The free-to-play market is full of exceptional titles that players can easily jump into and play for hundreds of hours, but one of the biggest issues that many people dislike is when money enters the equation. It is never nice to queue up for a multiplayer game and be outgunned or outclassed by another player, not by raw skill, but by more powerful units, attacks, or characters that they have access to as a result of spending more cash.
However, many great free games deliver an experience balanced around player knowledge and abilities above all else, with no amount of money giving anyone an advantage or a clearer path to winning. Instead, these games sustain themselves through cosmetics that only change the visuals of the models, ensuring the gameplay stays untouched and that playing for free remains just as valid and competitive as spending money in the in-game store.
Paladins
More Characters Than You Could Ever Want
- A vibrant hero shooter.
- Each character has a valuable use-case.
Paladins is one of the oldest hero shooters around today, and a big reason for its success is the lack of pay-to-win content. Players can choose from a range of characters across many different roles, but there are no ways to buy stronger characters that other players can't also pick, or by boosting the individual power outside of the actual game.
New champions can be unlocked more quickly with currencies, but every gameplay-affecting element is obtainable in-game, meaning that success comes from raw skill and teamwork alone. By maintaining this model, Paladins has kept a solid player base, staying relevant in a genre full of many other games that have come and gone over the years.
SMITE
Fighting Against The Gods
- Huge list of unique and powerful deities to play as.
- No barriers for new players.
SMITE is an incredibly unique game in the MOBA space that takes gods and religious figures from all mythologies and pits them against one another in intense battles that prioritize game knowledge and coordination above all else. Every god has their place, and there are no choices that are considered unviable, meaning that despite needing to unlock them, players will never feel at a disadvantage no matter who they play as.
Spending real money only leads to convenience and some cosmetic changes, but the integrity of the gameplay remains intact no matter how deep the player's wallet may be. Because of how distinct the game is from other top-down MOBAs in the genre, there are many people who might enjoy it, even if they dislike other big names like League or Dota 2.
Warframe
Every Piece Of Loot Can Be Found And Farmed
- Fast-paced action in every mission.
- Content drops are free, not paywalled.
Warframe, for many, is the definitive RPG shooter experience, one that has managed to stay relevant for over a decade despite many other games attempting to dethrone it. When it comes to the free-to-play side of things, each and every weapon and mod can be earned through gameplay, and the highest-tier builds can only be crafted through heavy time investment rather than financial expenditure.
The game’s economy even allows players to trade premium currency, meaning dedicated free players can access everything without spending their money if they are willing to take the time to learn and master the primary gameplay loops. In general, Warframe feels incredibly fair, with experienced players obviously having far better items, but earning them from slow grinds and dedication only.
Rocket League
Soccer Meets Rally Driving
- Only cosmetic changes for vehicles are monetized.
- No advantages gained from different skins.
Rocket League just might be one of the easiest to understand yet most enjoyable free-to-play games out there. The basic concept of car-based soccer sounds simple, but there is a huge skill ceiling that separates new players from veterans, with experience taking precedent over any microtransactions.
Players are free to buy skins and other cosmetic items to show off their personal tastes, but thankfully, none of these provide them with any kind of competitive advantage. No matter who is driving around, there will never be unfair scenarios in-game, at least regarding physical stats or abilities.
Apex Legends
Even Matches For Everyone
- Characters need to be unlocked, but they are all balanced equally.
- Loot and skill decide fights.
Apex Legends burst onto the scene during the height of the battle royale era, and since then, it has continued to be one of the best choices for players looking to jump in for some non-stop free-to-play action, without any worries about pay-to-win mechanics or unfair advantages.
Each character does need to be unlocked over time, and while some can certainly be considered stronger than others, those small advantages can be easily superseded by mechanical prowess on the battlefield. Even with new updates and patches, players can rest assured that they will have an equal chance of winning every single match, solely relying on their personal ability to guide them to the victory screen.
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This article originally appeared on GameRant and is republished here with permission.
