I’m sick of $70 games. Play these 7 fun (and free) PC games instead | usagoldmines.com

Who hasn’t thought to themselves, I’d really like to play something new again, but unfortunately my wallet looks so empty. These days, a full-price game costs at least $70–sometimes even more.

There is still one option: taking a look at the free-to-play market for a change. There are plenty of titles out there that are genuinely worthwhile–free games that offer much more than a few hours of distraction or the usual pay-to-win traps.

Here, I present the most exciting free games available right now.

Marvel Rivals

NetEase

When Marvel Rivals was announced, many people likely thought “Oh no, not another hero shooter.” The game looked very much like another Overwatch clone that would disappear into oblivion after a short time.

Instead, everything turned out differently and Marvel Rivals became a real hit at the beginning of the year. This is probably due to the familiar game formula, in which teams of six compete against each other on various maps, but also to the popular Marvel characters.

Not only do they have unique abilities that fit in very well with their background from the comics, but their designs are so cool that this alone has ensured a lot of success on social media, even with lesser-known characters such as little shark Jeff, who took hearts by storm.

The Battle Pass model is also quite fair, as you pay about $10 to unlock all content like new costumes. And if you miss something, you can still unlock it later by playing.

The developers regularly add new characters and skins, which helps the gameplay stay fresh and exciting. All of this makes Marvel Rivals still worth a look almost a year after its release.

Fortnite

Epic Games

When it comes to free-to-play games, Fortnite is a must. Not only does it have a huge fan base, but it’s also one of the most successful games of all time with sales in the billions.

The game principle of exploring, shooting, building bases, and the ever-shrinking map has now been copied so often that it feels like a genre in its own right. However, Fortnite is still the best at attracting players of all ages.

Added to this are regular collaborations with well-known brands such as One Piece or the Simpsons, viral dances on social media, and much more. This has given Fortnite a firm place in pop culture.

The title is so much more than a video game. It now sees itself as a social hub for all kinds of activities, including live virtual concerts. The developers also offer the opportunity to create totally new games with the creative tools.

Battlefield Redsec

Electronic Arts

Battlefield Redsec is brand new and very exciting, as it was only released in October 2025. This is not another standard game mode for Battlefield 6, but a free-to-play spin-off that aims to compete with Call of Duty: Warzone and follows the battle royale principle.

So you don’t need the main game to play Redsec, and you get a completely different gaming experience to the standard Battlefield. Similar to Fortnite, the map gets smaller and smaller, threatening to eliminate anyone who doesn’t leave in time.

Up to 100 players can compete against each other in teams, with the goal of being the last one alive. To do this, you can use weapons, equipment, and vehicles you have found, and also destroy parts of the map in classic Battlefield style.

Criticism was leveled almost exclusively at the battle pass system, as Redsec shares this with the main game. So you are somewhat encouraged to play Redsec even if you don’t feel like it. Leveling up is also slowed down a little if you don’t play often enough, but you can still level up without the Battle Pass.

The Sims 4

Electronic Arts

The Sims series is still the best known of all life simulation games, and for good reason. The iconic characters and worlds from The Sims have shaped generations, and the fourth installment is still hugely popular.

In October 2022, Electronic Arts decided to offer The Sims 4 for free, giving even more players access to the title. Although you still have to pay for the numerous expansion packs, you can still get your money’s worth, especially thanks to the active modding community.

Unlike its predecessors, EA also wants to stick with the fourth installment for as long as possible, even though work is already underway on the next entry in the series. It’s still being updated with new content, even if not every change is so well-received by fans.

Destiny 2

Activision

Another game that once cost money and was then turned into a free-to-play title is Destiny 2. The multiplayer shooter from Bungie has been available for free since 2019 and combines a huge sci-fi world with classic looter shooter gameplay.

Although the entire game is not free, new players can play through the main game’s campaign, visit all the planets, take part in some raids and dungeons, and also participate in PVP battles, although not in all endgame activities.

If you have already enjoyed a lot of free game time and want more, you can try out the paid expansions afterwards, which add new story campaigns. The motivating gameplay and the sci-fi world are still worthwhile today, which is why Destiny 2 has a very active community.

Overwatch 2

Activision Blizzard

Before games like Marvel Rivals could run, Overwatch learnt to walk… that’s roughly how you could describe the influence of Blizzard’s hero shooter. The direct successor Overwatch 2, was launched with a few difficulties and the developers never delivered the promised single-player story mode. But that doesn’t detract from the fun of the game.

Unlike its predecessor, you compete against other teams in 5v5 matches instead of six and can choose from various heroes, all of whom are beautifully designed and have their own background story. You can get to know them in great animated videos on YouTube (admittedly, playing them yourself would be even better, but you can’t have everything).

Overwatch 2 is one of those games that’s easy to learn but hard to master. Depending on how much time you invest, the learning curve can be quite steep. But as soon as you get your first characters and play styles down, it’s really fun, and you’re motivated to win more matches and unlock new outfits.

Unfortunately, these are almost exclusively available via loot boxes with randomized content. So if you don’t fancy this, you should look at other games with a similar principle.

Guild Wars 2

NCsoft

We are only presenting one MMORPG at this point, but it’s representative of the many very good online games available on the market. Guild Wars 2 may be one of the older titles, as it was first released in 2012, but it still holds a special place in the hearts of many players today.

Right from the start, the game gives us an interesting fantasy world that we have rarely experienced in this way (the only comparable game would be World of Warcraft). The gameplay still feels dynamic, we can choose any class and still learn any weapon, explore the game world freely, learn professions, and decide for ourselves which stories we want to experience.

The developers also release a major expansion every year that makes Guild Wars 2 even bigger and better. The last one, Visions of Eternity, was released in October 2025 and brought new content to the game, including a new story and environments.

So it’s still worth diving into Guild Wars 2 today, and you don’t have to pay a single cent to do so. You have the option of buying cosmetic items or simple boosts in the shop, but it’s not necessary.

Tip: If you want to get even more games for free without paying the full price, you should regularly visit the Epic Games Store. There is at least one free game every week.