Flash and shareware were the two most common forms of “free” PC games in the past. Mobile devices didn’t invent free-to-play gaming, but they did popularise it. Compared to the late 1990s and early 2000s, there are far more enjoyable free PC games available today than back then.
We have included both types of “free” games on our list. To begin with, some games are completely free to play, with no in-game purchases necessary to unlock additional features or content. It’s also possible to find “free to play” games that have some form of limitation on gameplay. Because of the F2P model’s widespread acceptance, there are many variations on the theme. A wide range of game genres and play styles are represented in the games we’ve chosen.
Free PC Games with a Wide Range of Options
When it comes to PC gaming, you don’t need a lot of money to enjoy tens of thousands of hours of high-quality entertainment at your fingertips. To create a diverse selection of games, this list was put together with the help of others. Our taste buds are as diverse as our personalities, and we’ve got a fast-paced FPS and a turn-based strategy game on our list. Platformers, MOBAs, and games designed to make you giggle all included in this collection. This is the place to go for a good time with friends; many of these games allow you to do it.
Although some old favorites have been retained, a new list has been put together for 2022. A wide range of hardware is supported by the games mentioned here, including some titles that can run on very old PCs. Even if designing a cost-effective gaming PC is a challenge, don’t let it stop you from having fun with the activity.
What new free or F2P games are drawing your attention? Please tell us. We’ll look at it and see if we can incorporate it into the next version!
What to Play in 2021 Based on What We’ve Played So Far
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to look back on the games you played this year. Most of us here at ExtremeTech are avid gamers, and we’ve compiled a list of the games we’ve played and the ones we enjoyed. It’s important to note that the games included here weren’t all released in 2021, and anything that piqued the author’s interest was fair game.
Joel Hruska.
Hades, Orcs Must Die 3, and Dead Cells are among my favorite games of the year. Both Hades and Dead Cells are roguelikes, whereas Orcs Must Die 3 is a tower defense/third-person combat hybrid in which your goal is to kill as many orcs, trolls, and other monsters as possible.
Jessica Hall
When it comes to gaming, some people have an air of competence about them. These are the people who can distinguish between a “roguelike” and a “rogue-lite” off the top of their heads, take pride in the label “gamer,” and aren’t intimidated by minigames or riddles. None of this describes me. However, my time and attention have been diverted by a small number of games over the past year. These titles include Satisfactory, Oxygen Not Included, Rimworld, and, most recently, Foundation.
Josh Norem
No indie or console titles for me, thank you very much. I’m a devoted fan of AAA FPS games on a gaming PC. For me, 2021 was a year of heartbreak, as you may imagine. Aside from Cyberpunk 2077, which had some difficulties but was still enjoyable, I spent most of this year immersed in Far Cry 6 and Battlefield 2042.
Super Mario Odyssey
Super Mario Bros Wii U and 3D World were two recent Mario platformers that I had played. With its single-player 3D environments, Odyssey takes the cake. Mario uses his animated hat, Cappy, to save the planets from Bowser’s henchmen and return the artifacts stolen from Princess Peach’s forced wedding. A gravity-defying world of sombrero skeletons, upside-down pyramids, and neon-colored meals administered by forks in chef hats is all part of the Odyssey, Mario’s balloon ship. Cappy’s taking control of opponents in the world and using their powers to solve puzzles and defeat enemies. Coins can be collected while riding on the back of the stone jaguar, and an elevated platform can be reached by stacking goombas. Take over the T. Rex and smash down blocks and foes in the explorer-themed world, which is very enjoyable. When I finished it, it was the first major console-based video game I had ever completed on my own. The virtual getaway from lockdown afforded by Odyssey was just what I needed at a time when I needed it the most.