Halo a strange choice for a free PC game, but with the release of Infinite, the game is changing. While the campaign will be a paid experience, Halo Infinite's multiplayer is entirely free, offering a crisp experience that's a little more arcade-style than something like Counter-Strike or Destiny.

No Players Online - In the spooky No Players Online, you log onto an old FPS server, but where you’re the only player in a futile game of Capture the Flag. The Republia Times - You're the editor of a newspaper in a totalitarian state in this game from the creator of Return of the Obra Dinn. Each day you must choose which stories to run and how much space to give them, impacting your paper's popularity and the government's approval game review with the general populace.

There are micro transactions galore, however, so be aware that there's a lot of pressure to spend your real money once you load into the game. Valorant's core gameplay loop sees you choose an Agent, all of which have special abilities, and join a team of six. You're then pitted against another team of six in a one-life mode that forces the offensive team to plant a bomb while the defensive team tries to stop them.

Crossout (Vehicle Combat)

Both the setting and storyline of Genshin Impact are compelling, with lore and memorable characters in abundance. The gorgeous art style makes every lush forest, towering mountain, and ancient ruin you visit feel special. With regular updates, Genshin Impact continues to evolve, offering countless hours of entertainment for both casual and dedicated players. Warframe demands a lot of time but is a fun smorgasbord of the most popular video game genres with a dedicated, friendly community.

This is a MOBA game that focuses on mythological figures going to battle. If you’re familiar with titles such as League of Legends, you can expect the same overall gameplay here. However, there are a number of game modes to choose from which will alter the overall gameplay goals or maps, such as Clash, a game mode that only contains two lanes. They have at their disposal numerous vehicles and weapons to allow for a futuristic experience of war.

Free-to-play games

This is the best way to introduce Undefeated, an indie game created by just three students from a university in Japan. The goal of the game is simple–you’re a superhero with unlimited superpowers and you need to defend the city. The game design looks similar to titles such as Super Meat Boy and Fez, however, the game is non-linear offering a bit more on the exploration front. Overall, your goal is to acquire various tablets and bring them to shrines. While that sounds pretty bare bones, there is a unique narrative journey to be enjoyed while you play.

To be honest, there are more than a few people out there who play games like this exclusively. That's why the end-of-year Steam stats always say the average number of games per player is, like, four, even while folks like me sit around with our ridiculous 1000+ game libraries. The best free game to download depends on your personal taste, computer specs, and what you’re searching to play currently. Choosing to fight non-player characters (NPC) monsters, completing goals, or increasing your experience in the available skills.

Marvel Snap (Collectible Card Game)

Use  your cards to win 2 out of 3 locations that have a higher total power value on the location than your opponent. Attacking your opponent with the goal of destroying your opponent’s hero. You assume the role of either a Federation Starship captain or a warrior for the Klingon Empire.

Unfortunately, the free trial doesn't allow for PvP gameplay and is quite limited when it comes to partying up with friends, as you can’t send any party invites yourself on the trial. If you're just looking at FFXIV from a content perspective, though, it's difficult to pass up. The beauty of Old School Runescape is you never have to focus on just one aspect of it. One day you can train your Smithing skill while the next you can go around defeating various monsters in the hopes of receiving a unique drop that will help you make more money or train a different skill.

This turbocharged arena-shooter has been making waves on Xbox and PC alike. One of the most distinctive free-to-play games on this list, Warframe is an action-oriented third-person game with parkour-platforming and stealth elements. As a member of an ancient race of warriors, you customize and pilot a biomechanical combat armor called a Warframe to fight a variety of alien races bent on destruction.

Spelunky is eternally entertaining and unique as levels are randomly generated with four distinct areas that increase in difficulty. The second installment only adds to the fun, with more treasure to loot, dangerous caverns to explore, and people in need of rescue. Best of all, the sequel added cooperative gameplay with secondary player options available both locally and online.

Apex Legends offers a tense, team-based experience if you want a more tactical shooter. Destiny 2 has really proven itself over the years, with a constant stream of updates giving players more and more reasons to keep playing. The base experience is free as well, meaning you can get a taste for yourself, before deciding to dive in further.

You’ll need to invest some time finding a dedicated group of players and staging assaults, or you may find yourself lost and alone without a clue as to your objectives. With this loot, players can craft new armor and buff their stats when having to face other types of monsters. Some battles can be quite lengthy as you’ll need to not only monitor your vitals but keep track of every move a monster makes. Players will also find a rather active online community enjoying this title. You’ll get to play as two brand new characters, all the while meeting old friends like Sans from Undertale. The game’s chapter-based content makes it more compelling to play, and you can expect plenty of challenges ahead.