Steam is the best PC gaming platform thanks to its massive user base of over 120 million monthly active users. Steam provides an extensive library of games for casual gamers and serious gamers alike to enjoy at their leisure.
What’s even better? It won’t break the bank to enjoy many of these games. In this article, we’ll take a look at five of the best free-to-play games on Steam that won’t drain your bank account but will still provide hours of entertainment. These free games offer not only outstanding gameplay and gorgeous graphics, but also a wide variety of genres, from fast-paced shooters to in-depth role-playing adventures.
If you’re looking to get your gaming fix without breaking the bank, then look no further than our curated list of the top free-to-play games currently available on Steam. Prepare your controller or keyboard, because these games will take you on an adventure you won’t soon forget.
Apex Legends
At the moment, Hero Shooters are popular, and Apex Legends is one of the greatest. Using a futuristic warrior equipped with a range of weapons and unique abilities, you will compete against other teams for control of a variety of battlegrounds in this competitive multiplayer game.
While there are many characters and weapon skins in Apex Legends that you can buy with real money, you can also get a lot of prizes by playing the game skillfully.
You’ll need to keep alert if you want to maintain your position at the top of the leaderboards since Electronic Arts is continually introducing new material to the game, including characters and areas.
Counter-Strike Global Offensive
What results when a mod for the original Half-Life gains enough popularity to become not just its own game but also a subgenre unto itself is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
The first-person shooter gameplay in Counter-Strike is team-based, and the game’s goals pit terrorists and counter-terrorists against one another. Victory can be achieved by successfully completing a mission, such as placing or disarming a bomb, or by eliminating the other squad.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) provides a highly engaging and strategic gaming experience wherein two distinct factions, namely terrorists and counter-terrorists, engage in a competitive confrontation. In order to achieve their objectives, it is imperative for each team to formulate strategic plans and collaborate effectively. These objectives may include planting or defusing a bomb, rescuing hostages, or eliminating the other squad. The game encompasses a diverse selection of weaponry, equipment, maps, and game modes, thereby guaranteeing a dynamic and demanding encounter for players.
CS:GO distinguishes itself from other first-person shooter (FPS) games with its notable focus on communication, collaboration, precise aiming, and strategic decision-making. In order to achieve success in individual rounds and ultimately secure victory for their team, players must acquire proficiency in five essential areas.
Also read: How to Get Trading Cards on Steam Without Running the Game
DOTA 2
One of Valve’s most well-known games is Dota 2. Dota 2, one of the major participants in the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) market, began as a Warcraft III mod before developing into a separate game.
If you’ve played League of Legends or other games like it, you know the drill: Pick a hero, band together with a few other players, and command an army of soldiers that are controlled by AI to take an opponent’s base.
In the game Dota 2, two teams consisting of five players each engage in competitive gameplay over an expansive map, with the primary objective of obliterating the opposing team’s Ancient, a fortified structure situated within their stronghold. Every participant chooses an individual protagonist with distinctive capabilities and assumes a designated position within the team’s tactical approach. The game integrates components from real-time strategy and role-playing games, offering a deeply engaging and strategic gaming encounter.
The distinguishing characteristic of Dota 2 lies in its intricate and profound nature. In order to achieve proficiency in the game, it is imperative to possess not only mechanical prowess but also strategic acumen and collaborative aptitude, given the extensive roster of over 100 heroes, each characterised by unique attributes, limitations, and approaches to gameplay. Moreover, Dota 2 encompasses periodic upgrades, balance adjustments, and a thriving competitive landscape characterised by tournaments that present substantial prize funds.
Star Trek Online
The next best thing to seeing a new Star Trek TV series is to watch Star Trek Online, one of my personal favourites on this list. You’ll have plenty of chances to take on Klingons, Romulans, Borg, and other dangerous enemies in this free-to-play MMORPG that combines ground combat with capital ship combat.
Star Trek Online offers players an engaging gaming experience, characterised by its extensive backstory and the presence of prominent characters from the Star Trek franchise. Players have the ability to personalise their starships, assemble a team of crew mates, and venture into uncharted territories. Within this expansive virtual cosmos, individuals can partake in exhilarating ship-to-ship combat or embark on exploratory missions to faraway galaxies, where they may encounter a diverse array of alien species.
The game provides a diverse range of gaming options tailored to accommodate various play styles. Star Trek Online offers a wide array of experiences catering to both individual gamers and those who enjoy collaborative activities, encompassing narrative-rich missions, cooperative engagements against non-player characters, and competitive encounters between players. In addition, consistent updates and novel expansions serve to maintain the game’s novelty and guarantee that players are provided with access to fresh content and exhilarating quests.
Star Trek Online distinguishes itself by placing a significant emphasis on player choice and customisation. Players have the ability to generate an individualised character, encompassing the selection of their racial background, physical attributes, proficiencies, and the option to affiliate themselves with various factions present in the Star Trek world. The extent of customization provided enables players to deeply engage in their individualised Star Trek narrative.
World of Tanks
Despite the fact that World of Tanks has been operating for more than ten years, it is still going strong. The more than 800 vehicles in Wargaming’s MMO are each expertly crafted to compete with other tanks on the battlefield.
Five distinct vehicle classes are available to players: light tanks, medium tanks, heavy tanks, tank destroyers, and SPGs (self-propelled guns).
Teams must function as well-oiled machines in order to smash the enemy team in large-scale fights. World of Tanks is the ideal game for you if you appreciate the tactical aspect of tank warfare.
Star Wars: The Old Republic
It would be impossible to talk about the Star Trek MMO without also bringing up its Star Wars equivalent. Create your own Jedi Knight, Sith warrior, soldier, or smuggler in Star Wars: The Old Republic as you act out a tale that takes place tens of thousands of years before Luke, Han, and Leia ever teamed up.
The Old Republic features a terrific story characteristic of BioWare games and is full of unexpected turns and moral dilemmas. The gameplay is also enjoyable, giving you a chance to hone your skills and gear while engaging in real-time combat with various science-fantasy foes. High-level story content requires a fee, although the core game is free.
Final Fantasy XIV
You can play Final Fantasy XIV for free, that’s correct. This venerable Square series’ most recent MMO iteration has gained a sizable following. It could be a nice place to start, even if you’ve never played any Final Fantasy games before.
This massively multiplayer online game is set in the expansive realm of Hydaelyn, and it’s one of those MMOs that you can still enjoy playing while doing other things like taking care of villagers’ needs, fishing, hunting, or one of the many other activities available.
Team Fortress 2
It’s not nearly the crazed phenomenon it once was, but Team Fortress 2 is still going strong after more than ten years. Although it helped pave the way for games like Overwatch, this early attempt at a hero shooter still has a great feeling of community, whether you’re looking for something really serious or genuinely ridiculous.
Fallout Shelter
Unfortunately, it’s unlikely that Bethesda will ever decide to give away one of its massive sci-fi RPGs for free, but if you want to spend some time in its post-apocalyptic universe without spending any additional money, Fallout Shelter successfully captures the charm of the series in a charming management game.
You will be given control of one of Fallout’s enormous vaults and must maintain life for your inhabitants despite the radiation, ghouls, and raiders wreaking havoc outside. Microtransactions provide chances to acquire new things and boost stats.
Lost Ark
Lost Ark made its way to the West in 2022, a few years after its Korean premiere. With its intricate MMO design and Diablo-style ARPG gameplay, it quickly attained one of the greatest concurrent player counts in Steam history, surpassing even the titans of Dota 2 and CS: GO.
If you’re looking for a new MMO or are just still waiting for Diablo, Lost Ark could be the ideal choice. It offers 15 classes to master and a wide variety of other choices to allow you to relax in your downtime.
Rift
The thrilling free Steam game Rift is a multi-player online role-playing game by Trion Games. You will be starting an adventure that will see your character evolve, learn new talents, use unique weapons, and fend off frightening creatures in the vast fantasy land of Telara. It has all the features you could want in a top MMORPG.
You may begin your adventure in this vast, complex universe once you have chosen which side you will support—the Guardians or the Defiant. You have a lot of options when it comes to calling. Which class—Warrior, Cleric, Mage, Rogue, or Primalist—will you choose?
