While Steam sales lets players pick up some of the biggest, best games of today for relatively cheap – some of the best games on PC in 2022 are available for absolutely free. PC is now home to some absolute gems that are available at no cost and some don’t even require powerful hardware to run well.
The free-to-play space is the bold new frontier for games and their popularity only stands as a testament to the quality and appeal of these games. Here we have a nifty little list for players to check out and try out some of the best games on PC that are free-to-play.
Top 10 Best Free Games for PC To Play in 2022
| Name | Metacritic Rating | Availability |
| Destiny 2 | 83 |
Steam, Epic Games Store
|
| War Thunder | 81 |
Steam, Epic Games Store
|
| Warframe | 70 |
Steam, Epic Games Store
|
| Warzone | 80 |
Steam, Battle.net
|
| Apex Legends | 88 | Steam,EA |
| Hearthstone | 88 |
Battle.net
|
| Rogue Company | 75 | Steam |
| Elder Scrolls Online | 71 | Steam |
| Eve Online | 70 | Steam |
| The Sims 4 | 70 |
Steam
|
Destiny 2 (Base Game)
Perhaps the most extensive game on the list, Destiny 2 is hands-down one of the most resillient and fun games available on PC today. The base game is available for free on several platforms, including PC, and by itself offers countless hours of gameplay. The subsequent expansions of the game are paid but the base game contains several Raids, PvP modes, and a pretty great single-player campaign.
Join up with friends to take on exceptionally well-crafted levels called Raids wherein you and your squad mow down enemies and tackle difficult challenges. The FPS action is extremely well-tuned and is one of the most satisfying shooters on the platform. The PvP modes also offer plenty of challenge for those seeking a more traditional arena shooter experience. Destiny 2 is one of the most fulfilling and engaging games available on PC and fans of the shooter genre owe it to themselves to give it a go.
System Requirements
Minimum:
-
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows® 7 / Windows® 8.1 / Windows® 10 64-bit (latest Service Pack)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3 3250 3.5 GHz or Intel Pentium G4560 3.5 GHz / AMD FX-4350 4.2 GHz
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 660 2GB or GTX 1050 2GB / AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 105 GB available space
Genre:
First-Person Shooter/Action-Adventure/RPG
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 83
Availability:
War Thunder
War Thunder is an expansive war shooter that drops players into large-scale battles with several other players and lets them take the fight to them in a variety of ways. From tanks to fighter jets and planes, players have a lot to choose from. Depending on where you feel most comfortable – pick your vessel of war (planes, tanks, or battleships) and go to war against hundreds of other players in this beautifully chaotic game.
The core gameplay of War Thunder is relatively easy to pick up but it will take a lot of hours of gameplay to figure out the best tactics and always get the upper hand in a firefight. The game packs a lot of content and can offer several hundred hours of intense, shooter gameplay.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 7 SP1/8/10 (64bit)
- Processor: Dual-Core 2.2 GHz
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: DirectX 10.1 level video card: AMD Radeon 77XX / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660. The minimum supported resolution for the game is 720p.
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 17 GB available space
- VR Support: SteamVR. Keyboard or gamepad
Genre:
MMO, Large-Scale Combat
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 81
Availability:
Warframe
One of the oldest, most resilient free-to-play games on this list, Warframe is one of the most celebrated games currently available on the platform. The game lets players craft and customize their very own warrior and take on other players in a variety of game modes. There are also several co-op PvE modes that allows players to squad up and take on increasingly difficult challenges.
Warframe is one of the most well-crafted free-to-play experiences currently available and it has only gotten better over time. The third-person perspective lends the game a sort of pace that is not usually found in games of this genre and the sheer ferocity of the combat will have players coming back for months on end.
System Requirements
Minimum:
-
- OS: Windows 7 64-Bit (32-bit not supported)
- Processor:Intel Core 2 Duo e6400 or AMD Athlon x64 4000+
- Video: DirectX 11+ capable Graphics Card
- Memory:4 GB RAM
- Storage:35 GB available HD space
- Internet: Broadband Internet Connection Required
Genre:
RPG/Third-Person Shooter-Melee
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 70
Availability:
Call of Duty Warzone 2.0
One of the newer games on this list, Call of Duty Warzone 2.0 is the evolution of the original Warzone, which was a pretty solid experience by itself. The game levels up several aspects of the original game with newer mechanics, more chaos, and a couple of cool new modes.
Warzone 2.0 now comes with the DMZ mode, an Escape from Tarkov-like mode that pits players against not just other players but also AI. Warzone 2.0 is an expansive, first-person shooter experience that will appeal to more than just Call of Duty fans. Its fine-tuned gunplay and the addictive loop will surely appeal to fans of the battle royale genre.
System Requirements
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows® 10 64 Bit (latest update)
- Processor: Intel® Core™ i3-6100 / Core™ i5-2500K or AMD Ryzen™ 3 1200
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 960 or AMD Radeon™ RX 470 – DirectX 12.0 compatible system
- DirectX: Version 12
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 125 GB available space
Genre:
First-Person Shooter/Battle Royale
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 80
Availability:
Apex Legends
Respawn Entertainment dives deeper into the Titanfall universe with a battle royale experience that combines elements of hero shooters like Overwatch with the battle royale formula. The game lets players pick from a pretty sizeable roster of unique characters that have their own special skills and abilities. The goal is to be the last squad standing and utilize your character’s kit to work well with your teammates.
The game emphasizes team-play and communication and has a pretty gunplay feel. The game is perhaps the most rewarding BR experience currently available on any platform today.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: 64-bit Windows 7
- Processor: AMD FX 4350 or Equivalent, Intel Core i3 6300 or Equivalent
- Memory: 6 GB RAM
- Graphics: AMD Radeon™ HD 7730, NVIDIA GeForce® GT 640
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 56 GB available space
- Additional Notes: ~3.8GB for 1 localized language
Genre:
First-Person Shooter/Battle Royale/Hero Shooter
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 88
Availability:
Hearthstone
Hearthstone is a deeply engaging deck-building game that presents a rather simple gameplay loop at first, but carefully adds layers to make it one of the most fascinating ones in gaming today. The game is deeply competitive but it doesn’t throw players in the deep end right out of the gate thanks to a solid matchmaking system.
There is a lot to learn about the game when you dive in but the great tutorial system does a fine job of easing players into the game. Hearthstone is a joyful, wonderous game that will have players deeply engaged for hours upon hours on end.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 7/8/10
- Processor: Intel Pentium D or AMD Athlon 64X2
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 8600GT or ATI Radeon HD 2600XT or better
- Memory: 3GB RAM
- Storage: 3GB Available HD Space
Genre:
Deck-Building/Cards
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 88
Availability:
Rogue Company
Rogue Company is an absurdly fun Frankenstein’s mosnter of a game as it combines some of the best elements of some of the most popular shooters of today. This arena shooter is packed to the brim with personality and offers players a uniquely fun experience that they won’t find in other games.
The game is a fantastic blend of features and ideas that delivers one of the most action-packed and creative experiences in gaming today.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 7 64 bit
- Processor: Intel(R) Core i5-2320
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 555
- Storage: 20 GB available space
Genre:
Third-Person Shooter/Arena Shooter
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 75
Availability:
Elder Scrolls Online
Elder Scrolls Online is everything you love about the Elder Scrolls world, but just much bigger and with other players. The game continuously adds quality updates that introduce new areas, content, quests, characters, and even story.
This continuously evolving game throws players several reasons to keep on playing and forms a deeply engaging loop. Elder Scrolls Online is a deeply imaginative and rewarding gameplay experience that is sure to hit all the right notes for MMORPG fans.
System Requirements:
Minimum:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 7 64-bit
- Processor: Intel® Core i3 540 or AMD A6-3620 or higher
- Memory: 3 GB RAM Direct X 11.0 compliant video card with 1GB RAM (NVidia GeForce 460 or AMD Radeon 6850)
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 85 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card
Genre:
RPG/MMO
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 71
Availability:
Steam, Bethesda.net/ESO
EVE Online
EVE Online is honestly a bizarrely fascinating world that seems to have evolved into something beyond just the boundaries of videogames. The game has a fully functioning economy, giant corporations, and warring factions that seemed to have all been player-created.
The world of EVE Online is unlike perhaps any other in gaming as players are free to form alliances, deploy espionage tactics and somehow find their way to the top of the pyramid. EVE Online is an experience that is wholly unique and should at least be experienced once by every PC gamer.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- OS: Windows 7 SP1 64-bit
- Processor: Intel Dual Core @ 2.0 GHz, AMD Dual Core @ 2.0 GHz)
- Memory: 4 GB or higher
- Hard Drive: 23 GB Free Space
- Video: AMD Radeon 5450 or NVIDIA GeForce 420 or better with at least 1024 MB VRAM
- Network: ADSL connection (or faster)
Genre:
RPG/MMO
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 70
Availability:
The Sims 4
The SIMS 4 is one of the most celebrated entries in the beloved franchise and is now available to play for free. Create your very own community of Sims and tinker with every aspect of their lives in this wonderful social simulation game.
There are a ton of DLCs and expansions to pick from if you’re looking to add even more hours of gameplay to this already expansive game.
System Requirements
Minimum:
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: 64 Bit Required. Windows 10
- Processor: 3.3 GHz Intel Core i3-3220 (2 cores, 4 threads), AMD Ryzen 3 1200 3.1 GHz (4 cores) or better
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 128 MB of Video RAM and support for Pixel Shader 3.0. Supported Video Cards: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 or better, ATI Radeon X1300 or better, Intel GMA X4500 or better
- DirectX: Version 11
- Network: Broadband Internet connection
- Storage: 26 GB available space
Genre:
Social Simulation
Rating
Metacritic Rating: 70
