Top 5 Free-To-Play Games That Are So Good They Should Cost Money

The video gaming industry is a diverse ecosystem where many games come and go after leaving their marks. Yet, a slew of free-to-play titles out there have established themselves with long-standing communities and lifespans over the years. These oddities challenge the norms and stand out among a sea of games. And frankly, I think they are so good that it’s criminal that they are not priced.

While there are many worthy paid AAA entries out there, it’s quite difficult to have the same fun experiences in most, despite them costing $70—since they still include microtransactions and heaps of other issues. The fact of the matter is that many priced games in the same genres are nowhere near as fun as the free-to-play ones.

These Five F2P Games Are So Good You Should Get To Pay For Them

Whether you fancy a tough round of 1v1 brawling or some space ninja shenanigans, these F2P titles are a joy to play. Although, these choices are my own personal opinion.

1. Warframe

• Genre: Looter Shooter, and Action RPG
• Platforms: PC, iOS, Switch, current and last-gen consoles
• Developer: Digital Extremes

The first entry on the list is a captivating third-person looter shooter that can deliver hours upon hours of savory content and moments without you having to pay a dime. Players control advanced exoskeleton suits—Warframes—with distinct abilities to slay enemies with style. It features procedurally generated levels and fun open-world areas that you can explore while upgrading and improving yourself with huge customization options.

Warframe concocts a fun blend of co-op, multiplayer, and single-player modes to let players parkour through a long-lasting and free story-filled experience. I recommend getting through the basic tutorial and early campaign moments with patience to reach the excellent parts of the game. This is one title that has continued to hold a loyal community, with a monetization model that is quite fair compared to many other paid releases.

2. Counter-Strike 2

• Genre: FPS
• Platforms: Windows, and Linux
• Developer: Valve

CS: GO—now Counter-Strike 2—often boasts the most daily active players on Steam, and for good reason. The free-to-play FPS has thrived in the eSports and non-competitive scenes over the years. A multitude of game modes, crisp objective-focused gameplay, and community workshop tools have allowed players to adopt it as the “go-to” FPS in the gaming industry. 

I have failed to find a similar F2P or a paid experience that comes anywhere close to CS2. The new upgrade features the largest technical leap ever seen in the franchise. And despite a fair share of issues early on, the community has finally started adapting to the new experience. The future of the entry also looks quite bright, as Valve is committed to ironing out all the issues and adding even more features and improvements.

3. Fortnite

• Genre: Battle Royale
• Platforms: Last-gen and current-gen consoles, macOS, and PC.
• Developer: Epic Games

The thrilling battle royale gameplay of Fortnite comes at no initial cost. Despite being a behemoth in the gaming scene for many a year, the shooter had quite a humble beginning during its early days. However, everything changed with the release of free-to-play battle royale. Now, the third-person shooter is built upon a slew of game modes, daily events, collaborations, customizations, and one of the largest gaming communities.

The sheer magnitude of Fortnite has become unmatched in the gaming industry over the years. The addition of game modes, like Lego Fortnite and Rocket Racing, has made the overall experience as diverse as it could be. Now, the game has a bit of everything for everyone. It has ultimately turned into a hub of entertainment and levity that is barely seen in priced releases these days.

4. Brawlhalla

• Genre: Brawler, and Fighting
• Platforms: Current and last-gen consoles, PC, Switch, Android, iOS, macOS
• Developer: Blue Mammoth Games

Brawlhalla, to me, is like that successful little brother of Super Smash Bros. who is barely brought up in conversations because of being outshined at times. The free 2D brawler features a huge roster of characters—some of which are from various entertainment media via collaborations. Each Legend boasts unique abilities and weapons, which allows players to enjoy varied playstyles in intense matches.

The platform-fighting serves as a fun break from the traditional formula in the genre. However, that doesn’t mean the game sacrifices any gameplay elements. I’ve found Brawlhalla easy to learn yet hard to master, so it has a huge skill ceiling. The cross-platform and optimized netcode will also let you enjoy a plethora of game modes.

5. Dota 2

• Genre: MOBA
• Platforms: PC, Linux, and macOS
• Developer: Valve

I think it’s fair to claim that Valve just knows how to nail down free-to-play releases. The MOBA Dota 2 has continued its insurgence for over a decade in the eSports and casual gaming scene. While it is not really my cup of tea, I’ve still grown to respect the giant that continues to hold a loyal community and a player-friendly monetization model. 

The game is full of rewarding gameplay, a huge learning curve, and a variety of game modes for you to enjoy.

While all of us may fail to agree on whether these games deserve to be priced, I think it’s fair to conclude that many free-to-play entries out there are just heaps better than the onslaught of the botched AAA releases that we have gotten used to seeing. It’s an unfortunate situation out there where a complimentary experience can be more long-lasting and memorable than something we’ve paid 70 bucks for.