We all love video games, don't we? But when they come for free, that's the icing on the cake we all need. So to kickstart our best gaming lists, let's start with the best free pc games available in 2022. This list consists of free-to-download PC games without a subscription or anything extra. Let's get going then!
While you are here, you may want also to check our lists of the best cross-platform games, best Android games, and best iOS games!
The Battle Royale genre reigns supreme on our list so you will find plenty of first-person shooter and third-person shooter games. You will also find some of the best free-to-play single-player and multiplayer RPGs and the best digital card games available.
Fortnite
The Battle Royale remains enormous right now and has invaded the mobile world. Epic Games has refined it to perfection with Fortnite Battle Royale. Originally designed as an add-on for Fortnite, Battle Royale blew up in a way that nobody expected, quickly turning into one of the best free games for 2022.
Fortnite Battle Royale is based on a simple scenario: you're dropped on a map with 99 other players in a free-for-all melee, and the last one left standing at the end wins. Epic Games is working hard to steadily integrate new game modes and fresh features due to its meteoric success.
Fortnite is a fully multiplatform game, and that is among the best parts of it. Whether on PC, Xbox One, iOS, Android, or PS4, you can join your friends and play with millions of others. If you haven't got into it yet, Fortnite is still worth trying in 2022.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends, a battle royale game developed by Titanfall Entertainment, was a refreshing take on the genre. Apex Legends is a more polished and refined approach to the genre. It features familiar action that Respawn Entertainment's Titanfall series honed to near perfection and combines it with a diverse cast of characters. Apex Legends' brilliance lies in its ease of use and its many strategic options for experienced players.
The ping system makes it easy for players to interact with each other. This game is an evolution of ideas brought to market by its predecessors.
Lost Ark
Action RPG-and-MMORPG-hybrid Lost Ark is having a moment right now. This South Korean gem has been discovered by tens of thousands of players across North America and Europe since its launch in February 2022. Lost Ark was released in December 2019 and has since gained a substantial following before invading the western market.
High fantasy adventurers are trapped in a civil war with demons from another world. Seven Arks hold the key to turning the tide in the war for humanity. Although the quest structure can be repetitive and the story is not among the most exciting you will find on this list, the game's outstanding production value and diversity make it a standout. You won't run out of stuff to do once you reach the endgame.
Lost Ark is free-to-play and subscription-based, similar to many MMOs today, but it doesn't cost anything to get started so that you can try it.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Activision quickly jumped in the fray when battle royale games became so popular that it was only a matter of timing before they launched Call of Duty. Technically, this is only the second Call of Duty battle Royale experience (Black Ops 4's Blackout mode wasn't the first). Warzone is a dedicated shooter that builds on that foundation.Â
Warzone is like a compilation of the best Call of Duty games, beautifully crafted to create a new last-man-standing juggernaut fueled by Activision's trademark intensity. Warzone is full of clever twists to the genre, like a brutal prison to give you another chance to fight. It excels in giving players second chances in the harsh frontier. Time has shown that a great game can live up to its fans' high expectations and become an online giant.
Destiny 2
Bungie's move to make Destiny 2 a live service has proved to be a huge success. It was initially a premium product with a high price. Each expansion comes with a cost, and the drier months of the year are kept active by season pass content. However, players can get a free package that includes a variety of storylines and multiplayer action. Destiny 2's New Light edition allows players to access every planet and Crucible, Gambit, Strike, and PVP multiplayer.
This is an impressive collection of content that you can dive into. It shines because Bungie has superb attention to detail, action-packed gunplay, and an improved sense of storytelling each season brings to the game.
War Thunder
Realistic simulations and accessibility need not be mutually exclusive. Once you download it, you're flying – or driving, or shooting, or even both at the same time, depending on your preference. This massively multiplayer WWII combat game encapsulates the excitement and explosions that planes and tanks can generate in terms of explosions and fighting. You will have plenty of fun in WT!
Dota 2
The first MOBA genre representative is the sequel of a classic. The Dota universe may have evolved from a WarCraft 3 mod, but Dota 2 has become an entity of its own and is still one of the best free PC games.
This type of game's main challenge is the learning curve due to its intricate mechanics and strategy. However, it's the type of gaming that is highly enjoyable, especially among friends. If you are looking for one of the most challenging MOBA games to master, this game is definitely for you.
Trove
Trove might look like Minecraft, but it is a thoroughbred MMO with many classes inspired by sword-and-sorcery classics. Trove, like many MMOs, is all about grinding for more gear. This makes it an excellent hobby game, mainly since it receives regular updates that include everything from new dungeons and PvP game modes.
Brawlhalla
Brawlhalla may have been inspired by the Super Smash Bros. series from Nintendo, but it has a few cool twists that give it a unique flavor. This fighting game allows you to compete with four other players in a friendly match, with the goal of scoring points.
Brawlhalla, like Samurai Shodown, is a weapons-based event. Each fighter has a set of weapons that they can use during matches. These weapons can be used to complement your move repertoire and are randomly thrown onto the stages.Â
Brawlhalla offers a weekly selection of playable characters. You can also purchase your favorites with in-game currency. Brawlhalla allows cross-platform play between consoles and PC, which is great because you will always find a match.
Final Fantasy XIV
After a rough launch, Final Fantasy XIV is of the best PC games, free or paid. Final Fantasy XIV is a beloved game in today's online world and has avoided many of the pitfalls of other online games with a great community supporting it.
While you can't get the whole game for free, you will be able to get started exploring a lot with your Chocobo before you hit level 60 and are required to buy an expansion. One thing we can say about the game's story is that it won't bore you out, while you will find a vast array of options to invest in towards your character's development, with 14 classes and many professions.
Valorant
A unique and challenging mix of a first-person shooter enhanced with magi powers.This superpowered shooter from the creators of League of Legends infuses Overwatch-inspired heroes with extensive powers and even more prominent personalities into Counter-Strike-inspired multiplayer. Knowing the map and watching your corners is vital to knowing when to unleash the most potent hell on the enemy team. As soon as you start to play, you'll be able to access several Valorant's heroes. You can also unlock more heroes by finishing their Contracts and paying for microtransactions. Cosmetics are also available, but you can still enjoy the intense shooting action and the basics.
League of Legends
Pick your champion and charge into battle in this trailblazing free-to-play title from the folks that brought you the Warcraft III mod, Dota. League of Legends' automated matchmaking, the sundry cast of characters, and exquisite maps have made it a multiplayer powerhouse that still stands strong in 2022.
Just like Dota 2, it's an aggressive gameplay experience, to be sure, but one that rewards great teamwork and careful tactics. There is a bit of a learning curve as well, but with great skill comes great rewards.
Magic: The Gathering Arena
Magic: The Gathering is one of the most loved card games on the market. Because of its complex and expensive nature, it can be challenging to get started. Magic: The Gathering Arena allows you to play Wizards of the Coast's most famous game digitally without investing.
Magic: The Gathering Arena offers detailed tutorials explaining the game's basics. This release is slightly more accessible than the physical one. Arena also gives out many decks and booster packages during its opening hours. This allows players to get started quickly and last a decently long while. You can check our MTG Arena codes for more freebies to help you get started.
Gwent: The Witcher Card Game
You can command an army of sorcerers, knights, and monsters and then lead them in an epic battle with only your cards. It's a card game, after all. Gwent was originally a minigame within The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt. It has since evolved into a standalone spinoff from the popular fantasy game.
Online, you play against other players in rounds. To win each round, your opponent must earn more points. The winner is the player who wins at least two of the three rounds. You'll be able to appreciate the enhanced experience if you have spent hours at The Witcher 3 Wild Hunt at Gwent tables, as we have.
Gwent was originally only available for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. However, iOS users now have the option to enjoy it.
Forge of Empires
You could find the browser-based realm-building real-time strategy game offered by Forge of Empires to be a good fit if you wish to sharpen your operational skills and create historical strategies.
As the leader of a small settlement, you will guide it through many familiar historical periods, conquering, expanding, and building your way towards a modern metropolis, beginning with Stone Age huts and spear-wielding warriors.Â
The game allows you to manage your growing armies through turn-based combat, form guilds with your friends, and discover revolutionary discoveries that will take you forward into the next century.
Fallout Shelter
Fallout Shelter could easily have been considered a tie-in game. But Bethesda has done an excellent job keeping it relevant over the years. Android and iOS users can create their vaults and play with the lives and fates of other vault dwellers. Send them into the wilderness and risk their lives for the Vault!
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
Ever played Magic the Gathering? Hearthstone is Blizzard's attempt at building an online version of it for free.
As a typical Blizzard offering, this one's truly impressive. It's instantly enticing, lacking the terrifying learning curve you would expect from an online fantasy card game. Hearthstone plays fast, has a very casual visual approach, and benefits from a basic rule set, all of which add up to a very accessible card battler that offers you plenty of fun – especially if you're a World of Warcraft fan.
Not that it's not challenging, especially if you go against an opponent that plays their cards right, which is why it gets our vote for one of the best free games to date.
Eve Online
Eve Online is one of those legendary games that never get old. This long-running MMO sandbox gives you a ship and takes you on cosmic adventures with pirates, guilds, and player-created companies.
Eve Online is more of an experiment than a game. It forces you to interact with many other users to survive. Eve Online is one of the most unique and rewarding games ever created.
Splitgate
Imagine Portal meeting Halo, creating a child with a strong arm ready to dominate the esports FPS world. Splitgate is the name of this child. It's a game where death can be from any angle using teleporting bullets. Splitgate is a fantastic game to watch in action, as cunning players use portal technology to perforate spinal cords. There is great content in the free-to-play beta for PC and consoles. Splitgate has become a recognized leader in free-to-play shooters after a few years.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic was not intended to be free at release. However, it has since adopted the free-to-play model like many MMORPGs before. If you want to satisfy your inner Sith, this is the best way to do that for free.
Subscriptions are available for more in-game potential and endgame content, but you can do everything for free in this game, in all honesty. Grab the latest SWTOR gift codes if you are just starting.
Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO)
CS: GO is one of the oldest entries in this list. Despite the increasing competition in esports, CS: GO has not shown any signs of slowing down. CS: GO is a classic example of high-speed action combined with precision. It continues to be viewed worldwide and attracts remarkable viewing numbers every time a major tournament starts. CS: GO has had a significant impact on esports overall. Its perfectly balanced competitiveness makes it an ideal game for professional and casual gamers. This is a benchmark that very few games have ever been able to match over the years.
CRSED: F.O.A.D
Known initially as Cuisine Royale, this free-to-play battle royale game lets you strap pots and pans to yourself instead of plates to protect yourself.
It started as a spinoff for squad-based MMO shooter Enlisted but quickly gained its player base. With the freedom of being a ‘joke' game, Darkflow Software has been able to experiment with mechanics PUBG wouldn't dare consider, like demonic powers, Champions, and even jetpacks.
Forza Motorsport 6: Apex
Forza Motorsport 6 Apex brought a complete Forza Motorsport game to PC gamers for the first time – before Forza Horizon 3 arrived in 2016. Forza Motorsport is not on the same level as non-free games of the series, but it's still a terrific option that looks outstanding even in 2021.
If you love racing games and want a free-to-play game to download, this is the one to get.
Path Of Exile
Path Of Exile is a gore-slick and intricate action RPG with a refreshingly antipodean setting and voice cast. At its core, it is a game similar to Diablo and Torchlight, and in typical fashion, it gets much more complicated as you go on. Be wise with your character build choices so you can handle the endgame.
Path of Exile is a game in which you have to earn your progress. The kind we all like, don't we?
Team Fortress 2
Team Fortress 2 is thirteen years old, but it still feels modern because it re-made the formula for online shooters in its image. It's a team-based hero shooter from before we knew the term “hero shooter.” Two teams of whatever size battle against one another, each player is choosing from nine available characters.
Each character has weapons and abilities, and groups will either attack or defend on maps by capturing briefcases and points or pushing a payload across the map.
Team Fortress 2 turned its drip-feed of new levels and weapons into a part of the game's entertainment and, in the process, layered sub-classes upon those initial archetypes. While its original appeal lay partly in its elegance, it has depth, adding uniqueness and versatility to sub-classes.
As for its free-to-play trappings: it's primarily hats, which are optional. You can also unlock crates to get new weapons, but they're also craftable if you don't want to spend anything.
Alien Swarm
Alien Swarm is a four-player co-op game in which you control a character from above as you fight swarms of lines created by Valve. You do so as one of four classes: Medic, Officer, Special Weapons, and Tech, who have distinct abilities such as hacking doors, placing turrets, and healing teammates, but who all spend most of their time popping bugs with shotguns and machineguns.
Alien Swarm is simple and around three hours long, but it's a very well-made game that will challenge your shooting and coop skills. Overall, an outstanding and delightful game!
Warframe
Warframe is a game by Digital Extremes released in 2013, in which you play a sci-fi ninja member of the so-called Tenno race. Warframe is a third-person co-op game that has been quietly growing in popularity as new updates and challenges have been added, significantly improving its initial experience. The game has gained massive open world zones and the many missions that make up its planet-hopping campaign.Â
Warframe is one of my favorite free games, as it is a great 3rd-person action shooter, and I think everyone will enjoy the action. If you are getting started, look at our Warframe weapon tier list and the schedule for past and upcoming Prime Warframes. If you are looking to decorate your warframe with some glyphs once you get started, you can check our list of Warframe promo codes.
World of Tanks
A tank simulator engaging and accessible, World of Tanks provides a foundation of intricate and complete game mechanics built on the mightiest PC tank games ever created. Two teams of tankers compete in a classic deathmatch scenario in which they face off against each other in what is essentially a MOBA version of tank battles. This game has hundreds of vehicles to unlock, from speedy scouts to hulking heavies. And there are an astonishing number of tanks included in the game. If you are trying to decide which free game to play between World of Tanks and War Thunder, read our comparison review. Check our World of Tanks invite codes for free bonus rewards.
World of Warships
The World of Tanks game may appeal to you, but if you are looking for a wetter setting, World of Warships might be just the game for you. While the controls are simple and welcoming, the game offers exciting tactics to introduce the navy to the concept of deathmatch. In my opinion, World of Warships is more engaging than Total War's naval engagements, Silent Hunter is more approachable, and Pirates is far, far more complex. The World of Warships esports scene will lure you in, too, if you have a competitive nature. To get started with World of Warships, check our list of World of Warships codes for some freebies to help you out!
Genshin Impact
Genshin impact is not just a Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild clone, but it takes some of its best elements to the next level in its fantasy world. It's a stunning open-world action RPG with a great combat system and features. You can access many characters and a ton of weapons and switch between characters to perform elemental reactions with your magic. Genshin Impact is an entertaining game that has me hooked already.
While Genshin Impact is a gacha game at its core, it is not as demanding as other games of this nature. You start with six characters for free, and you will be able to unlock a few more with the Wish system before you reach a point where you want to spend any real money on it. Developer mihoYo also offers free promo codes to unlock rewards, so check our Genhin Impact codes guide and our Genshin Impact tier list for the best characters to start working on!
Dauntless
After becoming an overnight success on PC, Dauntless is a household name at this point, thanks to Monster Hunter World. It offers a remarkably similar experience that's free and easier on your PC.
Drifting away from the clear environmentalist focus of Monster Hunter: World, where you're trying to protect the habitats, Dauntless simplifies things a little, just tasking you with slaying behemoths to save a human colony.
The gameplay is much more straightforward and free of some of the more obtuse gameplay systems you love or hate in the Monster Hunter series. However, the series's core DNA is there – hunt monsters, craft gear, and hunt more monsters, making it one of the best free games to have.
Spellbreak
Spellbreak is not just another Battle Royale game. It's unique as you control battlemages and fight with magic instead of ordinary people with firearms (and a Mandalorian).
Spellbreak replaces guns with different elemental gauntlets for your dominant hand. You can do all sorts of basic combos with your main hand and off-hand gauntlets, which you acquire in-game, to grasp victory.
How to Get More Free Games
We all love Epic Games weekly free games, right? Check our list to keep track of the latest free games at the Epic Games Store.
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