34 Best Free PlayStation 5 Games That’s Worth Checking Out Today

Free to play games are a difficult subject to tackle, I mean how do you consider a game worth the price when the price is usually free? Well it’s surprisingly easy, with so many free to play games on the market, we have to start considering if they’re worth the time.

#34 Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising

Platform: PC PS4 PS5
Release Date: December 14, 2023

Steam | PlayStation

Is there anything better in the gaming world than a free game? Or a free game to try out so you don’t spend money on a title you won’t like? Well, if you feel this way, try out Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising! It has a “free edition” that’ll let you test out the characters and controls to see if it’s to your liking. If it is, you might just find your next fighting game obsession!

The title mixes a nice campaign mode with numerous fighting modes alongside a robust set of fighting game characters to control!

So dive in and see what you think! It’s free, what have you got to lose?

#33 Fallout Shelter

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: June 2015

It’s easy to forget about Fallout Shelter, due to its release date in mid 2015 it feels more like marketing for Fallout 4 than a standalone game. But that’s not entirely true, if you’re a fan of the Vault Boy aesthetics and like base building more than you like Bethesda’s RPGs, then you’ll at least get your bang for your buck here.

#32 Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel

Publisher: Konami

Developer: Konami

Platform: PC,Switch,PS4,PS5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: January 19 2022

It’s time to duel! There have been countless Yu-Gi-Oh! video game adaptations – some better than others. One of them is free-to-play, available on PlayStation 5, and features plenty of Blue-Eyes White Dragons.

The game keeps the mechanics and rules of the trading card game. Yu-Gi-Oh! Master Duel offers a large variety of cards to build a powerful deck and wreck your opponents. It builds upon this traditional gameplay by adding a new mechanic to dismantle and craft additional cards.

#31 Crossout

Publisher: Gaijin Distribution KFT

Developer: Targem Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5, Android, iOS

Release Date: August 2016

Do you remember Custom Robo on the GameCube? I do, and Crossout feels like the closest thing we might get again. Now these are vehicles instead of robots, but there’s no denying the sheet amount of customization options here. Even if some them might feel a little pay-to-win.

#30 Fantasy Strike

Publisher: Sirlin Games

Developer: Sirlin Games

Platform: PC,Switch,PS4,PS5

Release Date: July 2019

Forget about Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat: there is another fighting game worthy of your time on PlayStation 5. And it won’t cost you a dime, since Fantasy Strike is free-to-play.

Fantasy Strike is all about beating up your opponent until they end up knocked out on the floor. Each match features seven rounds, and the first fighter to win four rounds wins the game. To do so, players can punch, kick, throw, or use special moves. A feature unique to Fantasy Strike is the Yomi Counter which blocks an incoming throw and delivers a powerful counter-attack.

#29 Realm Royale

Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios

Developer: Heroic Leap Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: June 2018

Realm Royale is creative, ambitious, but ultimately suffers from its small community. Half the fun of a free to play game is that it’s either a simple single player, or it’s got a massive community where you can flex your paid-for cosmetics. Unfortunately compared to other battle royale games on this list, Realm Royale lacks mainstream appeal.

#28 Knockout City

Publisher: Electronic Arts, Velan Studios

Developer: Velan Studios

Platform: PC,Switch,PS4,PS5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: May 2021

Have you ever played dodgeball? Smashing a ball into your enemy’s face is fun, but doing it in a neon parkour way is even funnier. If you’re not able to jump on buildings IRL, you can do it in Knockout City.

This action game pits two teams against each other. Each team has to run around a large map and throw the ball at their opponents to score points. And if you missed your shot and don’t have a ball anymore, don’t worry. You can turn into a ball and roll up in one of your teammates’ hands to become a weapon yourself.

#27 Overwatch 2

Developer: Blizzard

Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment

Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, XBO, X/S, NS

Release Date: October 4, 2022

Overwatch was one of the most popular games in the last decade. When it came out, it set the world on fire (in a good way!) and created a new genre for people to play.

Fast forward to now, and Overwatch 2 is here to improve upon much of what the original game did. That includes refining the gameplay, adding new things to do and get, and of course, adding new heroes.

Plus, the game is free-to-play! You can unlock everything over time, and you’ll never have to pay unless you want to get a head start via the battle pass.

#26 Dauntless

Publisher: Phoenix Labs

Developer: Phoenix Labs

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: September 2019

Monster Hunter: World brought the monster hunting franchise to the mainstream, so it only makes sense that a free to play game would look to the series for inspiration. Dauntless takes monster hunting and brings it to multiple consoles and is free to play, meaning friends who might regard Monster Hunter with some reluctance can get hooked on this style of game at no cost.

#25 Vigor

Publisher: Bohemia Interactive

Developer: Bohemia Interactive

Platform: Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: August 2019

I know everyone here clicked on a list for PlayStation games, but it’s worth mentioning that Vigor isn’t available on PC; a fact that’s easy to take for granted sometimes. But if you do have a console you’re in for a grittier looter shooter that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Norway of all places.

#24 Warface

Publisher: Mail.ru Group

Developer: My.Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: October 2013

Warface is a free to play first-person-shooter that brings us away from the battle royale genre for a bit (although there is a battle royale mode available). For better or worse, Warface plays like a game from the early 2010s (because it is), if you want more traditional FPS action like Team Deathmatch, then Warface might be for you.

#23 War Thunder

Publisher: Gaijin Entertainment

Developer: Gaijin Entertainment

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: November 2012

Calling your game an April Fools joke is an unorthodox way to make an announcement, but that’s exactly what Gaijin Entertainment did back in 2012 before finally saying it was real a few months later. Despite its age, War Thunder maintains a sizable playerbase (at least on PC).

#22 Smite

Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios

Developer: Titan Forge Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5, Switch

Release Date: March 2014

While we’ve talked about Realm Royale, Smite is really where Hi-Rez Studios shines. In the years since its launch, Smite has become notorious for being the first MOBA to take the game to a third person over-the-shoulder camera as opposed to the typical RTS style.

#21 Rocket League

Publisher: Psyonix LLC

Developer: Psyonix LLC

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: July 2015

Rocket League brought soccer back to those of us who like our sports games a little bit goofy. There’s no stats, there’s no sportsball player celebrities, there’s just you and a bunch of other chuckleheads playing soccer with rocket-powered cars. What more could you ask for?

#20 World of Warships

Publisher: Wargaming

Developer: Lesta Studio

Platform: PC,PS4,PS5,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S

Release Date: September 2015

As its name suggests, World of Warships is all about naval battles and powerful warships. This free-to-play game, available on PlayStation 5, is geared towards massive multiplayer battles with over 450 available warships.

The main game mode of World of Warships is PvP battles. Players can team up, gather into divisions, and control ship artillery, torpedoes, and aircraft. The game also features a PvE mode where players fight against AI in various co-op battle types. For the most seasoned players, World of Warships includes seasonal ranked battles.

#19 World of Tanks

Publisher: Wargaming

Developer: Wargaming Minsk

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: August 2010

Not to be confused with the other tank-based “MMO” on this list, World of Tanks has been going strong for almost 12 years at this point and has no sign of slowing down any time soon. With over 600 armored vehicles and counting, there’s plenty of unique ways to play your way.

#18 Planetside 2

Publisher: Daybreak Game Company

Developer: Rogue Planet Games

Platform: PC,PS4,PS5

Release Date: June 23, 2015 (PS4)

Some games make you a hero, the main protagonist of a deep story where the fate of the world relies on your shoulder. Planetside 2 is not like that.

Instead of being an almighty hero, you play as a basic soldier. You’re just another cog in the war machine. But that doesn’t mean your adventure won’t be fun. Planetside 2 is an MMO FPS with six distinct infantry classes and 18 different ground and air vehicles. The battles are huge, with teams of 48 players fighting for victory. In theory, Planetside 2 supports a maximum of 2,000 per game – but most matches feature way fewer players.

#17 Path of Exile

Publisher: Grinding Gear Games

Developer: Grinding Gear Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: October 2013

Path of Exile has proven its persistence as a free to play Action RPG, soon coming up on its 10th year of service. If you like games like Diablo or find conventional MMOs intimidating, then this could be a good time waster instead. Build up your character and take comfort in knowing the game’s not going away any time soon.

#16 Warframe

Publisher: Digital Extremes

Developer: Digital Extremes

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5, Switch

Release Date: March 2013

I only played Warframe once or twice, and unless my memory is shot it plays sort of like Destiny. But for a free to play game you could do a lot worse than Warframe and to this day it maintains a sizable player base, so don’t let the game’s age fool you into thinking it’s near the end of its shelf life.

#15 Splitgate

Publisher: 1047 Games

Developer: 1047 Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: May 2019

Now you’re thinking with portals! Or at least shooting with them. Splitgate takes the cerebral strategy of portal guns and combines them with you know… actual guns! So watch your back and don’t get caught by surprise when that sniper you were chasing down suddenly drops down from the ceiling.

#14 PUBG Battlegrounds

Publisher: Krafton

Developer: PUBG Studios

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: December 2017

While PUBG might not be the first Battle Royale style game, it’s hard to deny that they were on the cutting edge of popularizing it. If you just want a simple looter shooter with no fancy gimmicks or mechanics, then maybe return to roots with this free title.

#13 Fall Guys

Publisher: Devolver Digital, Epic Games

Developer: Mediatonic

Platform: PC,PS4,NS,PS5,XBO,X/S

Release Date: June 2022

Have you ever dreamt of dressing like a chicken to challenge your friends in an obstacle race? You should, because that is plenty of fun. At least in Fall Guys.

This platform battle-royale game gained a lot of popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows players to compete in crazy obstacle races, inspired by TV shows such as Wipeout or Takeshi’s Castle. This game is better played with friends, but be warned – there can only be one winner. Prepare for the backstabs, like your best friend pushing you into an obstacle to steal the crown.

#12 Astro’s Playroom

Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment

Developer: Team Asobi

Platform: PS5

Release Date: November 2020

Astro’s Playroom is easily the most unique entry on this list, which admittedly is a low bar since most free to play games are looter shooters and 3D Platformers are underrepresented. But it’s definitely worth checking out! Uniquely only on the PS5, Astro’s Playroom takes full advantage of Sony’s DualSense controller and gives players a fun and compact adventure (even if it feels more like a tech demo/self-promotion than a game).

#11 Fortnite

Publisher: Epic Games

Developer: Epic Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: July 2017

If PUBG began popularizing looter shooters, it’s Fortnite that breached the precipice of mainstream notoriety. When the game was first announced as a zombie-survival/tower defense sort of game, nobody was prepared for its “Battle Royale” mode to take off like it did.

#10 Enlisted

Publisher: Gaijin Entertainment

Developer: Darkflow Software

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: March 2021

Enlisted is a class and squad-based shooter. Players work in teams of 3-9 players and participate in a variety of game modes. It’s no Team Fortress 2 but then again that game hasn’t been put on the PS5 yet (despite a PS3 release). But if you prefer more traditional FPS modes to looter shooters, go for it.

#9 Genshin Impact

Publisher: miHoYo

Developer: miHoYo

Platform: PC,PS4,PS5,NS

Release Date: April 2021

Genshin Impact is an RPG set in the fantasy world of Teyvat. This land is home to seven distinct nations, each revolving around a different element and worshiping a different god. The story will take you across this world with plenty of quests and missions to complete on the way.

When playing Genshin Impact, make sure to hide your wallet away. If Genshin Impact is free-to-play, it is also a gacha game. There are so many things you can buy that it can be hard not to spend a penny on crystals, primogems, or battle passes.

#8 Destiny 2

Publisher: Bungie

Developer: Bungie

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: September 2017

While initially Destiny 2 wasn’t a free to play title, since then the game has adopted that model with paid expansions. Destiny 2 has just about anything you could want from a FPS, co-op campaigns, open world exploration and missions, and PvP modes (including the original Gambit mode).

#7 Call of Duty: Warzone

Publisher: Activision

Developer: Infinity Ward

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5

Release Date: September 2017

Call of Duty: Warzone brought the battle royale format to the classic FPS franchise. While not as flashy as other entries on this list, Call of Duty has brand recognition that keeps the playerbase consistent.

#6 Brawlhalla

Publisher: Ubisoft

Developer: Blue Mammoth Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: October 2017

If there’s a successful game franchise, there’s going to be indie offshoots to satisfy the niche interests of its fans. That’s what Brawlhalla does for Super Smash Brothers. If you want to take your cartoony fighting game onto PC or other devices, or if you just like the art direction and characters over the Nintendo roster then with Brawlhalla being free to play there’s no reason not to check it out.

#5 Apex Legends

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Developer: Respawn Entertainment

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: Fenruary 2019

Apex Legends came as a surprise at a time when the looter shooter market was already oversaturated. Between Fortnite, PUBG, Spellbreak, and more, Apex Legends managed to find a dedicated fanbase and establish itself as a mainstream title among other giants of the genre.

#4 Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt

Publisher: Sharkmob AB

Developer: Sharkmob AB

Platform: PC,PS5

Release Date: April 2022

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt brings the classic Tabletop RPG turned video game franchise to the battle royale genre. I’ll always appreciate creativity in a genre saturated by gritty shooters and Bloodhunt fits the bill. Take to the streets with customizable talents and vampire powers to try and come out on top.

#3 Paladins

Publisher: Hi-Rez Studios

Developer: Evil Mojo Games

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: May 2018

Paladins takes the class-based shooter which was popularized by games like Team Fortress 2 and Overwatch and then goes even harder. It’s more fast paced than TF2 and you’re given more options than Overwatch. Choose from an absolutely huge cast of characters and fight for objectives or in a Team Death Match mode. Also features a crossover with Hololive.

#2 Spellbreak

Publisher: Proletariat Inc.

Developer: Proletariat Inc.

Platform: PC,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PS4,PS5,Switch

Release Date: December 2020

Spellbreak is a game which somehow managed to fly under the radar. This game takes the most raw features of the looter shooter genre (running around, frantically searching for upgrades while fighting) and wraps it all up in a colorful fantasy universe. Mix and match spells you find in the field, find utility powers like flight, teleportation, and more, and then get the drop on your opponents in this whimsical battle royale.

#1 Final Fantasy XIV Online

Publisher: Square Enix

Developer: Square Enix

Platform: PC,PS4,PS5

Release Date: September 2010

“Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV?” Well now you have, and while the free trial “copypasta” might be a meme, the actual free trial is far from it. Players will get almost unrestricted access to the base game and the entire first expansion pack. Due to the nature of the game, almost all content is relevant and you won’t feel like you’re struggling to keep up for bleeding edge content.