So, you want to play games on your PC, but don’t want to spend a penny on the game itself. Well, don’t worry- you have come to just the right place.
And no, we aren’t talking about pirated games, we would never endorse such practices, and believe that developers/ publishers must be suitably rewarded for their arduous work.
So, without further ado, let us take a look at the 100 best free games to play right now. We’ve divided it into various categories.
MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game)
Blade and Soul
This is a free Korean MMORPG with both PVE as well as PVP elements, and you can choose from one of 4 unique races. There is extensive character personalization, along with interesting gameplay and good visuals.
Star Trek Online
Developed by Cryptic Studios, and based on the Star Trek series created by Gene Roddenberry. This sci-fi MMORPG lets you explore new worlds across multiple galaxies, and there are 100+ unique Star Trek locations built-in. Interact with characters from the original Star Trek TV show, and build your own spaceship, crew, and combat/ exploration teams.
Vindictus
Vindictus is an action-packed MMORPG in which you battle monsters, explore dungeons, and traverse dangerous lands in your quest to defend humanity from the forces of evil. With its robust and fast-paced combat system, nine distinct character classes, and an amazing co-op system, Vindictus is a brilliant free to play MMORPG that looks and feels like a premium game.
TERA
You can choose to be a Ninja, Sorcerer, Archer, Berserker, Lancer, Priest, or pretty much anything that you want to be in this Fantasy MMORPG, that also incorporates a unique action-battle combat system in which you have to carefully position your character and time combos to deal the maximum damage.
Phantasy Star Online 2
Developed by Sega, this is a Japanese action MMORPG which is a part of the Phantasy Star series. There is a level based progression system, along with various character customization options and a bunch of weapons to choose from.
Wildstar
Fight for control over the planet Nexus, as one of two opposing factions- The Exiles, and the Dominions. This is an open world MMO action packed games with 6 unique classes to choose from, and also features some really amazing quests.
Guild Wars 2
Action-oriented combat, customizable personal storylines, dynamic events, immersive quests, and world-class PvP- guild wars 2 is a game whose world dynamically changes based on the actions of its players, so you never know what you are going to encounter next. No two players will ever have the same experience.
RuneScape
Recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most popular free MMORPG, Runescape is set in the fantasy world of Gielinor. It is a browser based game, so you can play it from anywhere, and don’t need a gaming PC.
Black Desert Online
Choose from 14 different classes in this fantasy MMORPG that lets you trade, tame animals, craft items, hunt and gather food, and even create your own house. And yes, it also has an intuitive skill-based combat system.
Neverwinter
Based on the highly popular Dungeons and Dragons fantasy RPG, Neverwinter is a f2p MMORPG which lets you explore the magical world of Faerun. Unravel intriguing storylines, engage in intense combat, and level up to gain access to new abilities and weapons.
Related Read: Is Neverwinter cross-platform?
Champions Online
In Champions Online, you can be the hero or the villain. It is a comic book style MMORPG with fast paced action and nearly limitless character customization. Explore new worlds across multiple dimensions, and team up with other players to create guilds.
Pokemon Revolution
If you watched Pokemon as a kid, then there is no reason to not give this amazing MMORPG a try. It is currently in its beta stage, and will run on even the lowest end PCs.
Monster Hunter Online
A classic action based MMORPG filled with mages, demons, monsters, and more- Monster Hunter Online is currently officially available only in China through Tencent, but there are several ways for you to download and play the game no matter where you live, thanks to English patches and community driven software tools.
Soul Worker
A third-person action MMORPG in which you play as a psychic teenager, using the power of your emotion or “soul”, to fuel their Soul Worker. Soul Worker is the name given to your weapon, which can be anything from a chainsaw to a greatsword, or dual pistols.
EverQuest II
Join up with your real life and online friends to battle over 5000 unique creatures, or choose to be a lone wolf and craft your own unique story in the fantasy world of EverQuest.
The Lord of The Rings Online
Join the world’s greatest fellowship of players in this visually stunning online recreation of J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-Earth. There are 4 races, 9 classes, 10 professions, 7 vocations, and over 1000 unique titles, skills, and traits.
MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena)
DOTA 2
Widely regarded as one of the most challenging games ever, Valve’s DOTA 2 is the sequel to a mod created for World of Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. This mod was called DOTA, and grew so popular that it inspired many of its developers to create their own standalone versions based on the original DOTA. Of all the spin-offs, DOTA 2 is the only one that stays true to its core, with gameplay that is unrivalled by even the most popular premium AAA games. If you get good enough at Dota, you can compete in The International held every year with millions of dollars in prize money.
League of Legends
It is the most popular MOBA in the entire world, and has a unique player base of close to 100 million worldwide. More accessible than DOTA 2, but mechanically deeper than Heroes of the Storm, League is an action-packed game in which skill, speed, and knowledge matter more than anything else.
Smite
Smite is a competitive third person action MOBA in which you play as one of several mythological gods- Zeus, Agni, Aphrodite, Amaterasu, Thor, Anubis, Artemis, Hercules, Odin, Osiris, Poseidon, and many more.
Heroes of the Storm
Blizzards own take on the extremely popular MOBA genre, Heroes of the Storm is easy to pick up, extremely fun to play, and heavily encourages team based gameplay.
Battlerite
In Battlerite, you fight alongside teammates against enemies in a colosseum style environment. This is a brawler type MOBA in which you can choose from a roster of 25 champions, each with its own unique abilities and perks.
Paragon
Developed by Epic Games, Paragon is currently available in open beta on PC as well as PS4. You are put into a direct third person control perspective, and can choose from an ever-expanding roster of heroes, as well as earn cards by playing which you can then use to customize the abilities of your character.
Heroes of Newerth
A game that once had the potential to be the biggest MOBA in the world, now it has lost a giant portion of its player base. Nevertheless, this DOTA-clone from S2 games is about as close as you can get to DOTA 2 without actually playing DOTA 2.
Strife
This is the 2nd MOBA from S2 games, and it is the spiritual successor to Heroes of Newerth, although not in the traditional sense, because this is a different game altogether and doesn’t blatantly copy mechanics from HoN.
AirMech
AirMech is an action MOBA which puts the player in control of a giant transforming robot suit that is equipped with jetpacks and advanced weaponry systems. You can also build units, and unlock new airmechs, pilots, and weapons.
Awesomenauts
A 2D MOBA presented in the form of a 3 versus 3 action platformer game. Combining team-based strategy with hero-based action, Awesomenauts is incredibly fun to play.
RTS Games (Real Time Strategy)
StarCraft II
In StarCraft II you can choose from 3 races, and play 4 different game modes that test your ability to strategize and coordinate an army composed of multiple types of units.
Zombie Defense
A modern take on the good old tower defense style of games, Zombie Defense lets you recruit soldiers and place them in slots to defend the base from waves of zombies. There are supply drops, grenades, air strikes, and much more.
WYRMSUN
A strategy based game which combines elements from mythology, science fiction, and history, Wyrmsun features a retro graphics style along with 3 playable civilizations. The maps are huge, and there are dozens of units to build control, along with tons of buildings and technologies that you can use to gain a strategic advantage over your opponent.
ISTROLID
In this game, you design your own spaceships from a multitude of parts and each ship has its own balanced strengths and weaknesses. Conquer galaxies with the ships that you built, or test the strengths of your design in multiplayer combat.
Soda Dungeon
Manage you team of adventurers as you raid dungeons for treasures. You can upgrade your tavern, purchase new sodas, and attract party members to join your squad.
Card Hunter
Although it is technically regarded as a collectible card game, card hunter implements certain elements and mechanics found mostly in strategy games, it combines deck building with tactical combat and fantasy roleplaying in a truly unique fashion.
Art of War Red Tides
In Art of War, you select your race, choose the troops that you wish to take into battle, and then battle it out using teamwork and strategy to defeat enemies.
Atlas Reactor
You can think of this game as a fusion of arena style brawlers and turn based strategy games. You make decisions, then watch them play out in real time. There are multiple maps, game modes, and several classes to choose from.
Sunrider- Mask of Arcadius
Set in a futuristic timeline, this strategy game is focused around Captain Kayto, an intergalactic crusader whose home world has been destroyed. Your job is to gather a team of pilots for the mecha squadron, build relationships with allies from various civilizations across space, and command your forces in turn-based tactical missions.
Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop
A tactical top-down perspective co-op shooter game with PvP, deathmatch, gun game, instagib and TDM modes. It features steam workshop support, and packs a bunch of different weapons and maps.
Vikings- War of Clans
Set up a base, build troops, and march them out to engage in fierce battle with other players. You can choose from various warrior classes and complete many quests, tactical gameplay and stunning graphics make this strategy game a must-play for anyone who is a fan of fantasy worlds set in the medieval era.
FPS First Person Shooter)
Team Fortress 2
A class-based first-person shooter game in which you play as a team to take objectives. There are spies, mechanics, heavies, scouts, and many more characters that you can choose. Fun to play, with a unique graphics style.
Paladins
Think of it as a FPS + MOBA, with elements from each genre. Paladins allows you to select from a roster of characters, each with their own unique spells and abilities, all while playing from the first-person perspective.
Black Squad
Early access military shooter game with a wide assortment of maps, units, and weapons. The visuals are comparable to a paid modern FPS game, while the gameplay is deep and immersive. Weapons are customizable, and the clan-based matchmaking system ensures a balanced and fair gameplay experience.
Warsow
Set in a futuristic cartoonish world, Warsow is an extremely fast-paced shooter game in which aim, precision, and speed are all that matters. You can dash, leap, dodge, and walljump your way across the map, kind of like Quake.
Blacklight- Retribution
A futuristic first-person shooter which gives you access to advanced sci-fi weaponry and customizable items. A Hyper Reality Visor (HRV) lets you scan the horizon for enemies, weapon caches, tactical paths, and highlights weak points in enemy armor.
Tribes- Ascend
With jetpacks, walljump, skiing, and dashing, Tribes Ascend is an extremely fast paced modern shooter game which lets you fight on foot, in vehicles, and even aircraft. You can choose from multiple armor types, customizes your weapons, and compete against other players across the world in a wide variety of maps.
Planetside 2
Set in a futuristic timeline, Planetside 2 allows you to choose from 3 different races- Terran Republic, New Conglomerate, or Vanu Sovereignty. Each race is further divided into 6 classes. You can fight on foot, in vehicles, and aircraft.
MechWarrior Online
By the 31st century, tanks have involved into humanoid robot suits. These suits are similar to the ones you saw in the movie Avatar, and allow you to dash, fly for short periods of time, and assault your opponents with cannons, lasers, missiles, and miniguns. You play with a team, customize your “mech”, and collect a variety of mech suits to tackle various tactical scenarios.
Dirty Bomb
A fast-paced team based shooter featuring over 20 distinct mercenaries, each with their own unique abilities. The skill based progression system ensures that the only way to get better is by becoming better- you can’t buy your way up.
Line of Sight
With its next-gen graphics, unique gameplay features, weapon tuning system, and character customization, Line of Sight is a modern military FPS which is kind of like Bioshock + Call of Duty.
Project Argo
A hardcore, tactical FPS which is basically a free total conversion of the renowned military sim Arma 3. You fight across unrestricted terrain on vast maps, alongside hundreds of other players to take objectives. A single bullet can kill you, and there is no aim assist or fancy HUDs.
Unreal Tournament 2017
Although still in the pre-alpha stage, Unreal Tournament is back with new weapons, new maps, and completely reworked graphics. Fast paced gameplay, similar to quake. You can choose from a collection of characters, and customize each one of them.
Heroes and Generals
A massively multiplayer FPS game set in the WW2 era, Heroes and Generals pits Germany, USA, and the Soviet Union against each other in a massive war fought by players from across the world.
Warface
The creators of Far Cry and Crysis have developed a free online FPS. You can play as a rifleman, sniper, engineer, or medic. There are 9+ PvP game modes, and 50+ maps. There is even a story-driven PVE co-op mode.
TCG Games (Trading Card Game)
Hearthstone
The most popular trading card game in the world, with a healthy esports scene and new content/ patches being released regularly. Hearthstone is fun to play, and will run on low end PCs easily.
Gwent- The Witcher Card Game
If you are a fan of the Witcher game series, you are going to love Gwent. It is enjoyable to play and extremely easy to learn, but also offers incredible tactical possibilities.
The Elder Scroll- Legends
A competitive strategy card game set in the elder scrolls universe, Elder Scroll Legends allows you to craft decks using two of the five attributes in the game- Strength, Agility, Intelligence, Willpower, and Endurance.
Faeria
With 20+ hours of solo content and the ability to challenge online opponents in both casual and competitive multiplayer modes, Faeria is a card game that both looks gorgeous and plays wonderfully.
Duelyst
With its fast-paced gameplay and highly competitive game modes, Duelyst is a must-try for card game enthusiasts. You can choose from six unique factions and there are over 700 unique cards that can be mixed and matched to create millions of deck combinations.
Shadowverse
Choose from 8 different classes, and 1000 unique cards. Each class has its own set of cards, divided into three types- followers, amulets, and spells. The strategic gameplay and unique art style makes this card game one of the best in its category.
SolForge
You and your opponent start the game with 120 health each, and the goal of the game is to reduce your opponent’s health to zero by dealing damage with your creatures and spells that are deployed via cards.
Eternal
A strategy card game of unlimited choices and infinite fun, Eternal delivers AAA-grade game polish and amazing graphics. It is currently in early access and keeps evolving into an even better game with each passing day.
Spellweaver
Made by card game lovers, for card game lovers- Spellweaver was designed by a Magic: The Gathering national champion. Some mechanics unique to this particular card game are customizable hero skills gained over the course of battle, an interactive combat system which lets you counterattack or defend to protect key units, and an attribute called speed which prevents slower units from blocking faster units.
Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Links
Designed for fans of the Yu-Gi-Oh! TV series, this strategy packed card game takes you into a fantasy world of creatures with magical abilities, a world where any location transforms into a Duel Field within seconds.
Chronicles- Runescape Legends
Based on the Runescape game series, this CCG combines elements from RPG games with trading card principles, resulting in a unique and exciting experience that is both immensely fun to play as well as surprisingly challenging.
TPS (Third Person Shooters)
WarFrame
It is a 3rd person cooperative action game set in a sci-fi world. It has plenty of content, so you never get bored, and the gameplay is extremely interesting. Graphics is comparable to AAA titles, and there is plenty of customization that you can do to your character and weapons.
Fortnite
This is a third person shooter game that is loosely based off the incredibly famous PUBG, and is a Battle Royale style game in which your goal is to be the last man (or woman) standing.
Fighting
Brawlhalla
A 2D platformer style fighting game, Brawlhalla is like Mario, NFL, and UFC all combined into one game. You can use swords, hammers, rocket lances, blasters, and many more weapons lying around on the arena. There are plenty of game modes- 1 v 1, 2 v 2, 4-player free for all, local single player, etc.
Dungeon Fighter Online
The classic beatdown style 2D fighting game with an anime touch. The graphics are dated, but the gameplay isn’t. The best part is that this fighter game features an amazing story and RPG elements.
DC Universe Online
Based in the DC Comics Universe, this fighting game allows you to play as any of the iconic heroes/ villains such as Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Lex Luthor, Joker, Poison Ivy, etc. You can customize your hero, choose powers, and build a unique storyline, or you can go online and compete with players in the PvP combat mode.
ArcheBlade
Use combo moves, throw spells, and slash throw enemies with your melee weapons in the fantasy world of ArcheBlade- a 3D fighting game with 14 unique characters and PvP mode.
Iron Snout
In this game, your job is to help a piglet fight for its life against a hungry pack of wolves. It features movie-like combo moves (that look absolutely hilarious), and you can use enemy body parts as weapons (yes, it may look cartoonish, but there is plenty of gore).
Indie
Waltz of the Wizard
If you own a VR headset and need a good free to play game for it, then check out this one. You play the role of a wizard, combining magical ingredients in a cauldron to create powerful spells and potions.
Null Vector
An 80’s inspired arcade style game in which you have to trade, fight, and gamble your way across increasingly difficult levels. You can increase the power of your weapon by collecting parts and merging them to generate new and unique properties.
Find You
This is a 2D puzzle platformer in which each level has multiple characters spread across the puzzle. You need to unite them in order to move to the next level. But when you control one, the others move simultaneously.
Mothlight
Explore the dark and moth-infested world of Mothlight, a world that is made out of people. Solve puzzles, upgrade your character with better armor, fight bosses, and experience a truly unique game.
Epic Battle Fantasy 3
A turn based JRPG with lots of NPCs, obnoxiously large weapons, rabid cats, childish humor, and anime inspired art style. The game contains over 10 hours of content and several collectible items.
Accounting
This is a funny VR experience about a VR accountancy experiment gone wrong. If you enjoy the voice of Justin Roiland of Rick and Morty fame, or the kind of humor found in games such as the Stanley Parable, you will enjoy Accounting for sure.
Floating Point
Extremely simplistic, yet very enjoyable- in this game your goal is to freely and gracefully swing through a randomly generated 2D maze, while collecting points and fighting the forces of gravity and buoyancy.
PRICE
An anime horror game, in which you play as the hero Ivry. After waking up from a nightmare in a weird room, you must navigate your way through the house solving puzzles and encountering various horrors, until you find your sister Iva.
OLDTV
In this game you play as a gifted child who will switch through every single TV channel on the planet. Gameplay is quite simple, yet extremely fast paced. There are multiple game modes and hidden secrets, along with a bunch of rather unusual achievements to complete.
Disturbed
Disturbed is an interactive story in which you live the tale of a depressed farmer who owns a failing farm. It is a horror adventure, in which all the visuals and characters are hand-drawn.
The Cat and the Coup
A rather interesting historical game in which you play as the cat of Dr. Mohammed Mossadegh, the first democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran. The CIA engineered a coupe in 1953 to knock him out of power, and you as the cat, interact with the nearby environment to coax Mossadegh back through significant events of his life.
Altitude
A 2D game set in cartoony skies, you are the pilot of a WW2 era biplane and your job is to fight your way through waves of enemy aircraft and destroy the enemy base.
Clicker Heroes
Click on monsters and enemy creatures to kill them and collect gold, then use that gold to increase your click damage and buy new heroes as you level up and grow exponentially.
Belko VR- An Escape Room Experiment
Set in the world of the Belko Experiment, this VR game challenges players to think fast and solve puzzles. You have an explosive chip planted within your head, set on a timer. Escape the room before the timer expires and the chip explodes.
Others
The Expendabros
A 2D platformer parody of The Expendables (if you watched the movies, you will laugh yourself to death playing this game), Expendabros lets you play as the various characters of the Broforce, an under-funded, over-powered paramilitary organization. Mow down terrorists with miniguns, set off chain explosions, hack and slash your way through each level, all in the name of freedom and the American way.
Doki-Doki Literature Club
This game is a visual novel about a group of teenage girls who start their own club in school. You, the player, joins this club as a new member and your everyday activities include chit-chatting, solving puzzles, and many other fun activities. But as you play on, you will find out there is a deeper mystery hidden within the game. It is not a game about cute anime girls, it is a hidden psychological horror story. Don’t play this if you are easily scared.
Cinderella Phenomenon – Otome/ Visual Novel
A visual novel style game centered around Crown Princess Lucette who has lost her mother and is struggling with her new life and step-family. She is thrown into a battle to regain her crown in a fractured kingdom where nothing is at it seems.
Eternal Senia
A free to play anime RPG with a female protagonist, it features a very simplistic battle system that can be enjoyed by even the most casual of players.
Path of Exile
Set in a dark fantasy world, Path of Exile is a hack and slash action RPG featuring deadly missions and plenty of character customization options. Uncover new regions, play with other people in the PvP combat mode, and collect rare magical items which you can then trade or combine to boost your skill tree.
Spooky’s Jump Scare Mansion
Endure a journey through 1000 rooms of horror, each loaded with more terrifying jumpscares than the previous one. Can you go through all 1000 rooms, or will your spirit fail midway? Play this cutely terrifying indie game to find out.
Fistful of Frags
An action-packed first-person shooter set in the Wild West. It is skill based, features a multiplayer mode, along with historical weapons such as the Colt Peacemaker, Navy Walker, S&W Schofield, Volcanic pistol, etc.
Robocraft
Build your own robot from an assortment of parts, customize and upgrade your robot, and take it into battle against the robots of other people around the world.
Pinball Arcade
Do you like pinball? Then you are going to love pinball arcade, a game that features exact recreations of the all-time greatest pinball tables from Williams, Bally, Stern Pinball, and Gottlieb.
TrackMania Nations Forever
Drive on exquisitely designed tracks at mind-blowingly fast speeds in your own customized race car, while competing against millions of online players. There are 65 brands new tracks, an in-game editor that lets you create your own custom tracks, a paint shop for your cars, and a video studio so you can record and edit your favorite moments on the track.
World of Tanks
A tank combat game set in the mid-20th century, you start out with smaller and less advanced tanks, levelling up and gaining access to larger, more lethal tanks. It is a PvP game, so you will be competing against other players from across the world on various maps that are designed with real historical battlegrounds in mind.
World of Warplanes
A free to play MMO action game centered around fighter aircraft from the Golden era of military aviation (1918-1940). There are over 100 planes, and 4 main classes to choose from- fighters, multirole fighters, heavy fighters, and ground attack planes.
Double Action- Boogaloo
If you’re a fan of over-the-top action scenes, then you are going to love this game. In Double Action- Boogaloo your character slides underneath tables, flips over people, and crashes through windows in the midst of bullets and explosions, while dual wielding gold-plated pistols and machine guns.
EVE Online
One of the oldest MMORPGs that you can still play today, EVE Online is a space based exploration style game in which you build spaceships, recruit fleets, customize your character, and level up to unlock new abilities and weapons.
Unturned
Set in the post-apocalyptic ruins of a zombie infestation, you are a survivor and must work together with your friends to stay alive. Forage fruits and vegetables, hunt animals for pelt and meat, go fishing, plant crops, and collect weapons. You will also have to fight bandits who are trying to loot your resources and weapons, and you can even raid enemy encampments.
War Thunder
In this next-generation competitive WW2 based MMO game, players from across the world compete in large scale battles with tanks, aircrafts, and ships. You can choose from over 1000 vehicles and an extensive variety of combat situations.
Trove
An open world voxel adventure RPG filled with cube shaped characters and objects. The environment is procedurally generated, and you have the creative freedom to build your own world within the game.
