Best free games 2024: gaming fun at no cost | usagoldmines.com

The best free games provide a crucial resource for those who love the pastime but don’t enjoy spending large amounts of money after every new release. 

Thankfully, there are tons of superb games that you can play for free. Many of these entries also grace our lists of best FPS games, the best RPGs, or the best multiplayer PC games. It just proves that if you’re careful, you don’t have to spend money to have fun. 

However, it is important to understand that while these games are all free-to-play, some may include microtransactions or in-game purchases for optional content. This won’t affect the fun, but it is worth knowing before you dive in. 

So, if you’re looking for something new to enjoy by yourself or with friends without cashing out any money, then check out this list, where we have gathered all the best free games that are worth playing.  

Best free games 2024

Brawlhalla is a hidden gem, one that can be picked up for free on a whole host of platforms. Nowadays, there’s a huge roster of characters to choose from, including tie-ins like SpongeBob, Darth Maul and even WWE resellers like Xavier Woods and John Cena. With these characters come themed stages to battle around, and an awesome soundtrack to keep things bumping.

There’s real care put into each and every fighter in Brawlhalla, and several different play-styles to master. Unlike other platform fighters, Brawlhalla offers a silky smooth online experience, meaning you can easily jump in with up to eight players online. There’s casual, ranked and private matches to choose from, and loads of options to cater your experience.

Counter-Strike 2 takes the iconic FPS and gives it a much needed spruce up. In the process, CS:GO has been shuttered, but there’s still plenty to love here. If you’re a newbie, it’s well worth trying out CS2, given how it’s been subtly modernized to be more in line with its competitors. It is an inherently difficult game to learn, however, so be aware that it may take a little while for the game to click fully.

The great thing about CS2 is that it’s free to play, meaning you can try it out and see for yourself whether it’s for you. Ultimately, this is a very pure FPS experience, where skilled players will excel.

Platforms: PS5, PS4, XSX|S, XBO, PC

Warzone is still trucking along, managing to stay competitive with its major rivals Fortnite and Apex Legends (more on those later). In terms of gunplay, it’s the best in the business, integrating excellent sound design, and a wide range of weaponry to choose from. While it’s gone through a few different versions over the years, the main thing keeping the game fresh these days is the introduction of new modes and maps. There’s also annual major updates to bring it in-line with the Call of Duty game coming out that year.

Whether you want the slow and methodical pace of the full Battle Royale mode, or something snappier in Rebirth Island, there’s plenty for players to enjoy here. Unlike other Call of Duty games, it’s also free to play, making it easy to try out for yourself. 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.

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One

Rocket League presents a combination of arcade-style soccer and vehicular chaos in a bright, frantic battle to be the best team. Putting you in a 1v1, 2v2, or 3v3 battles, you will need to learn how to master the simple controls and use each environment to your advantage to score goals before the timer runs out. 

With regularly changing seasons, Rocket League offers in-game cosmetic items for your vehicle to unlock as you progress, alongside several game modes to work toward. For a casual player, there are plenty of opportunities to play matches either with your friends or online, but if you’re looking for more competition, ranked game modes let you put your skills to the test. 

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

Path of Exile is a fantastic action RPG set in a dark fantasy world. Within this title, you’ll be challenged with playing as one of seven classes that you will need to master in order to fight your way through ancient Gods and evil forces. 

As you battle your way through the game, you’ll unlock new skills and collect randomly generated items to assist your journey through various dungeons, caves, and outdoor areas. Up to six players can play together, too, making it one of the best co-op games if you’re looking for a multiplayer experience without breaking the bank. 

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4

For players looking for a tense battle royale, Fortnite ticks every box. Esteemed as one of the best shooters, you’ll battle online against up to 100 players with a variety of weapons and gear at your disposal. As the storm closes in, you’ll need to protect yourself from the environment while chipping away at your competitors in order to come out on top. 

Constant updates also keep the in-game content exciting, and new weapons, locations, and events are hosted to keep you engaged. Whether you want to play solo or experience the title with a squad of up to four players, Fortnite is worth picking up if you haven’t already. 

Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch 

Apex Legends offers a tense, team-based experience if you want a more tactical shooter. Offering a variety of heroes to select from, all boasting different skills to utilize when facing your enemies, you’ll need to navigate different maps and work efficiently as a team to get the most kills before the end of a round. 

There are also various game modes that you can enjoy. Whether you love the chaotic violence of Battle Royale or just want an arena to show off your skills, there’s Team Deathmatch, Control, and Gun Run. 

Apex Legends is constantly being upgraded with quality-of-life improvements as well as various new heroes and expansions to the lore, so it’s a great free-to-play game to jump into at any time.

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS4

In this charming, brightly-colored platformer, you can up to 60 players go head-to-head in a variety of obstacle courses in a frantic competition to win the crown. Throwing in a mix of team-based mini-games, fast-paced puzzles, and a lot of platforming luck, Fall Guys is a slice of friendly competition worth playing if you need a pick-me-up you don’t have to pay for. 

There are a variety of game modes and events to take part in, alongside a standard ‘show’ which you can face either alone or in a squad of up to four players, meaning there’s always fresh content to enjoy with your fellow beans. 

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC

The Finals is a new multiplayer FPS games which sees groups of three enter a virtual arena which is changeable. The end goal is to make it through escalating tournaments right to the very end, with lasting fame as your prize. 

The fast-paced action in The Finals, as well as various builds and destructible environments, make it an excitingly unique experience. It also encourages building gameplans and coordination amongst your playgroup, meaning you can put a unique spin on the action. 

If you’re looking to jump on a new FPS with your mates and don’t want to commit any cash to the cause yet, then this is a fantastic option. 

Platforms: PC, PS5, PS4, Android, iOS

Honkai: Star Rail is a gacha space fantasy RPG, with a huge variety of eclectic characters to collect, and tense, turn-based combat. There’s a huge world for you to explore, and elements of dungeon-crawling keep you and your in-game companions on your toes. You’ll need to make sure the characters you’ve chosen to accompany your journey are as strong as possible to prevent your team from getting knocked down by the enemies you’re bound to meet along the way. 

If you’re looking for one of the best RPGs to sink your time into which typically strays from the tense competition of free games like Fortnite and Valorant, Honkai: Star Rail might be worth trying out. 

Platforms: PC, Mobile

If you’re hunting for an exciting mobile game, Marvel Snap is the perfect addition to any card game lovers’ library. This strategic card collector offers you a deck inspired by Marvel characters with different powers and abilities you’ll need to harness to outsmart your opponent to come out on top. It takes minutes to learn, yet there are hours of fun embedded in its vibrant animations and exciting mechanics. 

Each match lasts three minutes, so the game is incredibly pick up and play when it suits you. In addition, success is rewarded through new cards to help bulk out your roster with the best characters in the MCU. Marvel Snap is also available on PC if you wanted a slightly larger screen to play on. 

Platforms: PC

League of Legends takes the cake as one of the best team-based games, putting two teams of five against each other in a desperate attempt to protect their side of the map. Although the premise is pretty simple, the excitement comes through its cast of over 150 unique champions with different playstyles and abilities which help you become the most powerful team on the field.

Because of how many champions there are to choose from, you’ll be able to find a character to suit how you like to play, and in-game events alongside alternative game modes will keep things fresh no matter how many hours you pour into it. The bustling community of League of Legends players means there’s always a team waiting for you, too. 

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One

The Sims 4 is one of the best social simulation games, and since October 2022, it’s entirely free to play. Use your creativity to bring characters to life, build houses, develop relationships, and watch your virtual family thrive. Although the entire game is single-player, you’ll quickly find yourself slipping into Willow Creek or Oasis Springs for hours on end. We’d even go as far as to say it’s one of the best single-player games, depending on how many hours you are prepared to sacrifice for it. 

Of course, if you’re looking to take your experience one step further with expansion packs and DLC you’ll need to start paying, but the base game still has hundreds of hours worth of content to keep you and your Sims family entertained. 

Best free games: FAQs

How we made our best free games list

Our list of the best free games is designed to show the variety of free games across all platforms, and how there are multiple games you can enjoy without having to buy any additional content. 

Our team of experts at TechRadar Gaming has spent hundreds of hours testing the best free games so we know which ones to recommend, whether that’s going head-to-head for the crown in Fall Guys, or pouring thousands of hours into Fortnite. We’ve ensured both experts and new players have been diving into different genres as well to see how the user experience is for players with all sorts of backgrounds. 

Because of this, we’ve tried to include everything from tactical shooters to social simulators in our list of the best. In addition, we’ve included titles that can either be enjoyed solo or with a couple of friends for those game nights where you can’t decide on what to play. 

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