The free game market is one segment of the global gaming industry that has developed hugely in recent years. A significant chunk of the gaming industry today is carried out online, with internet-ready consoles and mobile phones connecting gamers instantly to the latest gaming experiences.
While premium titles are still the heavyweights as far as gamer popularity goes, there are now more free games to play than ever before – particularly in the mobile market, where freemium games are a popular business model among app developers. Whether you’re new to the gaming world or a die-hard fan, here are five types of games that you can play for free, on both PC and mobile.
Single-Player RPG
RPGs, or Role-Playing Games, are classic video games that initially began as digital versions of classic board games like Dungeons and Dragons. Typically set in a fantasy or futuristic game world, RPGs test players with a dramatic storyline featuring quests and missions, as well as side quests and some open-world interactions.
In the modern gaming landscape, there are several iterations of RPG games, but for new gamers, single-player RPGs are the simplest to get to grips with. AdventureQuest, for example, maybe two decades old but it’s still one of the best RPGs around for solo gamers.
Online Casino Games
Online casino gaming accounts for a huge chunk of the iGaming market (which includes, casino and poker gaming as well as sports betting) and is enjoyed by thousands of gamers across the globe, some of whom have never stepped foot inside a brick-and-mortar casino. The sheer variety of online casino games that are available to play online caters to all skillsets and preferences, but a good starting point is online slot games.
Much like their brick and mortar counterparts, online slots games are fast-paced and well-suited to casual gaming. As a real-money gaming vertical, it can be tricky to find free to play slots games, but most reputable platforms will offer play-money games to new customers. As well as play money slots experiences, leading online casino platforms offer free spins to users as part of special promotions.
Battle Royale
If you’ve ever played multi-player deathmatch games on consoles back in the 1990s you’ll be familiar with the concept of the Battle Royale genre. Named after the infamous Japanese film franchise, battle royale games involve brawls and melee fighting, as well as scavenging for resources.
Improvements made in today’s gaming technology mean that battle royale games are more popular than ever before, with some top titles even making an appearance on the eSports circuit.
PC gamers are spoilt for choice with the variety of free-to-play battle royale games in the market, but the titles that are definitely worth checking out are Call of Duty: Warzone, CS: GO Danger Zone and Apex Legends.
Mobile RPGs
Very similar in gameplay mechanics and visuals to PC and console RPGs, mobile RPGs are ideal for players who are looking for immersive gaming experiences on the go.
While some in the industry believe that it’s impossible to find console-quality RPGs that are free to play on mobile, there are nevertheless several games that are either completely free to play or follow the premium model, in which players eventually need to make microtransactions either to unlock gameplay content or to purchase weapons, assists, etc.
Genshin Impact is one mobile RPG that has been a major hit with gamers since it was released in September 2020 by the miHOYO studio. None of Genshin Impact’s gameplay is locked behind a paywall so you don’t need to spend a penny to enjoy this beautifully designed mobile gaming experience.
Other mobile RPGs worth considering include Raid: Shadow Legends (which is also free to play on PC), Exiled Kingdom, and Severed.
Endless Runners
If there’s one type of game that perfectly utilizes mobile as a medium, it’s the endless runner genre. As the name suggests, the gameplay in this type of game doesn’t end, instead gamers continuously “run” through games, overcoming obstacles along the way to earn points.
Alto’s Adventure and its follow-up, Alto’s Odyssey, are two of the best endless runners available on mobile, offering up old-school 2D-style scrolling with modern-day visuals and audio.
